Veteran Benefits Program

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The Veteran Affairs Office at Coastal Alabama Community College makes every effort to ensure that all veterans, dependents, and reservists receive their educational benefits in a timely manner. If you have any questions about applying for VA education benefits, please contact the Veterans Affairs Office located in the Financial Aid Office. For information, you can email veterans@coastalalabama.edu or call 251-580-2292. For questions regarding your eligibility, please contact the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) at 1-888-442-4551.

Students using VA Benefits are required to submit a Request for Certification of Enrollment to the VA School Certifying Official each semester they wish to use their benefits.  Otherwise, classes will not be certified, and students will not receive their benefits. The form is available at the link above, on the Coastal Alabama website and in the Financial Aid Office.

VA Chapters for Educational Benefits

Federal VA Programs;

  • Chapter 30 – Montgomery GI Bill®
  • Chapter 31 – Veteran Readiness and Employment (formerly Vocational Rehabilitation)
  • Chapter 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill®
  • Chapter 1606 – Montgomery GI Bill® – Selected Reserve
  • Chapter 35 – Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA)
  • Chapter 36 – Counseling Services
  • Tuition Assistance – for individuals currently on active duty and active reserve
  •  More information (1-888-442-4551) or at www.gibill.va.gov

State VA Programs;

  • State VA – Alabama GI Dependent Scholarship for dependents and spouses
  •  Alabama National Guard Educational Assistance Program (ANGEAP) for Veterans

Description of Federal VA Programs and how to apply

Chapters 30, and 1606

  • This program does not pay tuition, fees, or books, the VA pays a monthly stipend based on your eligibility and enrollment status. This program offers up to 36 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and/or certificate programs. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain conditions.  Muskogee Regional VA Education Office determines eligibility and disburses monthly stipend via check or direct deposit, whichever the student chooses.

    Veterans are required to submit their Official Military Transcript through the Joint Services Transcript (JST) website for Army, National Guard, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy. Air Force can request their Official Military Transcript through the Parchment website.  Veterans also need to request Official transcripts from any prior colleges attended through the Parchment website. These will be electronically sent to the Registrar’s Office at Coastal Alabama Community College.

New Applicants Chapters 30, and 1606

  •  Go to the VA website  to apply. The process can take 2-4 weeks so apply early. The VA will contact the students by mail letting them know their eligibility. The College’s Veteran Affairs Office requires a copy of Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs along with a completed Request for Certification of Enrollment form.

Established Applicants Chapters 30, and 1606

  • Veterans are required to request an updated Certificate of Eligibility form the Department of Veterans Affairs to submit to Coastal Veterans Affairs Office along with a completed  Request for Certification of Enrollment.

Chapter 35

  • Survivors and Dependents Educational Assistance Program provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. This program does not pay tuition, fees, or books. The VA pays a monthly stipend based on your eligibility and enrollment status. This program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and/or certificate programs. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain conditions. Muskogee Regional VA Education Office determines eligibility and disburses monthly stipend via check or direct deposit, whichever the student chooses.

    Students are required to request Official transcripts from any prior colleges attended through the Parchment website. These will be electronically sent to the Registrar’s Office at Coastal Alabama Community College.

New Applicants Chapter 35

  • Go to the VA website  to apply. The process can take 2-4 weeks so apply early. The VA will contact the students by mail letting them know their eligibility. The College's Veteran Affairs Office requires a copy of Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs along with a completed Request for Certification of Enrollment form.

Established Applicants Chapter 35

  • Dependents are required to request an updated Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs to submit to Coastal Veterans Affairs Office along with a completed Request for Certification of Enrollment.

Chapter 31

  • This program pays for tuition and books and pays the Veteran a monthly stipend, which is determined by their local office. The local office is responsible for getting an authorization form to the Coastal Alabama Veterans Affairs Office so that tuition and books can be paid for. Veteran must also complete and submit the  Request for Certification of Enrollment form.

    To learn more about the VR&E program, review the VR&E Process page, and the tabs and links on this page. Click on the "How to Apply" tab to apply for VR&E services. Local service office; 1009 N 12th Ave. Pensacola, FL or 850.432.0740.

