Veterans and Service Members
Los Medanos College Veterans Services offers a range of services and supports to U.S. Military Veterans and Service Members. Our Checklist is designed to help you get started at Los Medanos College and guide you through the process of applying for VA Education Benefits.
To access services, please submit a copy of your DD-214 Member Copy 4 or U.S. Government-Issued
Identification Card (front side only).
For more information, please click the links below. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at veterans@losmedanos.edu, call us at (925) 473-7511, or visit the Veterans Resource Center during our office hours for hands-on assistance.
- Checklist
Checklist
1. APPLY OR RE-APPLY TO LMC: If you are a new student, apply and obtain a student ID number. If you are a returning student absent for one or more academic years, re-apply to reactivate your student account.
2. ORDER TRANSCRIPTS & SUBMIT EVALUATION REQUEST: Request electronic military transcripts and academic transcripts for ALL school(s) you have attended outside of our College District. E-transcripts can be sent to transcripts@losmedanos.edu.
• Joint Services Transcript (JST) for Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy Service Members/Veterans
• Community College of the Air Force/Air University for Air Force Service Members/Veterans
• Check if LMC has received ALL your transcripts by visiting the InSite Grades-Transcripts tile, then click on Received Transcripts.
• Submit a Request for Transcript Evaluation and select your LMC Pathway and Program/Major3. MATRICULATION: Complete the following for an earlier registration date.
• Online New Student Orientation
• Online English and Math Guided Self-Placement
• Education Plan with a Veterans Services Counselor. Required annually and any time there is a change to your course schedule and/or academic program.
Set an appointment with a Veterans Services counselor..• Register for Classes Required for Your Degree/Program Major
4. APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID: You can receive VA education benefits and financial aid simultaneously.
5. APPLY FOR VA EDUCATION BENEFITS: Have your DD-214 and banking information readily available, find your education benefit, and complete an online application. Contra Costa County Veterans Service Office can provide expert assistance to Veterans and service members.
6. SUBMIT DOCUMENTS TO LMC:
- Submit your DD-214 Service Member Copy 4 or Service-2 Character of Service here.
- Check your residency and submit a Residency Reclassification Request or AB540 California Non-Resident Tuition Exemption Form if needed. You can find detailed residency information here.
- If you are using VA education benefits, submit ALL pages of your VA Certificate of Eligibility “COE” or DD Form 2384-1 Notice of Basic Eligibility “NOBE” from your Command here).
- If you are transferring from another school and have previously used your VA educational benefits, complete complete VA Form 22-1995 Change of Program/Place of Training Parts I, II & V. Do NOT complete Direct Deposit Information. Upload the form here.
- If you are a Veteran using Ch. 31 VR&E education benefits, your VR&E counselor must submit a Purchase Order to the Tungsten e-Invoice Network.
- If you are using your VA education benefits and are a guest at LMC, a letter from your home School Certifying Official should be sent to veterans@losmedanos.edu.
- If you’re in the Police Academy (Basic Law Enforcement Academy Intensive) and using education benefits, upload your Employment Hire Letter here. The letter must reflect your name and address.
7. REGISTER AND SUBMIT AN ENROLLMENT CERTIFICATION REQUEST: If you are using VA education benefits, submit this document each semester and whenever you make any changes to your schedule. If you have been accepted into the Contra Costa County Basic Law Enforcement Academy, please note the following details: the term is based on the semester in which the academy graduates, e.g. 10/31/25, corresponds with Fall 2025. The course name is ADJUS-005, 25 units, and the course dates are the start and graduation dates of the academy class, e.g. 203rd. Ensure that all required items are completed before submitting your request. If items are missing, your request will be returned unprocessed.8. GET YOUR SCHOOL SUPPLIES, PARKING PERMIT, BOOKS, ETC.
- Financial Aid, Grants & Scholarships
Financial Aid, Grants & Scholarships
Veterans Emergency Funds Application and Referral - Open Year-Round
AUSA Dean Chapter Scholarship - Trades/Vocations Scholarship - 04/18/25 Deadline
AUSA Dean Chapter Scholarship - Professional/General Scholarship - 04/18/25 Deadline
- Forms and Uploader Links
Forms and Uploader Links
DD-214 Service Member Copy 4 or Service-2 Character of Service (Uploader)
Enrollment Certification Request & Change Notification
Guided Self-Placement - English and Math
Police Academy Employment Hire Letter (Uploader)
VA Certificate of Eligibility Education Decision Letter - Download Copy from VA
VA Certificate of Eligibility or Notice of Basic Eligibility “NOBE” - Upload through InSite
VA Education Benefits Application
VA Form 22-1995 Veteran’s Change of Program/Place of Training Parts I, II & V. Do NOT complete Direct Deposit Information. Uploader the form here.
