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Military & Veterans Services

About our Services

At Florida Gateway College, we are honored to support the brave men and women who have served our country. Our staff is dedicated to helping veterans, active-duty service members, and their families achieve their academic, career, and personal goals. From navigating your educational benefits to accessing career resources and connecting with a supportive campus community, we’re here to assist you every step of the way. Florida Gateway College provides a welcoming environment designed to help you transition from military life to the classroom and beyond.

FGC's Military & Veterans Services is located within the Office of Registration and Records found in Building 15 on our main campus. Stop in to see us or email veterans@fgc.edu. To help you succeed, we provide the following services and support. 

 

Educational Benefits

Guidance and support for students using VA education benefits, including certification of enrollment, benefit processing, required documentation, and assistance navigating federal and state military education programs.

Amanda Luke
Enrollment Specialist II / VA Certifying Official
 amanda.luke@fgc.edu
 386-754-4398

Timothy Wimmer
Registration and Records Specialist/Club Advisor
 timothy.wimmer@fgc.edu
 386-754-4290

Transition to College Support

Military-connected students have access to academic advising, tutoring, career services, financial aid assistance, accessibility services, student life, and other campus resources. 

Military & Veterans Club

The FGC Military & Veterans Club brings together students connected to military service to build community and support one another through the transition to college life. The club is open to veterans, active-duty members, reservists, National Guard members, spouses, and dependents. Through connection, service, leadership, and student engagement, the club provides opportunities for military-connected students to meet others, get involved, and feel supported at FGC.

Priority Registration

FGC provides priority registration for eligible veteran and military-connected students so they can secure courses that support timely degree completion and benefit certification. Students should meet with an academic advisor early, confirm their program requirements, and register during the priority registration window when eligible.

Priority Registration Dates

  • Spring 2027: October 21-23
  • Summer 2027: March 31-April 2

Referrals to Campus and Community Resources

Assistance connecting students with academic, financial, career, wellness, and community resources that support educational success, military transition, and overall well-being.

Veteran Outreach

Representation at campus and community events, veteran resource fairs, and local veteran-serving organizations to provide information about educational opportunities, VA benefits, and support services available through FGC.

Enrollment Steps for Veterans

Students using military education benefits are encouraged to contact our VA Certifying Official early in the enrollment process to ensure all required documentation is completed and benefits are processed in a timely manner. Visit our Veterans Students page for information on the admission application process through registration. 

VA Tutoring Assistance and Career Counseling

Veterans using education assistance may be eligible for tutoring benefits. FGC also offers free tutoring in the Student Success Center and online. Learn more about VA Tutoring Benefits. 

Information regarding VA Career Counseling can be found at: https://www.vets.gov/employment/

 

Access Benefits

Each term for which you choose to use veteran’s benefits, you must notify the Veterans Certifying Official when you register for classes, make any schedule changes, or change your major.

Before the FGC Veterans Certifying Official may certify enrollment, the eligible student must enroll for classes and sign the accountability statement to verify in writing that he/she is choosing to use veteran’s benefits for the term.

Ensure you notify the Veterans Certifying Official of registration, schedule changes, or major changes to avoid any delay of receipt of benefits.

Follow these steps if you have never used benefits before:

  • Complete VA Application for Educational Benefits:
  • Submit a copy of your DD-214 (member 4 copy) to the following address: Florida Gateway College, Attn: Amanda Luke, 149 SE College Place, Lake City, FL 32025
  • Make an appointment with our VA Certifying Official, Amanda Luke, by calling 386-754-4398.

Follow these steps if you have used benefits at another college:

  • Complete Request for Change of Program or Place of Training Form:
  • Submit a copy of your DD-214 (member 4 copy) to the following address: Florida Gateway College, Attn: Amanda Luke, 149 SE College Place, Lake City, FL 32025
  • Make an appointment with our VA Certifying Official, Amanda Luke, by calling 386-754-4398.

Follow these steps if you have previously attended and used benefits at FGC, but it has been over a year:

  • Complete Request for Change of Program or Place of Training Form:
  • Make an appointment with our VA Certifying Official, Amanda Luke, by calling 386-754-4398.

Follow these steps if you have never used benefits before:

  • Complete VA Application for Educational Benefits:
  • Submit a copy of your DOD Form 2384 (NOBE) Notice of Eligibility. This form is issued through the Reserve Unit to the following address: Florida Gateway College, Attn: Amanda Luke, 149 SE College Place, Lake City, FL 32025
  • Make an appointment with our VA Certifying Official, Amanda Luke, by calling 386-754-4398.

Follow these steps if you have used benefits at another college:

  • Complete Request for Change of Program or Place of Training Form:
  • Submit a copy of your DOD Form 2384 (NOBE) Notice of Eligibility. This form is issued through the Reserve Unit to the following address: Florida Gateway College, Attn: Amanda Luke, 149 SE College Place, Lake City, FL 32025
  • Make an appointment with our VA Certifying Official, Amanda Luke, by calling 386-754-4398

Follow these steps if you have previously attended and used benefits at FGC, but it has been over a year:

  • Complete Request for Change of Program or Place of Training Form:
  • Make an appointment with our VA Certifying Official, Amanda Luke, by calling 386-754-4398.

For surviving spouses and children of veterans who died of a service-connected death or disability, or for surviving spouses and children of a veteran with a permanent service-connected disability:

Follow these steps if you have never used benefits before:

  • Complete VA Application for Educational Benefits:
  • Submit a copy of your DD-214 (member 4 copy) to the following address: Florida Gateway College, Attn: Amanda Luke, 149 SE College Place, Lake City, FL 32025
  • Make an appointment with our VA Certifying Official, Amanda Luke, by calling 386-754-4398.

Follow these steps if you have used benefits at another college:

  • Complete Dependents’ Request for Change of Program or Place of Training Form:
  • Submit a copy of documentation proving disability percentage/service connected death to: Florida Gateway College, Attn: Amanda Luke, 149 SE College Place, Lake City, FL 32025
  • Make an appointment with our VA Certifying Official, Amanda Luke, by calling 386-754-4398.

Follow these steps if you have previously attended and used benefits at FGC, but it has been over a year:

  • Complete Dependents’ Request for Change of Program or Place of Training Form:
  • Make an appointment with our VA Certifying Official, Amanda Luke, by calling 386-754-4398.

This benefit is designed to assist veterans with a service-connected disability in obtaining and maintaining employment. A service-connected disability rating is required as part of the eligibility requirements.

  • Veterans should apply for Chapter 31 benefits through the County Veterans Service Office.
  • Submit a copy of the 28-1905 form to: Florida Gateway College, Attn: Amanda Luke, 149 SE College Place, Lake City, FL 32025
  • Make an appointment with our VA Certifying Official, Amanda Luke, by calling 386-754-4398

The VA does not differentiate between independent study or Hybrid courses and considers any course taught in whole or in part by any form of independent study to be independent study. Therefore, the courses listed below and any other remedial/deficiency (developmental education) courses offered as an independent study (online, hybrid, remote education) cannot be approved or certified for veteran’s/dependent’s education benefits.

38 CFR 21.4267 (g) states:  Remedial and deficiency courses offered as independent study cannot be approved.

Below are examples of remedial/deficiency courses that are offered in whole or in part either online or some form of independent study:
ENC 0015 section 081
ENC 0025 section 081
MAT 0018 section 081
MAT 0028 section 081
REA 0007 sections 0I1, 0I2, H81
REA 0017 sections 0I1, 0I2, H81

Basic Housing Allowance benefits may be affected based on the type of course(s) taken.  The full amount is not paid if all courses are online.  Any courses taken online may impact your Basic Housing Allowance.  Payment for courses that do not span the full term is not made until after the class starts and stops after the class ends. The VA makes the determination as to how you will be paid once your enrollment is submitted for processing.

In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e), FGC adopts the following additional provisions for any students using the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while payment to the institution is pending from the VA. FGC will not:

  • Prevent the student’s enrollment;
  • Assess a late penalty fee to the student;
  • Require the student to secure alternative or additional funding;
  • Deny the student access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.

However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:

  • Produce the VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) by the first day of class;
  • Provide a written request to be certified;
  • Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies.

These additional provisions will end on the earlier of the following dates:
1. The date on which payment from the VA is made to the institution, or
2. 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the COE.

Students are required to pay the amount that is the difference between the amount of the student’s financial obligation and the amount of the VA education benefit disbursement. If a student has an outstanding balance, a hold will be placed on his/her record.  Until this obligation is fulfilled, the student will not be allowed to register or to receive transcripts.