Congress Probes Guardsman's Deployment Absence
PHOTO CAPTION: Raymond Stier, then a technical sergeant with the Michigan Air National Guard’s 127th Wing, poses for an official portrait at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan, July 28, 2022. Credit: U.S. Air National Guard photo by Terry Atwell
Congress held a field hearing Tuesday after an Air National Guardsman drew criticism from fellow school board members for missing meetings while deployed to the Middle East — despite initially waking up in the middle of the night to participate remotely.
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce held the Aug. 25 hearing in Richmond, Michigan, under the title “Deployed, Not Disqualified: Defending Servicemembers in Our Schools.” Amy Stier, the wife of Master Sgt. Raymond Stier, was among the witnesses.
Stier serves in the Michigan Air National Guard and is also an elected member of the Richmond Community Schools Board of Education. He was elected in November 2024 and later deployed overseas in late 2025.
Despite an eight-hour time difference, Stier initially continued attending board meetings virtually from the Middle East. Rep. Lisa McClain's office said he was sometimes waking up around 3 a.m. to participate.
Operational demands eventually prevented Stier from continuing to attend remotely, according to congressional and local reports.
That absence became a point of contention during a March 23 school board meeting.
Board Secretary Sandra Fortuna said that while she respected Stier's military responsibilities, she believed his absence was a “disservice” to the district because the remaining six-member board was dealing with major issues including hiring a superintendent and budget matters.
Trustee Margaret Teltow agreed, saying it was unfortunate Stier had not resigned before deploying.
Other members defended him, pointing out that Stier had continued participating from overseas whenever military conditions allowed.
The comments quickly generated backlash in Richmond. Community members rallied in support of Stier outside a subsequent school board meeting, while his wife publicly argued that he had done everything he reasonably could to continue serving both the military and his community.
Amy Stier later said her husband had messaged her while deployed saying he was under attack where he was serving and had just learned he was also being attacked on the home front.
Stier returned from his deployment on May 18 and attended a school board meeting in person later that same day. He has remained on the board.
The controversy has now reached Congress.
Tuesday's hearing was broader than Stier's case alone and focused on obstacles faced by servicemembers whose military obligations conflict with civilian jobs and responsibilities.
Committee Chairman Tim Walberg said servicemembers should not face professional consequences for fulfilling military obligations and said the committee had heard reports of troops encountering criticism, harassment and employment problems related to their service.
“When servicemembers are deployed — leaving behind their jobs, their families, and their communities to serve in harm’s way — they should have our full support,” Walberg said in prepared remarks.
The hearing also included testimony from Chris Neeley, superintendent of the South Carolina Public Charter School District, and Jonathan Butcher of the Heritage Foundation.
For Stier, the dispute has centered on a question familiar to many Guard and Reserve members: how much should servicemembers be expected to sacrifice in their civilian lives when the military calls them away?
Stier has said he intends to continue serving his community.
Sources: U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce; U.S. House Republican Conference; WXYZ Detroit
(Source: OAF Nation)
