Ohio has recently passed a law which will help military veterans with education and finding work. The bill went into effect on June 16th, and was based on Governor John Kasich's March proposals.
"We certainly appreciate Governor Kasich's leadership in bringing these proposals forward, and the enthusiasm of everyone in both the Ohio House and Senate to work together to make them the law of the state," Director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services Tim Gorrell said. "This elevates Ohio's status as a veteran-friendly state and as a place all veterans can be proud to call home."
The first component of the bill is aimed at helping veterans find and retain jobs. This is done by fast-tracking state licenses that relate to a veterans' experience in the military. According to the official release, the law lets veterans "use their GI Bill dollars to pay for national or state occupational license and certificate testing fees, a prioritized process to expedite licensing and certification for veterans and their spouses."
The second and third component relate to education, and are designed to bestow academic credits for military service and ensure veterans have better access to education. "It creates the Military Transfer Assurance Guide to provide a baseline of standards, procedures and tools for granting college credit for military experience for any public college and university, providing more consistent services across the state system," the release notes.
Veterans in Ohio state colleges will benefit from specialized counselors as well as priority registration. Having access to the right information is crucial to academic success, and priority registration ensures that veterans will have the best opportunity possible to finish their course loads quickly. The press release mentions that these improvements will be "strengthened by a provision in the bill requiring the Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents to report on their implementation and to recommend improvements for integrating student veterans into campus life."
Education will always provide fruitful opportunities to veterans who put in the requisite time and effort. These improvements give Ohio veterans an edge in entering and completing college, whether for a credential or four year degree.
Transitioning veterans heading for Ohio should seriously consider attending college if they haven't already and taking advantage of the new initiatives. Many lucrative and secure positions require some type of education that can take two to six years to complete, so preparing early is critical.
