The General Assembly of North Carolina, recognizing that the North Carolina National Guard is the only organized, trained and equipped military force subject to the control of the State, hereby establishes a program of tuition assistance for qualifying guard members for the purpose of encouraging voluntary membership in the North Carolina National Guard, improving the educational level of its members, and thereby benefiting the State as a whole. (1975, c. 917, s. 3; 2009-281, s. 1; 2010-31, s. 17.3(b); 2011-183, s. 85; recodified from N.C. Gen. Stat. § 116-209.51 by 2021-180, s. 19E.1(b), (c).)