Michigan adjutant general outlines Guard readiness investments, Selfridge runway work and plan for state veterans cemetery

Major General Paul Rogers, Adjutant General and Director of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, told the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military, Veterans Affairs and State Police that the department will press for continued state investments to sustain National Guard readiness, improve facilities and expand veteran services.

Rogers described the department as an “almost 11,000 strong” blended workforce of uniformed Army and Air National Guard members and civilian employees, and he emphasized readiness and recruiting as the drivers of the governor’s executive budget recommendations to the subcommittee. “Each entity is sitting at right around 95% strength,” Rogers said, adding that strength matters when seeking federal missions and investments.

The governor’s recommendations Rogers discussed include: a $26 million state appropriation to complete non-airfield construction at Selfridge Air National Guard Base (drainage, haul road, environmental work and a traffic circle) to enable future federally funded runway construction; one-time funding to establish a state veterans cemetery in Crawford County (Rogers said Michigan is one of two states without one); continuing the statewide armory modernization program begun in prior years; and program funding to expand member benefits that address retention barriers such as weekend child care.

Why it matters: Rogers framed the package as investments that produce federal matching dollars and local economic returns. He said the armory modernization program is the first statewide holistic renovation in the nation, noting 22 armories completed, eight under construction and three finishing design; state dollars paired with federal matching funds, he said, typically yielded roughly $1.85 in federal funds for every state dollar spent. He also said Northern Strike, the large annual training exercise hosted in Michigan, has about a $30 million local economic impact.

Selfridge request and timing: Rogers said the $26 million state request would fund non-airfield work required before runway construction — including a new drainage ditch, haul road and traffic circle — and that the design for the project is scheduled to be finished in December 2025. He added the federal government is expected to cover the runway construction itself and that the state appropriation would allow work to begin on site preparation and road/drainage elements.

Veterans services and facilities: Rogers said the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) has increased the share of veterans connected to benefits from about 16% six years ago to roughly 24.6% today, a nearly 3 percentage point increase in the past year. He said MVAA’s annual budget is about $24 million, of which a little over $10 million supports grants to partner veteran service organizations and county-based veteran service officers; 70 of Michigan’s 83 counties participate in that grant program. Rogers also highlighted two recently completed skilled-nursing veteran homes in Grand Rapids and Chesterfield, and said the department has secured property for a new Marquette facility expected to serve about 125 residents when built.

Member benefits and childcare: Rogers described a proposed expansion of the National Guard member benefit fund to address retention, including tuition assistance that was previously expanded and an initiative to address child care gaps on drill weekends. He said surveys show approximately 40% of Army National Guard members and 30% of Air National Guard members report unreliable weekend child care. Rogers described a model used in Wyoming — a small hourly stipend to compensate trusted caregivers or family members when formal child-care centers are unavailable on drill weekends — and said the department expects to absorb the proposed program within current benefit resources if authorized by the Legislature.

Other remarks: Rogers reviewed international partnerships (Sierra Leone, Liberia, Latvia), disaster response support (tornado recovery in Kalamazoo County, hurricane support), the National ‘‘Old Domain’’ Warfighting Center training complex and the Michigan Youth Challenge Academy in Battle Creek (which has surpassed 5,000 graduates). He said many initiatives produce federal funds or external grant opportunities, including pursuit of federal grants to help build the Crawford County veterans cemetery once state property is secured.

Discussion and next steps: Senators asked clarifying questions about the exact roadwork and gates affected at Selfridge and about the eligibility and implementation details for the childcare benefit. Rogers said the childcare proposal would prioritize single parents and dual-service families serving on the same drill weekend and that the department is developing program parameters to roll out if authorized. No formal committee votes were taken on the budget recommendations during the meeting; Rogers presented the executive recommendations for the committee’s consideration.