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Priority Registration for U.S. Military & National/State Guard
Priority Registration
Complete the following for an earlier registration date.
- Online New Student Orientation
- Online English and Math Guided Self-Placement
- Create an Education Plan with a Veterans Services Counselor.
Set an appointment here.
- If you are a veteran of the U.S. military, submit a copy of your DD-214 Member Copy 4.
- If you do not have a DD-214 and are a U.S. military active duty service member, reservist, or National/State Guard member, submit a copy of your U.S. Government-Issued Identification Card (front side only).
- Pay any outstanding balance not covered by financial aid or education benefits.
- Once ALL the above is completed, email veterans@losmedanos.edu from your InSite student email and request priority registration.
Contingent upon completing and meeting the above matriculation items, priority registration for enrollment will be granted to any member or former member of the U.S. military, and who is a resident of California, who has received an honorable discharge, a general discharge, or an other than honorable discharge, and to any member or former member of the State Guard. - VA Education Benefits
VA Education Benefits
VA education benefits help the military-connected community pay for college and training. The VA education benefit chapters are the most commonly used by Los Medanos College military-connected students. For a complete list of GI Bill® and other education benefits, click here.
Veterans are encouraged to contact the VA Education Call Center at 1-888- 442-4551 and speak first with a VA career counselor. Should you consider or qualify for Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness & Employment (VR&E) education benefits due to a service-related disability, at least one day of entitlement of Chapter 33 Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® benefits is required.
If you need help determining which education benefits you are eligible for, which is best for you, and to apply, click here or call the G.I. Bill Hotline 1-888-442-4551.
CH. 30 MONTGOMERY G.I. BILL - ACTIVE DUTY
CH. 31 VETERAN READINESS & EMPLOYMENT (VR&E)
CH. 33 POST 9/11 G.I. BILL
CH. 1606 MONTGOMERY G.I. BILL - SELECTED RESERVE
Rates of Pursuit (ROP)
Fall and Spring Term
Chapters 30 and 1606 Rate of Pursuit
- 12 credits or more is full time
- 9-11 credits is ¾ time
- 6-8 credits is ½ time
- 4-5 credits is less than ½ time (<½-time)
- 1-3 credits is ¼ time or less (<¼-time)
Chapter 33 Rate of Pursuit
The VA calculates the Rate of Pursuit (ROP) by dividing the credit hours (or credit hour equivalents) being pursued by the number of credit hours considered to be full-time by the school. The resulting percentage is the student’s ROP. The Chapter 33 housing allowance is paid if ROP is more than 50%.Summer Session
The VA converts credit earned during nonstandard quarters or semesters to equivalent credit hours. The VA makes the conversion, not the schools. LMC will report your actual units pursued.
The VA uses this formula to determine your payment:
- Credit × 18 ÷ weeks = credit hour equivalents
- 4-semester credits earned in 4 weeks is the equivalent of 18 credits earned during a standard semester (4 × 18 ÷ 4 = 18) and will pay full-time for 4 weeks.
Rates and Payments
Please note that the VA determines payment amounts. Please direct payment-related question to the VA by calling 1-888-442-4551 should you have any questions after reviewing the VA Education Benefits here.
Monthly Self-Reporting to the VA
Chapter 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill® and non-Chapter 33 students (except for Chapter 31 VR&E) are required by the VA to self-verify continued course enrollment every month. Students can opt-in with the VA for text messaging verification. Students who do not opt-in for text messaging will automatically be enrolled in email verification and sent an automated email on the last day of the month. Students can also verify online at Monthly Verification of Enrollment or call 1-887-823-2378.
Changes After Enrollment Certification
Military-connected students must immediately report any changes to their LMC School Certifying Official by submitting a Course Enrollment Certification Request & Change Notification and/or appropriate (veteran or dependent) Request for Change of Program or Place of Training. Failure to report changes, such as withdrawal from courses or the college, will be interpreted as a violation of the Educational Benefits Act.