    Veterans are required to submit their Official Military Transcript through the Joint Services Transcript (JST) website for Army, National Guard, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy. Air Force can request their Official Military Transcript through the Parchment website.  Veterans also need to request Official transcripts from any prior colleges attended through the Parchment website. These will be electronically sent to the Registrar’s Office at Coastal Alabama Community College.

Chapter 33/Post 911®

  • This program is for veterans, spouses, and children. It pays tuition (based on a percentage rating), provides a book stipend, and pays a basic monthly housing allowance. Tuition money is sent to the College, and the book stipend and housing allowance is paid straight from the VA to the student via check or direct deposit whichever the student chooses. To be eligible for the full housing allowance, students must be full-time the entire semester (including modules) and must have at least one on-campus course. For students in distant courses only the VA pays half of the national average for the monthly housing allowance. If the student is less than full-time, the allowance will be prorated. Students must be enrolled in a minimum of 7 credit hours to even qualify for the housing allowance. For individuals whose eligibility rating is less than 100 percent, the housing allowance will be paid based on percentage (60 percent, 70 percent, 80 percent, etc.). Muskogee Regional VA Education Office determines eligibility.

    Veterans are required to submit their Official Military Transcript through the Joint Services Transcript (JST) website for Army and National Guard, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy. Air Force can request their Official Military Transcript through the Parchment website.  Veterans/dependents need to request Official transcripts from any prior colleges attended through the Parchment website. These will be electronically sent to the Registrar’s Office at Coastal Alabama Community College.

New Veterans / Dependents for Post-9/11 GI Bill®

  • Service member must go to the Department of Defense website and elect how many months of benefits they wish to transfer to their child or spouse. (For Dependents only).
  • Go to the VA website  to apply. The process can take 2-4 weeks so apply early. The VA will contact the students by mail letting them know their eligibility. The College’s Veteran Affairs Office requires a copy of Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs along with a completed Request for Certification of Enrollment form.

Established Veterans / Dependents for Post-9/11

  • Veterans/Dependents are required to request an updated Certificate of Eligibility form the Department of Veterans Affairs to submit to Coastal Veterans Affairs Office along with a completed  Request for Certification of Enrollment.

Chapter 36 

  • is designed to provide professional, educational, vocational and career counseling services to service members, veterans and dependents. This benefit is available to service members within six months of anticipated discharge, veterans within one year following discharge from active duty, and service members or veteran currently eligible for a VA education benefit and all current VA education beneficiaries. Students will need the VA form 28-8832 for counseling. Information about this benefit can be found by clicking here.

Tuition Assistance

  • is for active duty and active reserve only, not for spouses or children. Service members must apply through their service branch; links provided below. Upon approval, the service member must submit a Tuition assistance authorization form to the College’s Veterans Affairs Office. TA covers tuition only, no fees, books or housing allowance. Once your Tuition Assistance has been approved you are required to submit a copy of your TA form to the Veterans Office at Coastal Alabama Community College to ensure your tuition is paid, fees not covered by TA can be paid for by cash or alternative methods of financial aid.

    Veterans are required to submit their Official Military Transcript through the Joint Services Transcript (JST) website for Army and National Guard, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy. Air Force can request their Official Military Transcript through the Parchment website.  Veterans also need to request Official transcripts from any prior colleges attended through the Parchment website. These will be electronically sent to the Registrar’s Office at Coastal Alabama Community College.

    Apply through your below service branch;

Description of State VA Programs and how to apply

 Alabama State GI Dependent Scholarship (State VA) - is for spouses and children of a disabled veteran. The veteran must have a minimum 40 percent service-connected disability and must be a resident of the State of Alabama when he/she enlisted. If the veteran was not a resident of the State of Alabama at the time of enlistment, but he/she has lived in Alabama for two years with a service connected disability of 40-90% and five years for a 100% service connected disability, then he/she may qualify. State VA pays tuition, $10 instructional fees, and required books. State VA does not cover $29 per credit hour of fees, nor do they cover remedial courses or the required book(s) for remedial courses.

