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<p>With a quarter-century of service to his credit, Army National Guard Master Sgt. John Paul Karpovich could easily be thinking about retirement.</p><p>But he isn&#8217;t.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m going to enlist for another six years,&#8221; Karpovich, 42, said Saturday.</p><p>It was a decision Karpovich was already close to making, but a piece of legislation signed into law last week by Gov. Tom Wolf helped the Hunlock Creek resident make up his mind.</p><p>The PA GI Bill, or Military Family Education Program, creates a program allowing spouses and children of Pennsylvania National Guard (PNG) members to attend college at no cost or a reduced cost.</p><p>The first program of its kind in the nation, it was passed unanimously by the state House and Senate.</p><p>Karpovich and wife Tavelynn have two daughters, Georgia and Hailey. With Georgia planning to attend Bloomsburg University this fall and Hailey bound for college in a few years, the new law will come as a major boost to the sisters and their parents as they enter the higher education system.</p><p>They&#8217;ll be in good company.</p><p>The PNG is the third largest National Guard in the nation, with nearly 20,000 active members, and officials estimate the bill could benefit up to 8,000 military family members.</p><p>&#8220;Pennsylvania National Guard members and their spouses and children give a tremendous sacrifice to keep residents safe. These families endure hardships that include many sleepless nights away from one another during overseas deployments, training exercises and domestic emergencies,&#8221; Wolf said.</p><p>Under the program, PNG members who commit to an additional six years of service can receive five years of higher education benefits for their spouses and children.</p><p>The program will provide for 10 semesters of tuition-free education for family members, which must be at a Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency-approved educational institution, and at the tuition rate set by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.</p><p>&#8220;In most cases, our family members do not wear a military uniform, but they serve and sacrifice right alongside our Guardsmen,&#8221; said Maj. Gen. Tony Carrelli, Pennsylvania&#8217;s adjutant general and head of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, said in a statement released last week. &#8220;We thank the governor and the legislature for leading the nation in recognizing the critical support role our Pennsylvania Guard families have in securing our safety and security.&#8221;</p><p>In addition to supporting military family members, the program is expected to improve PNG retention and strengthen its readiness, the governor&#8217;s office said.</p><p>&#8220;While you have our backs, we have yours,&#8221; Wolf said during a signing ceremony at the Soldiers &amp; Sailors grove on the Capitol grounds in Harrisburg.</p><p>It certainly helped retain Karpovich, but he also acknowledges that he didn&#8217;t need too much convincing.</p><p>Karpovich is currently stationed at Fort Indiantown Gap, where he serves as the Joint Force Headquarters, G1 Operations Sergeant, and has been an active member of area veterans service organizations.</p><p>&#8220;My wife basically said, &#8216;you know you were going to sign up again anyway,&#8217;&#8221; he recalled.</p><p>Currently, PNG members are eligible for the Education Assistance Program with their initial service obligation of six years that provides them a nontransferable educational benefit.</p><p>Karpovich said he was able to take advantage of the state&#8217;s assistance when he attended Bloomsburg to study sociology and criminal justice, and takes pride in the fact that his military service is now going to benefit his daughters as well.</p><p>He also has received many questions on social media from fellow Guard members interested in the program.</p><p>&#8220;I know the interest is there,&#8221; Karpovich said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Karpovich </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_parade5_faaCMYK.jpg</photo0><caption0>Karpovich </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Roger DuPuis and Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>rdupuis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

PA GI Bill gives college benefits to National Guard families