How do I apply for benefits?
I. Fill out an Application
for VA benefits @ www.gibill.va.gov.
II. Enroll at BRCC,
schedule classes and fill out a verification form for VA benefits.
III. Turn
in the VA Verification form along with a copy of the detailed class schedule to
BRCC’s VA counselor each semester.
IV. The
VA counselor will certify applications on VA-Once.
What benefits are available?
Chapter 30 (The Montgomery GI Bill) – Includes Active Duty; Prior
Active Duty; and Regular Reserves. Individuals must have a signed contract and
contributed into the Montgomery GI Bill upon entry into specified branch of
service or its reserve component (U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S.
Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard). The GI Bill is an “optional” program offered to any
individual entering any of the U.S. Armed Forces, State National Guard, or
State Air National Guard (Except Chapters 31 & 35 which pertain to disabled
or diseased veterans and their dependents). Eligibility for Chapter 30 benefits
begins on the first day after discharge and continues for 10 years. The Chapter
30 veteran receives 36 months of benefits to be used over the 10 year span. The GI Bill is intended to assist GI’s
with the expenses incurred from attending a college or university and providing
a “jumpstart” for veterans exiting active service. Remedial, deficiency, and
refresher courses may
be approved under certain circumstances. The moneys received from the VA are sent to the individual.
The uses of these funds lie upon the receiving veteran (Excluding some
additional benefits extended to individuals of Chapters 1606, 31, & 35 from
the state of Louisiana). Check the GI Bill website for current pay rates.
Chapter 35 - The state of
Louisiana pays 100% of the tuition and most, but not all, fees for the
dependents of its disabled or diseased veterans of the U. S. State benefits should
not be confused with Federal VA benefits.
Students
must:
- Be
enrolled in at least 12 hours to be eligible for the tuition exemption.
- Turn
in a copy of their fee exemption certificate to BRCC’s VA office if they
are a first-time student applying for benefits.
- Make
sure that they have listed the file # on their VA Verification application.
Chapter
35 provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of
veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related
condition, or who died while on active duty or as a result of a service
related condition. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits or
until the student is 25 years of age or older. These benefits may be used for degree and
certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. Remedial,
deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain
circumstances. Check the GI Bill website for the current rates.
Chapter 31 (Vocational Rehabilitation) - Disabled
veterans can receive tuition and fee
exemption from the state of Louisiana. Additionally, the VA also pays for
Chapter 31 veterans’ books/supplies and whatever other expenses may be
incurred. This
is all in addition to a monthly rate. For this school,
this service is
acquired through the VA office in New Orleans, LA.
Chapter 1606 - Members of the
Louisiana National and Air National Guard have their tuition (not fees) paid
for by the state of Louisiana. This is in addition to a monthly rate.
Students
must:
- Be
listed on the STEP Report (Tuition Exemption List) provided by the
National Guard commander to verify eligibility.
2. If
a student is not on the STEP Report, they must get a letter from their unit commander
stating that they are in “good standing” for the current semester and turn in a
copy of that letter into BRCC’s VA office. The letter must be on official
letterhead.
Chapter
1607 (Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP)) – Includes a Reservist or
National Guard member, or an individual who served on active duty on or after
September 11, 2001, for at least 90 consecutive days.
Does
Baton Rouge Community College participate in the VA Work Study Program?
This program is available to any student
receiving VA education benefits who is attending school three-quarter time or
more and if there is an open position available. An individual working under
this program may work at the school veterans' office, VA Regional Office, VA
Medical Facilities, or at approved State employment offices. Work-study
students are
paid at either the state or Federal minimum wage, whichever is greater. For a work study position here at
Baton Rouge Community College, contact the campus VA office at 225-216-6902. For work
study positions in other facilities in Baton Rouge, contact the Baton Rouge Veteran
Affairs office at 225-922-0500.
Is Direct Deposit Available with the GI Bill?
Yes, and direct deposit is
advised. The option is available on the Application for Veterans' Education Benefits (VA form 22-1990). You can apply
by phoning the GI Bill Customer Service Line at 888-442-4551. You can also apply through https://www.gibill.va.gov/wave/default.cfm.
Is there tutoring available
to veterans?
Veterans of Baton Rouge
Community College have free tutoring sessions which are
generally held once a week. Contact the campus VA office for
more details. Tutoring is also available to all students through the Academic Learning Center.
What amount of benefits can I
expect to receive?
The dollar value of benefits
change regularly, so keep up to date by going to the GI Bill website and viewing the current pay schedule.
Chapter 31 & 35 benefits also change regularly and it is in your best
interest to keep in contact with your individual VA counselors in this regard.
How do I transfer my benefits
from another institution?
All that is required of
transferring veterans is that they come to the campus VA office and complete a
transfer request (VA forms 22-1995 for Ch 30 & 1606 or 22-5495 for Ch 35). In the case of Chapter 31
veterans, this is
done through your VA counselor. Cross-enrollment is not the same as a transfer.
