The Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Safety convened on March 31, 2025, to discuss key updates and initiatives related to public safety and the Oregon National Guard. The meeting highlighted improvements in facility usage, customer satisfaction, recruitment challenges, and legislative support for various programs.

The session began with a report on the positive impact of the armory service life extension projects, which have significantly increased the usage of facilities. A representative acknowledged the contributions of the legislature and the governor in facilitating these improvements. The Readiness Center in The Dalles was specifically noted for its exceptional usage, with a request for updates on the Hood River Armory's status in the priority list.

Next, the committee reviewed the results of a customer service survey conducted by the Oregon Military Department (OMD). The survey, which shifted focus to users of guard facilities and parents of youth program participants, showed a remarkable increase in overall satisfaction from 57% in 2023 to 93% in 2024. The OMD plans to continue refining its outreach to ensure comprehensive feedback from all facility users.

Recruitment challenges were also a significant topic of discussion. The Oregon National Guard is facing difficulties similar to those across the Department of Defense. However, there are signs of improvement, with the organization reporting that it has reached 70% of its recruitment goals for 2025. A new self-financed enlistment program was introduced, offering $1,000 to service members who successfully recruit new individuals, with over 100 payments already made.

The committee discussed potential legislative actions to further support recruitment and retention, including the approval of a retention bonus program and continued support for the Oregon National Guard Student Tuition Assistance Program, which has successfully helped over 1,100 service members earn college credits since its inception in 2018.

In response to a query regarding deployment statistics, it was noted that data comparing the average number of deployments over a 20-year career to previous years could be provided, with an indication that deployment rates from 2003 to 2015 may have been higher than more recent years.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to ongoing improvements in public safety initiatives and a focus on legislative support to enhance the capabilities of the Oregon National Guard.