OFFICERS: If you plan on attending college after the service, there are some things you need to look into.  Contact the school and get information on requirements for enrollment, residency, use of Veteran’s Education Benefits, etc.
If you are not a resident of the state and need to establish residency, complete a Change of State Residency DD FORM 2058 at your Personnel Support Office.
Get copies of your previous college transcripts and have them stamped “Certified to be True Copies” by administration personnel.

ENLISTED: If you plan on attending college after the service, there are several things you need to look into.  Contact the school and get information on requirements for enrollment, residency, acceptance of military schools or College Level Entry Program (CLEP) tests for credit, use of Veterans Education Benefits for tuition, etc.

If you are not a resident of the state in which the school is located, and need to establish residency, complete a Change of State Residency DD FORM 2058 at your Personnel Support Office.

Gather copies of required documentation for proof of military schools or experience and have them stamped “Certified to be True Copies” by administration personnel.

If you have taken any previous college classes, get copies of your transcripts from the school(s) and have them stamped “Certified to be True Copies” by administration personnel.

Check with your base college education office to see what the requirements are for taking CLEP tests.  These are free of charge while you’re in the service.  You’ll pay over a $100 per test once you get out!  Schedule yourself to take as many as you feel comfortable with in the next few months.  Be sure to keep copies of the results.

Navy and Marines: Request your Sailor/Marine American Council on Education Registry Transcript (SMART).

Obtain your Verification of Military Experience and Training (VMET) DD FORM 2586 from your local Fleet and Family or Transition Support Office.

This is part of a complete step-by-step military retirement checklist. I’ll be posting weekly action steps here, so please subscribe over in the right-hand column so you’re sure to get each update.

Verify your eligibility for Veterans Education Benefits (GI BILL, MGIB, VEAP).   Call the Veterans Administration at 1800-827-1000 and ask them to verify your benefits.  If you need to submit a form to the VA for further investigation of your record, you can download them online.
When I did this during my transition, I discovered that the VA had two records on me.  One said I was eligible for benefits…..the other said I wasn’t!  I had to submit an application for benefits, even though I wasn’t planning to go to school, to get my record reconciled.  It was apparently the only way to get any action taken on it.  It took a few months to get it straightened out.

This is part of a complete step-by-step military retirement checklist. I’ll be posting weekly action steps here, so please subscribe over in the right-hand column so you’re sure to get each update.

From pay to the GI Bill, from VA home loans to health care, your military service has earned you valuable military benefits. Whether you’re on active duty, a veteran or retiree, Military Benefits makes using your military & Veteran benefits easy.

Check out this website today!  It’s the most extensive list I’ve seen for “one-stop shopping” to ALL the benefits available to you.