California Community Colleges and the state's Department of Veterans Affairs want to smooth veterans' transition from military service to the civilian workforce.
The two last week signed a memorandum of understanding allowing CalVet to help vets leaving active duty to streamline their applications to community colleges and find information on how to use federal veterans benefits to pay for college.
CalVet will provide online links to the application process for veterans on CalVet.ca.gov, CCCapply.org and icanaffordcollege.com websites.
California Community Colleges will give CalVet details on its 112 colleges, including college contacts and information on student veterans groups.
CalVet officials say the partnership will remove hurdles for returning vets seeking education, employment and a return to the civilian world.
Each year 30,000 men and women leave military service and return to civilian life in California, according to the state's Employment Development Department.
"Returning veterans face so many challenges in their attempts to re-enter civilian life," said state Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Peter Gravett in a statement announcing the memo.
"It's wonderful to be able to simplify a process that might otherwise discourage them from pursuing their college education," Gravett said.
Community colleges have long been a gateway for the state's veterans.
A full 75 percent of veterans using GI Bill benefits to pay for their education in California are enrolled in the state's community colleges, say California Community College officials.
They include Sacramento veteran Ken Scriven. The 10-year Army veteran graduated from American River College earlier this year with an associate's degree in electronics, his education made possible by the GI Bill.
He also tested for entry into the college's solar energy program, completing his training in 2010.
"That piqued my interest in the solar industry," Scriven said. He had an electronics and solar background from his Army career and training at ARC.
"I figured it would be an interesting field to get into," he said.
Today, his college instructor is now his employer.
Nick Lowrie, a regional operations manager at Solar City, a Sacramento firm, hired Scriven last year and the Army veteran quickly moved from solar installer to a position as the company's warehouse manager.
Scriven proved a quick study.
"It was great to have Ken come in and not have to explain a lot of things," Lowrie said.
The new agreement between California Community Colleges and CalVet is meant to produce similar stories.
"Our returning service members need access to the training offered at our colleges," Jack Scott, the college system's chancellor, said, adding that the agreement "reaffirms the commitment to these veterans to get them enrolled and working toward their educational goals."
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