Military Education Benefits Checklist

Active Duty Tuition Assistance

Navy and Marine Corps Tuition Assistance

• Discuss with your command ESO. Approval is required at least 14 days prior to the start of the term.
• Complete required training. Sailors are required to complete two training topics: the Higher Education Preparation Course and the TA Policy and Procedures training.
  • The Higher Education Preparation Course (HEPUS001) is located on the Joint Knowledge Online (JKO) website and is a once-per-naval-career training requirement for new tuition assistance users.
  • The TA Policy and Procedures training is required every two years. You must complete this training before being eligible to apply for TA.
    • Send the certificates of completion to the Virtual Education Center (VEC) by submitting a support contact.
      • Choose “Submit TA Training Cert” as the category and attach the scanned certificate.
• Check the Navy College Program website for more information.

Army Tuition Assistance

• Contact the Stone Education Center on Joint Base Lewis-McChord for direct support in setting up your tuition assistance program.
  • Address: 6242 Colorado Ave, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA 98433
    Phone: 253-967-7174
  • For more information, visit the MyArmyBenefits website for guidance.

Air Force Tuition Assistance

• Discuss with your supervisor.
• Contact the Stone Education Center on Joint Base Lewis-McChord for direct support in setting up your tuition assistance program.
  • Address: 6242 Colorado Ave, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA 98433
  • Phone: 253-967-7174
  • For more information, visit the Air Force Virtual Education Center.

Coast Guard Tuition Assistance

• Discuss with your command ESO
• Get more info on the U.S. Coast Guard website.

National Guard Benefits

Apply for Washington Student Achievement Council's National Guard Postsecondary Education Grant.

Military Spouse Benefits

SpouseWorks for Military Spouses (formerly MyCAA)

• Go to the Military Spouse Education & Career Opportunities, SpouseWorks website.
• Create your SpouseWorks account.
• Coordinate with your career counselor to confirm the necessary steps to obtain your voucher.
• Review the following for more information:
  • SpouseWorks Fact Sheet
  • SpouseWorks FAQ

Apply for financial aid to see what grants, loans, and other funding you qualify for, starting with your FSA ID and FAFSA:

• Create your FSA ID.
• Complete your FAFSA.
  • OC School Code is 003784.
  • Remember to check your ctcLink student self-service portal later for important updates and to-dos from OC’s Financial Aid Office.

• Get more information and help from Financial Aid

• OC Financial Aid Main homepage
  • For information on submitting the FAFSA, visit the How to Submit the FAFSA page.
  • OC Financial Aid Forms
  • Get help with Financial Aid by contacting OC’s Virtual Office.
    • Open Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
    • Zoom link: Student Services Virtual Lobby
    • Or dial in: 1 (253) 215-8782, Meeting ID: 693 824 6429

Set up the accounts you’ll use throughout your time at OC: your admissions application, ctcLink, student email, and (optionally) Zoom.

• Create an online admissions account and apply to Olympic College. Once completed, you will get your ctcLink ID number. We recommend you memorize it and include it with any communications you make with OC staff.
  • You will need to choose your degree/program right away. You can change it later—just ask us how.
• Complete the ctcLink First Time User login to set your ctcLink system password and access your Student Homepage.
• Activate your OC Student/Office 365 account. This will give you access to Office 365 and the forms you’ll need to submit below.
• (Optional) Create a free Zoom account, as many courses and school functions are offered remotely via Zoom.

Request your military and prior college transcripts so OC can evaluate what transfer credit you’ve earned.

• Request that your official military transcript (JST / CCAF) be sent to Olympic College digitally.
• Contact other colleges and universities that have awarded you college credit and have them send an official transcript to Olympic College.
  • Digitally, or by mail to: Olympic College Evaluators, 1600 Chester Ave, Bremerton, WA 98337
• Complete the Transcript Evaluation Request form and allow 10–12 weeks for OC’s Transcript Evaluators to determine your transfer credit.

Get ready to enroll by settling your placement, attending orientation, and meeting with an advisor.

Determine your Math and English placement

• Collect unofficial transcripts from your previously completed Math and English courses at a previous university or college.
• If you do not have previous college-level Math or English credits, please pay for and schedule your placement assessment.

Attend New Student Orientation

• Register for New Student Orientation
  • Information session for military-connected students interested in using their VA or DoD education benefits at Olympic College. A one-hour Q&A with MVP staff about the enrollment process, using your VA or DoD benefits, Canvas, financial aid, student engagement, and much more!

Meet with an academic advisor to develop your education plan

• Military Advising:
  • Marcus Lane
  • Tatiane Simons
• Meet with your program's Success Coach:
  • Make an Advising Appointment

Each term you use benefits, you’ll repeat these steps: enroll, submit your certification request, gather your books, and send in your voucher.

Enroll in Courses

• Visit the How to enroll page for step-by-step instructions.

Certification Request - Submit every term you are using DoW education benefits

• Visit the Certification Request for Military-Connected Students page. Click on the “Certification Request Form” and fill it out. Select one of the following:
  • Active Duty tuition assistance (email funding document to @email)
  • SpouseWork, formerly MyCAA (email financial assistance document to @email)

Gather Supplies

• Required book ISBNs can be found on the OC Bookstore website.

Submit your Voucher every term

• Please submit your Active Duty tuition assistance or SpouseWorks voucher to @email as soon as it becomes available to you.
  • You will receive a confirmation email after your voucher has been processed and forwarded to the accounting department. Any tuition or fees not covered by your voucher will need to be paid by the end of the term.
  • Failure to submit your voucher or contact @email may result in being dropped for non-payment. If this occurs, contact MVP for more information or to be re-enrolled in your courses.

Since Active Duty  and SpouseWorks tuition assistance vouchers only cover tuition costs, any fees are the responsibility of the student. 

Tuition costs are set by Washington State and are updated annually. Current tuition costs 2026-2027 Year

For more than 18 credits, contact MVP at @email.

Olympic College Military-Connected Students may qualify for resident tuition costs. For information, visit the Residency for Military-Connected Students page.

The Washington Student Achievement Council's National Guard Postsecondary Education Grant helps eligible, actively participating members of the Washington National Guard get an undergraduate degree or certificate. The program provides education opportunities to qualified service members and serves as an incentive to extend their National Guard service.

Participants commit to serving one year in the Washington National Guard in exchange for each year of grant funding. Combined with state and federal aid, grants can cover tuition and fees at approved colleges in Washington, as well as a portion of books and materials.

Those interested are encouraged to reach out to their education office or recruiter for more information on good standing with the Washington National Guard. The Washington National Guard may select applicants to meet certain recruitment needs.

WSAC National Guard Grant

In addition to your military education benefits, you may be eligible for other financial aid. Apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see what aid you're eligible for. It may also be helpful to calculate the cost of attending Olympic College.

Apply for Federal Student AidCalculate Cost of Attendance