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Military Benefits Process

Return to Military and Veterans Page

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Process for Using Military Benefits at RCC for New Students.  (Current students please scroll down for information.)

  • Step 1:   Apply to RCC and choose your program or curriculum. 
  • Step 2:  Complete the Virginia Community College Enrollment Survey to find out where to start in Math and English.
  • Step 3:  Submit Applicable Documents to records@rappahannock.edu
    • Transcripts include: college, high school, GED, police academy, and Joint Services
    • Test scores include: AP, CLEP, GED, and IB
    • Submit DD-214
  • Step 4:  If you have not applied for Veterans Education Benefits previously here is what you need to do: 
    • Post 9/11 GI Bill ® (Ch. 33): Click here for "How Do I Apply"
    • Post 9/11 GI Bill ® (transfer to child or spouse): Veterans must submit a request to transfer benefits. Click here.
    • Dependents Education Assistance (DES, Ch. 35): Click here to apply.
    • Virginia Military and Survivors & Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP): If you are a spouse or child of a military service member who was killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who has been rated by the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90% permanently disabled as a result of military service, apply here.
    • Veterans Readiness  Employment Program (VR&E, Ch. 31): Click here to apply.
    • MyCAA: Click here to apply.
    • Fry Scholarship: Click here to apply
    • MontgomeryGI Bill ®-Selected Reserve (Ch. 106): Click here to apply.
  • Step 5:  Schedule an appointment with RCC’s VA School Certifying Official, Jill Quinlan, by emailing a request to veterans@rappahannock.edu.
  • Step 6:  Every semester you plan to use your military benefits you must meet with your College Navigator to enroll in classes and complete the Military Benefits Certify eForm. Click here for form instructions. 
    Be prepared to submit or also do the following if applicable:
    • Post 9/11 GI Bill ® (Ch. 33): Submit proof of benefits (certificate of eligibility letter or benefits summary statement).
    • Post 9/11 GI Bill ® (transfer to child or spouse): Veterans must submit a request to transfer benefits. Click here. Student must submit proof of benefits (certificate of eligibility letter).
    • Dependents Education Assistance (DES, Ch. 35): Student must pay for all education expenses out-of-pocket unless they are using a VMSDEP tuition and fee waiver, have financial aid or another form of payment from a third-party.
    • Virginia Military and Survivors & Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP): Once approved, you must log into your VMSDEP account every semester you plan to use your benefits, to enter the college, semester, and enrollment information.
    • Veterans Readiness  Employment Program (VR&E, Ch. 31): Student must meet with their VR&E Counselor to get approval. The VR&E Counselor will then send RCC's School Certifying Official (SCO) Jill Quinlan an authorization email to veterans@rappahannock.edu.
    • MyCAA: Contact the School Certifying Official at veterans@rappahannock.edu.
    • Fry Scholarship: Contact the School Certifying Official at veterans@rappahannock.edu.
    • Montgomery GI Bill ®-Selected Reserve (Ch. 106): Contact the School Certifying Official at veterans@rappahannock.edu.
  • Step 7:  Apply for Financial Aid by completing a FAFSA (Free application for Federal Student Aid) 
    RCC school code is 009160
  • Step 8:  Check your financial aid status in your Student Center in SIS

 

