The first and most important step is to apply for admission to Kilgore College. All students must be admitted before they can use VA education benefits.
Continuing Education students, including those applying to the Fire Academy or Police Academy, should apply directly through those specific departments.
All other students must complete the standard admissions process through the Kc Admissions Office.
It is imperative that you schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor. Veterans CAN NOT be certified for VA benefits until there is a schedule in the system for you.
All students applying to a regular degree program are encouraged to complete a FAFSA to determine financial aid eligibility, which includes the Pell Grant, other State & Local Grants, Federal Student Loans, and Scholarships. FAFSA’s must be submitted prior to July 1st for enrollment in the Fall semester and November 1st for the Spring semester. The last day a FAFSA can be filed with the Department of Education, for any academic year, is June 30th. Please Note: Financial Aid cannot be used for any type of Continuing Education Courses and all enrollment must be within your degree plan for eligibility. Please speak with the Veteran Certifying Official if you have any questions regarding this process.
Students interested in Continuing Education courses or programs must complete paperwork per that program’s guidelines and are not required to complete Orientation or Testing.Â
Fire Academy applicants should inform the Academy that they are using Veterans benefits when submitting paperwork. Veteran students are responsible for contacting the VA Rep prior to beginning classes and submitting all required documentation and applications. The Fire Academy will contact the Certifying Official regarding class enrollment and schedules. Â
Police Academy applicants must inform their instructors when classes begin that they are using Veterans benefits and which benefits: GI Bill, Post 9/11, Hazlewood or a combination. Veteran students are  responsible for contacting the VA Rep prior to beginning classes and submitting all required documentation and applications. The Police Academy will contact the Certifying Official regarding class enrollment and schedules.
Tuition Assistance is for active military service members and includes, Army Tuition Assistance, Navy Tuition Assistance, and Air Force Tuition Assistance.
These programs are administered through an Educational Services Officer within your branch of service. You must complete the counseling process with your ESO. Once your program has been approved you will need to notify the college of your choice and speak with the Veteran Certifying Official on that campus. Please note: We cannot assist you with this phase of your educational goals, however we can assist you with any information or paperwork you may need to gain approval.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill®* is for individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after Sept. 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The Post-9/11 GI Bill become effective for training on or after Aug. 1, 2009.
Chapter 30 – Montgomery GI Bill®: The MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. This program is also commonly known as Chapter 30.
Chapter 35 – DEA:Â Dependents’ Educational Assistance provides education and training opportunities to eligible dependents of certain veterans. The program offers up to 45 months of education benefits. These benefits may be used for degree and certificate programs, apprenticeship, and on-the-job training. If you are a spouse, you may take a correspondence course. Remedial, deficiency and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
Chapter 1606: The MGIB-SRÂ program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Coast Guard Reserve, and the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs, flight training, apprenticeship/on-the-job training and correspondence courses. Remedial, deficiency, and refresher courses may be approved under certain circumstances.
Chapter 1607: REAPÂ was established as a part of the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005. It is a new Department of Defense education benefit program designed to provide educational assistance to members of the Reserve components called or ordered to active duty in response to a war or national emergency (contingency operation) as declared by the President or Congress. Â This new program makes certain reservists who were activated for at least 90 days after September 11, 2001 either eligible for education benefits or eligible for increased benefits.
Chapter 31 – Veteran Readiness and Employment: The Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) Program is authorized by Congress under Title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 31. It is sometimes referred to as the Chapter 31 program. The mission of VR&E is to help veterans with service-connected disabilities to prepare for, find, and keep suitable jobs. For veterans with service-connected disabilities so severe that they cannot immediately consider work, VR&E offers services to improve their ability to live as independently as possible.
Hazlewood Exemption:Â Fill out a Hazlewood application and you could qualify for a scholarship to pay for tuition and fees for up to 150 college credits.
My CAA:Â The Department of Defense (DoD) Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA) program provides a lifetime benefit of up to $6,000 of Financial Assistance (FA) for military spouses who are pursuing licenses, certificates, credentials or degree programs leading to employment in Portable Career Fields. Application and information are available at the website.
Purple Heart Foundation Scholarship Program:Â The Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) Scholarship Program is designed to provide financial support to Purple Heart recipients and their families for the direct costs of higher education. It covers things like tuition, books, incidental fees and room and board.
* 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 at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
The Texas Veterans Commission released the following statements: