Veterans

For individuals with at least 90 days of aggregate service on or after Sept. 11, 2001, or individuals discharged with a service-connected disability after 30 days. You must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Bill®. This benefit provides up to 36 months of education benefits, generally benefits are payable for 15 years following your release from active duty.

Called “MGIB” for short, the MGIB program provides up to 36 months of education benefits. This benefit may be used for degree and certificate programs. Remedial, deficiency and refresher course may be approved under certain circumstances. Generally, benefits are payable for 10 years following your release from active duty. This program is known as Chapter 30.

This program may be available to you if you are a member of the Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve includes Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard and Air National Guard. You may use this education assistance program for degree programs and certificate programs. Remedial, refresher and deficiency training are available under certain circumstances.

Dependents Education Assistance is available to certain dependents and spouses of veterans who were declared by Veterans Affairs to have a 100% service connected disability or who were POW/MIA.

Note: GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

This program provides payment of tuition and certain fees at an Illinois public two- or four-year college or university. The grant is available to enlistees who have served one year of active duty and are currently in active duty status. You are not required to enroll for a minimum number of credit hours.

National Guard Grant Application

This program provides payment of tuition and certain fees at an Illinois public two- or four-year college or university. The grant is available to qualified Illinois veterans or military service members with at least one year of active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and who have served honorably. Veterans must have been residents of Illinois six months prior to entering the services and must have returned to Illinois to reside within six months of leaving the service. You are not required to enroll for a minimum number of credit hours.

Illinois Veteran Grant Application

Veterans are eligible to receive credit for health and physical education and military training. Health and Physical Education Credit
To receive this credit, applicants must submit to the Registrar their DD Form 214 (Armed Forces of the United States Report of Transfer or Discharge). Veterans are eligible to receive credit for Health 102 (two credit hours) and for physical education (four credit hours) provided that the military service was of more than one year’s duration. There is no charge for recording this credit on the transcript.

DSST and USAFI
Guidelines for the acceptance of DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST), previously known as just DANTES, and United States Armed Forces Institute (USAFI) are available from the Enrollment Services Office.

Military Training School
Military training school experiences will be evaluated by personnel in the appropriate department, and credit will be awarded only if there are existing college courses which parallel the military training received, otherwise elective credits will be awarded toward an associate degree as long as credits are college level. Evaluation will be based upon the American Council on Education’s (ACE) “The Guide to the Evaluation of Educational Experiences in the Armed Services” as listed on an official Joint Services Transcript. Students with military training experience should first contact the Enrollment Services Office and request an official Joint Services Transcript be sent to Black Hawk College. There is no charge for evaluating transfer credit from a Joint Services Transcript.

Stand Up & Be Counted!

The Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) is pleased to announce the launch of online access to its veteran service officers. This site encourages all Illinois veterans to ‘Stand Up and Be Counted’ by submitting basic contact information to IDVA.

Illinois Association of County Veterans Assistance Commissions, Inc.

Provides needed services, including financial aid, veteran services and advocacy services, to military veterans and their families who reside in said counties.

Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs (IDVA)

Vet Centers

Locations and services offered by Illinois Vet Centers.

Veterans Care

Provides health care information for Illinois veterans.

Federal Government Veteran Affairs

Provides federal VA benefits for service members.

Military One Source

Provides information regarding the various services offered through the VA.

Military Student Loan Benefits

National Resource Directory

The National Resource Directory (NRD) is a website for wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans, their families and those who support them.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill® website

works with military veterans. They provide information on health care, educational benefits and more.

Quad Cities Vet Center

helps veterans in need of counseling services. All services are tailored to the needs of current and retired veterans. If you are unable to pay for counseling services, money set aside in the GI Bill® or through Tri-Care may be used. Call 309-755-3260.

Veterans Crisis Line (800-273-8255 or call/text 988)

Works to connect you with caring, qualified responders with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Many of them are veterans themselves.