CURRENT STUDENTS

  • Step 1:  Every semester you plan to use your benefits, meet with your College Navigator to enroll in classes and complete the Military Benefits Certify eForm. Click here for form instructions. 
    Be prepared to submit or also do the following if applicable:
    • Post 9/11 GI Bill ® (Ch. 33): Submit proof of benefits (certificate of eligibility letter or benefits summary statement).
    • Post 9/11 GI Bill ® (transfer to child or spouse): Veterans must submit a request to transfer benefits. Click here. Student must submit proof of benefits (certificate of eligibility letter).
    • Dependents Education Assistance (DES, Ch. 35): Student must pay for all education expenses out-of-pocket unless they are using a VMSDEP tuition and fee waiver, have financial aid or another form of payment from a third-party.
    • Virginia Military and Survivors & Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP): If you are a spouse or child of a military service member who was killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who has been rated by the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs as totally and permanently disabled or at least 90% permanently disabled as a result of military service, apply here. Once approved, you must log into your VMSDEP account every semester you plan to use your benefits, to enter the college, semester, and enrollment information.
    • Veterans Readiness  Employment Program (VR&E, Ch. 31): Student must meet with their VR&E Counselor to get approval. The VR&E Counselor will then send RCC's School Certifying Official (SCO) Jill Quinlan an authorization email to veterans@rappahannock.edu.
    • Fry Scholarship: Contact the School Certifying Official at veterans@rappahannock.edu.
    • Montgomery GI Bill ®-Selected Reserve (Ch. 106): Contact the School Certifying Official at veterans@rappahannock.edu.
    • Ch. 1606 Reserve/National Guard – Contact School Certifying Official at veterans@rappahannock.edu
  • Step 2:  Apply for Financial Aid by completing a FAFSA (Free application for Federal Student Aid) 
    RCC school code is 009160

 

To enroll in classes and receive assistance with the Military Benefits Certify e-Form:

Contact your College Navigator


Important Notes:

Notify RCC’s Veterans Affairs Certifying Officer if you:

  • Change programs
  • Alter course load
  • Withdraw from classes
  • Add/drop classes
  • Do not enroll for a term that has been certified
  • Have exhausted your VA educational benefits
  • Change addresses (Address changes must be reported directly to VA)

Audited Classes:  VA benefits do not cover any courses that are taken on an audit basis and the credits will not be counted in the course load for the purpose of certifying your enrollment. For example, if a student enrolls in 12 credits, three credits of which are taken for audit, it will be considered enrollment in 9 credits for the purpose of VA status.

Personal Wellness:  The VA will not pay for personal wellness credits for service members. Veterans and Active-Duty students are granted Health/PE credit(s) based on submitting their Joint Service Transcript (or comparable document such as DD-214). Not all personal wellness credits can be certified.  

Remedial and deficiency courses:  Remedial and deficiency courses offered in an online or hybrid format cannot be approved for VA benefits and cannot be certified to VA under any chapter (e.g., EDE 10, EDE 11, MCR 3, MDE 10, MDE 54, MDE 55, MDE 60 MDE 61; this is not a comprehensive list, but is meant to provide examples.)

Repeating Classes:  Do not register in courses for which you have previously received a passing grade/credit even if taken at another institution. Classes that are successfully completed may not be certified again for VA purposes if they are repeated. However, if a student fails a class, or if a program requires a higher grade than the one achieved in a particular class for successful completion, that class may be repeated and certified to VA again.

  • Example 1:  If a Nursing program requires a “B” or better in Biology, then that class may be repeated if a “B” or better was not earned. That requirement must be in the school catalog.
  • Example 2:  If a course is required for graduation, a student may repeat the course and be certified for it until it is successfully completed. No further information needs to be provided to VA regarding those courses.
  • Example 3:  If a student chooses to repeat a course that was successfully completed, just to improve their GPA, that course cannot be certified to VA.

FRAUD ALERT NOTICE: The Department of Veterans Affairs has issued a fraud alert about a marketing scam targeting veterans who misdial the VA National Call Center (800-827-1000) or the GI Bill ® Call Center (888-442-4451). A marketing company created two phone numbers that differ from the real VA numbers by one digit. If a veteran misdials and calls the bogus number, the answering party will offer a gift card and try to obtain sensitive personal data, including credit card information.

Please note that the VA will never ask for credit card or banking information over the phone. RCC Veterans Services is dedicated to helping veterans and their families use their benefits to support their college expenses. We recognize and appreciate the sacrifice of those who have served in the U. S. Armed Forces.