First Steps for Veterans Your First Step Apply to GCC as a matriculated or guest student. Learn more from the Office of Admission, then apply online. Veteran Services can work concurrently with Admissions during the application and registration process. Once you’ve applied and been accepted, you can connect with an advisor and register for classes. Apply for VA Benefits New students at GCC who have not used any VA educational assistance programs should begin the process by applying for education benefits online at Vets.gov. Continuing students 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® Bill Certificate Request (these two documents must be completed every semester). Transfer students who have received VA educational assistance benefits at other institutions of higher education only need to update your education benefits online. Disabled veterans are eligible for considerable financial help when they apply for Veteran Readiness & Employment Service. 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&E advisors contact info. Reservists who have not used any of their Montgomery GI Bill® – Selected Reserve Educational Assistance (Chapter 1606) benefits will need the original DD Form 2384-1: Notice of Basic Eligibility from their Reserve Unit. Dependents who have not received Dependents’ Educational Assistance Benefits Chapter 35 will need to apply online or provide a previously issued Certificate of Eligibility. Are You National Guard? If you are an active, part-time or full-time member of the National Guard, the Massachusetts Army and Air Force National Guard Tuition & Fee Reimbursement Program will provide you with with up to 130 credits for most of the degrees or certificates here at GCC. You must apply and request your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). COE must be submitted to your campus Certifying Official every semester. Request a National Guard COE Documentation Do you know which benefits you will be using this semester? If not, set up a meeting with Veteran Services to go over your options. The documents below are required by GCC and the VA. To start a VA Benefit File Copy of your DD form 214 Certification Letter GI Certification Tuition Waiver Veteran Intake Form Reserve/Guard Not using VA benefits Certificate of Eligibility COE GI Certification Tuition Waiver Veteran Intake Form Required Each Semester GI Certification Tuition Waiver Veteran Intake Form Tuition Waivers You may be eligible for a Categorial Tuition Waiver to cover the cost of your classes. Learn more at mass.gov. Eligible students must complete a waiver form (in MyGCC) each semester. Contact Your Certifying Official You must contact your campus Certifying Official each semester. 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. You must also submit an intake form each semester! Veteran Services Intake FormComplete Each Semester