  • Alabama GI Dependents Scholarship Program (State VA) is payer of last resort.
  • FAFSA completion is required and must complete a Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) release form.
  • All scholarships and grants must be applied first before use of the Alabama GI Dependents Scholarship Program (State VA) can be determined.
  • Student must comply with the Standards of Satisfactory Progress (SAP) as defined by their education institution.
  • Remaining balances can be paid for by cash or alternative methods of financial aid.

Students are required to request Official transcripts from any prior colleges attended through the Parchment website. These will be electronically sent to the Registrar’s Office at Coastal Alabama Community College.

Alabama National Guard Educational Assistance Program (AGNEAP) is for active Guard Service members

  • Used for tuition, and instructional fees.
  • FAFSA completion required.
  • ANGEAP is payer of last resort, they will cover any remaining tuition balance that Financial Aid, scholarships, or VA education benefits did not cover, if the amount exceeds $100.
  • ANGEAP pays after the semester is completed.
  • Must attend a public postsecondary educational institution in Alabama.
  • Awards are limited based on legislative appropriation.
  • Applications are available at Alabama National Guard units.

Veterans are required to submit their Official Military Transcript through the Joint Services Transcript (JST) website for Army and National Guard.  Air Force can request their Official Military Transcript through the Parchment website.  Veterans also need to request Official transcripts from any prior colleges attended through the Parchment website. These will be electronically sent to the Registrar’s Office at Coastal Alabama Community College.

Veteran Employment Website

An Employment Center is available on the eBenefits website. This is the single federal source for veterans looking for new career opportunities in the private and public sectors. There are multiple tools and resources for job seekers and employers, including the Veterans Job Bank. Use the Skills Translator to translate your military skills to civilian skills.  There is also a resume builder that can make your resume available for viewing in the public and private sectors. This Employment Center is for:

  • servicemembers transitioning to the civilian workforce.
  • military spouses and dependents looking for employment opportunities.
  • G.I. Bill® beneficiaries transitioning from training to the job market.
  • employers looking to connect with high quality applicants.

Know your Options

Gi Bill® Comparison Tool is now available to assist veterans in finding information online about Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® benefits. It is now easier to find schools and training programs available to education beneficiaries. The comparison tool makes it easy to estimate Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® benefits. In addition, Veterans can find and compare information on our 10,000+ approved education and training programs, including estimated tuition and fee amounts and your projected housing allowance. Also available are each school’s graduation rate, student loan default rate and Yellow Ribbon participation. Together, the G.I. Bill® benefit estimator and school comparison information enable students to compare education options and make the best decision for their future. In the future, VA will add additional functionality to the tool, including the ability to compare up to three schools’ side-by-side.

 In-State Tuition Rates for Veterans

The following individuals shall be charged a rate of tuition not to exceed the in-state rate for tuition and fees purposes:

A veteran using educational assistance under either Chapter 30 (Montgomery G.I. Bill® – Active-Duty Program) or Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 G.I. Bill®), of title 38, United States Code, who lives in Alabama while attending a school located in Alabama (regardless of his/her formal State of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of discharge or release from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more. Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® benefits (38 U.S.C. § 3319) who lives in Alabama while attending a school located in Alabama (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and enrolls in the school within three years of the transferor’s discharge or release from a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.

Anyone described above, while he or she remains continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms) at the same school. The person so described must have enrolled in the school prior to the expiration of the three-year period following discharge or release as described above and must be using educational benefits under either Chapter 30 or Chapter 33, of title 38, United States Code.

Anyone using benefits under the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship (38 U.S.C. § 3311(b) (9)) who lives in Alabama while attending a school located in Alabama (regardless of his/her formal state of residence).

Anyone using transferred Post-9/11 G.I. Bill® benefits (38 U.S.C. § 3319) who lives in Alabama while attending a school located in Alabama (regardless of his/her formal state of residence) and the transferor is a member of the uniformed service who is serving on active duty.

The policy shall be read to be amended as necessary to be compliant with the requirements of 38 U.S.C. § 3679 as amended.

Financial Aid