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Veterans Services

Cerro Coso Community College maintains a full-time program of Veterans� services to assist veteran students and their dependents. The staff of the Admissions and Records Office at the IWV campus or the counselor/educational advisor at the Centers work with the Veterans Administration to assist veterans and their dependents in claiming and receiving the educational benefits to which they are entitled.

Receiving Benefits

Eligibility for educational benefits through the Veterans administration is only determined by the VA, Cerro Coso attempts to facilitate this process. Benefits are available to veterans and dependents of veterans and the benefit payable is determined by when you served. Vocational rehabilitation is available to qualified veterans and their dependents but is paid differently from Montgomery GI Bill benefits. All veterans and dependents of veterans who wish to receive VA educational benefits should follow these four steps:

Step 1. Fill out the application for the benefits you are eligible for at http://www.gibill.va.gov. First time users must send a signed application along with a DD214 form to Muskogee, Ok. (VA Regional Office, P.O. Box 8888, Muskogee, OK 74402-8888) before the VA will process your application.

Step 2. Contact a college counselor or educational advisor to select a specific educational objective that may be pursued at Cerro Coso Community College. If you change majors, there is some additional paperwork that must be filled out to keep the VA informed as to your progress. Counseling can be contacted online via our Counseling Contact Form or by phone at (760) 384-6219.

Step 3. Have copies of high school transcripts and transcripts of work completed at other collegiate institutions, if any, sent directly to Cerro Coso Community College Admissions and Records Office (A&R). In addition, there may be classes taken during your military careers that could be used to satisfy some course requirements. Evaluation of all previous college work and other relevant education (including military school experiences) is done by counselor/education advisor and A&R to determine the amount of credit that will be accepted and applied to a degree program at the college. Institutions or the military should send transcripts to:

     Cerro Coso Community College
     c/o Office of Admissions and Records
     3000 College Heights Blvd.
     Ridgecrest, CA 93555

Step 4. Each semester, either online or in person, before you register for classes, make an appointment with a counselor/advisor to review progress and to fill out a VA Program Approval form, a copy of which is sent to the VA office at the college. Counseling can be contacted online via our Counseling Contact Form or by phone at (760) 384-6219.

Additional Things to Know

You will need to notify the Counseling Office (760-384-6219) at the IWV campus or the counselor/educational advisor at the Centers immediately of any changes in address or enrollment status. This includes all changes in class programs during each term of attendance.

Questions?

If you have additional questions, please contact Dave Cornell by email at dcornell@cerrocoso.edu or call (760) 384-6291 or fax (760) 384-6377.

Military Training - Did You Know?

Many veterans receive extensive training while in the military that may be transferable to community colleges and/or a 4 year college. However, you may not know how to access those classes/transcripts. There are resources available to you on the web to help. One resource is SMART transcripts (SMART Sailor/Marine American Council Registry Transcript). The Navy website is:

https://www.navycollege.navy.mil/

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Veterans Services

Receiving Benefits

Additional Things to Know

Questions?

Military Training - Did You Know?

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