Welcome to the Veterans Service Center
The Veterans Service Center at Río Hondo College serves as a vital liaison between veterans or their dependents and the Department of Veterans Affairs. We’re here to promote academic and career success for all students who are veterans or dependents of a veteran.
Turn to us for help navigating the process of claiming education benefits. We can offer you guidance and support in completing all the necessary forms. Río Hondo College diligently forwards all documents related to the application and usage of your benefits to the VA processing center in Muskogee, Oklahoma. This ensures a smooth and efficient process for our veteran community.
Get Started
Follow these steps to ensure you receive benefits.
Among other things, you must submit a “yellow card” after registering for classes. If you don’t turn in a “yellow card,” your classes won’t be certified, and you won’t receive benefits.
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Complete the Intake Process
To start your benefits:
- Apply to Río Hondo College for the semester that you plan on attending.
- Complete the Veterans Service Center’s checklist for receiving benefits.
- Apply for your GI Educational Benefits. A Letter of Eligibility should be mailed to you in two to four weeks. Once received, bring a copy to the Veterans Service Center.
- Bring the Veterans Service Center a copy of your DD214 Member #4 (the only one accepted).
- Complete a FAFSA application to see if you’re eligible to receive financial aid.
- Complete the Intake Form from the Forms and Resources webpage.
- Order transcripts from all the previous colleges or trade schools you attended.
- Request Joint Service Transcripts for the Army, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard through the JST website.
- Request Air Force JSTs through the Air University website.
- Complete the online survey.
- Complete the Placement Tool on AccessRío, your student portal. Click on Academics (left side in gray area), then click on Placement Tool (bottom left side). This must be completed before scheduling an appointment with the Veterans Service Center counselor.
- Once all required documents have been received, we can schedule an appointment for you to speak with our VSC counselor.
To see what your pay rate will be, visit the GI Bill website.
For priority registration only, you must bring a military ID or DD214 #4 (the only one accepted) to the VSC.
Our student workers are veterans and will help you through the process.
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Get Certified
- A Certificate of Eligibility is required in order to use your VA education benefits.
- In order to be certified, you must complete and submit a “yellow card” to our office after enrolling in all of your classes for the semester. You must do this every semester and whenever you make changes to your schedule, including dropping or adding classes.
- Once you are certified, you will receive an email to your personal email address from the VA indicating the units and dates you are certified.
- Certification cannot be completed until you have completed all the requirements of the intake process.
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Maintain Eligibility
At the end of each month that you’re enrolled in classes, you must also call VA to self-certify. (This applies to all chapters except Post 911 Chapter 33.) Call the VA at 1-877-823-2378 or go to the VA WAVE website to verify your enrollment.
If there is a change in your class schedule (i.e., you dropped or changed a class), you must complete another “yellow card” and turn it in at our office.
If you fail to notify us, there might be a delay when receiving your monthly benefits, or it may create an overpayment that will have to be paid back to VA.
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Request Transcripts
All transcripts must be received before an appointment can be made.
Official transcripts must be sent directly to the Río Hondo College Admissions and Records Office:
Río Hondo College
Admissions and Records
3600 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601College Transcripts/Trade School Transcripts
You must contact any other college or trade school you have attended and order your official transcripts.
Military Transcripts
Military transcripts are the following: AARTS, SMART, CCAF, and CGI.
- To order military transcripts for the Army, Coast Guard, Marine, or Navy, please use Firefox and go to the JST website.
- To order your Air Force transcripts, go to the Air University website.
VA Welcome Guide
The VA Welcome Guide provides information about your benefits, eligibility, disability rating, emergency resources, and more. Take a look for a better idea of what’s available to you.
Additional details and updates can be found in Title 38 U.S.C. §3679.
Featured On-Campus Programs & Resources
- Take a Book, Give a Book: Consider donating your used books to another veteran after your class has ended. Books can be donated or picked up at the VSC.
- Chromebook & Calculator Loans: The VSC has a limited number of Chromebooks and scientific calculators available for veteran students to borrow. If you are interested in borrowing one, please email us at [email protected].
- Free School Supplies: As a veteran or veteran dependent, you can receive free school supplies at the VSC. Available supplies include pencils, pens, notebooks, scantron sheets, and more.
- Roadrunner Connect: This provides tools for faculty to share positive feedback with students in their classes or notify them of any concerns with their academic progress.
- Free Dental Care: The Lestonnac Free Clinic now offers free dental care to all veterans.
Contact Us
Veterans Services Center
Student Services Building, Room SS150
3600 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601
Spring Office Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday
8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Fridays
8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.