Cross-enrolled veterans' benefits are maintained at the veterans’ parent school. In
most cases, this is the first school you began utilizing your benefits.
What must I do to maintain my eligibility?
Veterans are required to maintain
satisfactory grades (2.0+ GPA), conduct, and attendance while in receipt of the
GI Bill. Their progress, depending on the chapter, will be regularly
reviewed either on a periodic, calendar schedule, or randomly by the Certifying Official
and likewise by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Benefits can be suspended
or revoked by the Department of Veterans Affairs if these standards are not met. In most cases,
individuals may be required to reimburse the VA for funds received while not
maintaining these standards.
Veteran students report to the Certifying
Official, the number of hours he or she is taking for each semester.
Before the start of each semester (preferably about 30 days prior), individuals
receiving the GI Bill must submit a copy of their schedule to their CO along
with the school’s VA benefits application. Although the Certifying Official
performs periodic audits, it is the veteran students’ responsibility to
notify their Certifying Official of any new or changed schedule.
For individuals receiving the GI Bill
entitlement under chapters 1606 & 30, they must call 1-877-823-2378 on the
last day of every month so that individuals can verify that their enrollment
status has not changed since their last certification. This MUST be done before the VA will
issue their checks. This is a way in which the VA can double verify that the
student is
in fact in school and attending the number of hours reported.
The particulars of Chapters 31 and 35 veterans are
handled through their respective counselors.
What if I am called to active duty?
Should any student be activated, the individual
must submit to the school’s Certifying Official a copy of his or her orders or
letter from the individual's unit. In the case of submitting a letter, the
letter must be on the military unit's letterhead and the unit must agree to
provide the school with orders at which point they become available. After
receipt of these orders or letter, the Certifying Official will notify the
appropriate school officials of the student’s activation so that the
appropriate steps can
be taken to reimburse the appropriate payees and retroactively withdraw the student.
What of my military education can I use?
Some veterans may get some college
credit for their military training and experience. Typically,
acceptance varies from institution to institution. What may not be accepted at one institution
may be accepted at another. Therefore, do not be disheartened if not all of
your credits transfer to an institution. Following are the facilities which provide military
transcripts to your school. Although the school is required to review the
transcript for prior credit, it does not have to grant any. Most
do. Any credit granted shortens your time to your degree, allowing you to
retain more of the 36 months of benefits. These could then be
awarded to OJT (On the Job Training), or another educational goal.
U.S. Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard
https://www.navycollege.navy.mil
NETPDTC N2A5
6490 Saufley Field Rd.
Pensacola,
FL 32509-5204
850-452-1283 (877-253-7122)
U.S. Army
ARTS (Army Transcripts)
DA Form 5454R – available at Army Ed Centers
aarts@leavenworth.army.mil
http://www.army.mil/
1-866-297-4427
AARTS Operations Center
415 McPherson Ave.
Ft. Leavenworth, KS 66027-1373
Air
Force
http://www.airforce.com/
CCAF/DFRS
130 West Maxwell Blvd.
Maxwell AFB
AL 36112-6613
334-953-2794
The Air Force does not accept email or
telephonic requests for transcripts, only written requests. Request must
include veteran’s full name, SSAN, current address and zip code, and the
address and zip of where he wants the transcript sent. Transcripts are
free. Transcript sent to the vet will be stamped “Transcript sent to
student.” Supposed to be on line by August 2003
Benefits may also be used by newly hired veterans while training on the job. Many veterans are unaware of this
program. They become ineligible for On-the-Job Training after several
years on the job. Veterans cannot receive OJT benefits and educational
benefits concurrently. Veterans attending school while receiving GI Bill
benefits most likely are eligible for OJT benefits after they are hired following
graduation. See the certifying official designated by the employer.
If no OJT program exists in your company, find your contact at http://www.gibill.va.gov/Contact/contact.htm.
Another often little known GI Bill benefit
available to eligible veterans is reimbursement for cost of licensing or
certification tests. Examples include the Microsoft certification tests,
state licensing tests for realtors, and FAA certification tests for air frame mechanics. Go
to http://www.gibill.va.gov to determine
if a test has
been approved for reimbursement. Application procedures for test reimbursement are found at the same web
site. If a particular licensing or certificate you are interested is not approved, find your contact
at http://www.gibill.va.gov/Contact/contact.htm to request approval.
Important Phone
Numbers:
225-216-6902 - BRCC VA Office
225-924-5182 - BRCC VA FAX
888-442-4551 - GI Bill Customer Service Line
877-823-2378 - GI Bill Enrollment Verification Line
225-925-7268 - Baton Rouge Office of Veteran Affairs
504-619-4346 - New Orleans Office of Veteran Affairs
