{"id":1045,"date":"2024-11-19T08:45:52","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T13:45:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/veterans\/?page_id=1045"},"modified":"2025-08-20T12:32:36","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T16:32:36","slug":"first-steps","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/veterans\/first-steps\/","title":{"rendered":"First Steps for Veterans"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"su-accordion su-u-trim gcc\">\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-default su-spoiler-icon-plus\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span>Your First Step<\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\n<p><strong>Apply to 911爆料网 as a <em>matriculated<\/em> or <em>guest<\/em> student.<\/strong> Learn more from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/admissions\/\">Office of Admission<\/a>, then <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/connect.gcc.mass.edu\/apply\">apply online<\/a><\/strong>. Veteran Services can work concurrently with Admissions during the application and registration process. Once you&#8217;ve applied and been accepted, you can connect with an advisor and register for classes.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-default su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span>Apply for VA Benefits<\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>New students<\/strong> at 911爆料网 who have not used any VA educational assistance programs should begin the process by applying for education benefits online at <a title=\"Link to vets.gov\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vets.gov\/education\/apply\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vets.gov<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Continuing students<\/strong> can be certified for benefits each semester as soon as they have registered and have notified the Certifying Official and complete the Categorical Tuition Waiver and GI\u00ae Bill Certificate Request (these two documents must be completed every semester).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Transfer students<\/strong>\u00a0who have received VA educational assistance benefits at other institutions of higher education only need to\u00a0<a title=\"Link to va.gov benefits update page\" href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/education\/apply-for-education-benefits\/application\/1995\/applicant\/information\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">update your education benefits online<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Disabled veterans<\/strong>\u00a0are eligible for considerable financial help when they apply for\u00a0<a title=\"Link to Veteran Readiness and Employment Service website\" href=\"http:\/\/www.vba.va.gov\/bln\/vre\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Veteran Readiness &amp; Employment Service<\/a>. You must have a VA certified disability rating of at least 10 percent. You will receive authorization directly from the VA. Notify your certifying official with your VR&amp;E advisors contact info.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Reservists<\/strong> who have not used any of their\u00a0<a title=\"Link to GI bill website\" href=\"http:\/\/www.benefits.va.gov\/gibill\/mgib_sr.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Montgomery GI Bill\u00ae &#8211; Selected Reserve Educational Assistance (Chapter 1606)<\/a>\u00a0benefits will need the original\u00a0DD Form 2384-1: Notice of Basic Eligibility from their Reserve Unit.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Dependents<\/strong> who have not received\u00a0<a title=\"Link to survivor\/dependent assistance website\" href=\"http:\/\/www.benefits.va.gov\/gibill\/survivor_dependent_assistance.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dependents&#8217; Educational Assistance Benefits Chapter 35<\/a>\u00a0will need to\u00a0<a title=\"Link to va.gov site\" href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/education\/apply-for-education-benefits\/application\/5490\/introduction\">apply online<\/a> or provide a previously issued Certificate of Eligibility.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-default su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span>Are You National Guard?<\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\n<p>If you are an active, part-time or full-time member of the National Guard, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.massnationalguard.org\/index.php\/resources\/education.html\">Massachusetts Army and Air Force National Guard Tuition &amp; Fee Reimbursement Program<\/a> will provide you with with up to 130 credits for most of the degrees or certificates here at 911爆料网. You must apply and request your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). <strong>COE must be submitted to your campus Certifying Official every semester.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Link to MA NG tuition website\" href=\"https:\/\/mangtuition.scerisglobalaccess.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Request a National Guard COE<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-default su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span>Documentation<\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\n<p><strong>Do you know which benefits you will be using this semester?<\/strong> If not, set up a meeting with Veteran Services to go over your options. The documents below are required by 911爆料网 and the VA.<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-row\"><div class=\"su-column su-column-size-1-3\"><div class=\"su-column-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\n<h3>To start a VA Benefit File<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Copy of your DD form 214<\/li>\n<li>Certification Letter<\/li>\n<li>GI Certification<\/li>\n<li>Tuition Waiver<\/li>\n<li>Veteran Intake Form<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-column su-column-size-1-3\"><div class=\"su-column-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\n<h3>Reserve\/Guard<\/h3>\n<p><em>Not using VA benefits<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Certificate of Eligibility COE<\/li>\n<li>GI Certification<\/li>\n<li>Tuition Waiver<\/li>\n<li>Veteran Intake Form<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-column su-column-size-1-3\"><div class=\"su-column-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\n<h3>Required Each Semester<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>GI Certification<\/li>\n<li>Tuition Waiver<\/li>\n<li>Veteran Intake Form<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-default su-spoiler-icon-plus su-spoiler-closed\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span>Tuition Waivers<\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\n<p>You may be eligible for a Categorial Tuition Waiver to cover the cost of your classes. Learn more at <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mass.gov\/info-details\/veteran-educational-benefits\">mass.gov<\/a><\/strong>. Eligible students must complete a waiver form (in My911爆料网) each semester.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"su-spoiler su-spoiler-style-default su-spoiler-icon-plus\" data-scroll-offset=\"0\" data-anchor-in-url=\"no\"><div class=\"su-spoiler-title\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"su-spoiler-icon\"><\/span>Contact Your Certifying Official<\/div><div class=\"su-spoiler-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\">\n<p><strong>You must contact your campus Certifying Official each semester.<\/strong> This is to ensure you have all the appropriate documentation for the VA so your Certifying Official can activate your benefits. All required documentation should be submitted 30 days prior to the first day of classes.<\/p>\n<p>You must also submit an intake form each semester!<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-button-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/LtwPFYAqHmJiMo3D9\" class=\"su-button su-button-style-flat button-vets su-button-wide\" style=\"color:#FFFFFF;background-color:#00584b;border-color:#00473c;border-radius:5px\" target=\"__blank\"><span style=\"color:#FFFFFF;padding:9px 28px;font-size:21px;line-height:32px;border-color:#4d8b81;border-radius:5px;text-shadow:none\"><i class=\"sui sui-check-square-o\" style=\"font-size:21px;color:#FFFFFF\"><\/i> Veteran Services Intake Form<small style=\"padding-bottom:9px;color:#FFFFFF\">Complete Each Semester<\/small><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-1045","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/veterans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1045","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/veterans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/veterans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/veterans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/veterans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1045"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/veterans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1045\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1085,"href":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/veterans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1045\/revisions\/1085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gcc.mass.edu\/veterans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1045"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}