Metrolina Bridge Bulletin

Hey team, Steve Cole here. We had three VBH Metrolina teammates send kids to college this fall. Many of you may have your own high schoolers considering their possibilities, skilled trades, military service, or college.

Rising college tuition costs can be a barrier, but there are some options out there if you know where to look. We explore three of the bigger programs below; let's go!

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Could Your VA Disability Rating Help Your Kid Skip School Debt?

The big idea: Your disability rating may be worth more to your family than the check that shows up each month.

If you've got kids headed toward college, that rating could unlock education benefits families overlook all the time. Here are three programs to know about.

1. Chapter 35

The VA's Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance program pays monthly education benefits to eligible children and spouses of veterans.

Yes, but: the veteran generally has to be rated permanently and totally disabled from a service-connected condition, not just highly rated. For families who qualify, it can make a real dent in college or career training costs.

2. NC's wartime veteran scholarship

North Carolina runs a scholarship for children of qualifying wartime veterans, and disability rating is one factor in eligibility. It covers tuition and certain fees at qualifying NC schools for up to eight semesters, usable over eight years.

The fine print: this program's funding took a hit earlier this year during the state budget fight and was only recently restored. If you're considering it, check with NCDMVA on current funding and application deadlines before you count on it.

3. SC tuition assistance

South Carolina has a similar benefit for children of certain wartime veterans. If a parent is permanently and totally disabled, the child may qualify for tuition-free attendance at state-supported colleges, universities and technical schools. Tuition only, fees still apply, and other requirements kick in too.

One important detail

A 100% VA rating doesn't automatically mean you're permanently and totally disabled. That distinction decides eligibility for some of these programs, and each one has its own rules on service history, residency, the child's age, and where they attend.

Bottom line: Don't assume your benefits stop with your monthly check. Your disability status could open real doors for your family's education.

Need help figuring it out?

Contact your county Veterans Service Officer or meet with the Military and Veteran Services officer at one of the schools your child is considering. They'll help you understand what you've earned, what your family qualifies for, and how to make the most of it.

Partner Spotlight - a proud salute to the organizations and individuals that support military and veteran families, including:

SITREP

Stat of the Week: 44

So far in 2026, 44 people have reached out to VBH for help leveraging the available education benefits. These could have been GI Bill questions, Vocational Rehab opportunities, certificate, associates or four-year college programs.

Education benefits earned through service are out there for you and your family. Knowing what you and your family qualify for can help you plan ahead for your career or benefit your children.

What's good?

More like who's good in this case... big thanks to Michael Krueger for extending the reach of VBH by staffing a table at a local event for us in Ballantyne. We are a small, but mighty, team here of nine people, and when friends like Michael raise their hand to help us out, we are really grateful.

If you want to help us staff a table at a community event, please contact me and we can make that happen!

Word on the Street

The Hero Run will be on Saturday, October 31 in the South Park area of Charlotte. Early Bird pricing ends on 7 September, so sign up now and cash in on the savings.

You heard it here first

Want to learn how to get the most out of your VA Home Loan? Join us at VBH HQ on October 1 for food and conversation with professionals from First Citizens Bank. RSVP here while there are still openings.

ICYMI

The (FREE) breakfast at Hendrick Racing last Thursday was amazing! We had 35 veterans present to enjoy some camaraderie, get some good information from the Cabbarus County VSO, and ate our fill of breakfast sandwiches, fruit, yogurt, and pastries. The next meeting will be Wednesday, October 28 and will include a tour of the Hendrick Classic Auto Museum.

Cabana is a drop in, peer-connection tool that offers anonymous, on-demand support through live group sessions, guided tools, and short-form content designed to fit into everyday life. Scan the QR code, or click the image to get started.

What we're paying attention to:

Marines Can Now Wear Class Rings in Uniform:

A new Marine administrative notice, effective immediately, lets Marines wear their college or commissioning-source class ring alongside a wedding ring, a small but welcome update to a uniform policy that dates to 2018. (Task & Purpose)

COMPACT Act: Free Emergency Suicide Care, No VA Enrollment Required:

Veterans in a mental health crisis can get emergency suicide care at any VA or non-VA facility at no cost, even if they've never enrolled in VA care, under the COMPACT Act. Coverage includes up to 30 days of inpatient care or 90 days of outpatient care. (VA News) 

Space Cadets:

President Trump signed an executive order to establish a U.S. Space Academy, a new federal institution to train future Space Force Guardians, NASA personnel, and civilian space workers. A commission has 120 days to figure out where it'll be, how it'll run, and what graduates will owe in return. (Military.com)

Army veteran Chris served from 2010 to 2016 as an 11B Infantryman. He joined for college and the chance to serve his country.

When it came time to leave, the decision was practical: a civilian job opportunity was waiting. But the hardest part of the transition wasn't finding work, it was leaving behind the camaraderie and the day-to-day feeling of accomplishing important missions.

"Be your own advocate," he says, looking back at what he wishes he'd known sooner, especially when it came to navigating VA benefits.

Chris moved straight into his current employer after leaving the military and has stayed with the same company since, now working as a Transportation Manager responsible for outbound transportation spend across roughly 35 facilities.

The lessons from that career path have stuck with him: networking matters, and so does your word. The skills that carried over from the Army weren't tactical; they were about scale, understanding the size and scope of a problem within a mission, and weighing pros and cons before acting. What surprised him most about civilian work was how similar yet different it can be from military life.

His advice to a service member preparing to leave today is simple: be prepared, and do as much research as you can. And if there's one thing he wants a civilian coworker or neighbor to understand about a veteran's journey, it's this: every journey is different.

Tell us your transition story by filling out the survey form here.

Three VET-Friendly Jobs This Week

1. Sales Associate at Southern Lion.
2. Guest Services Lead at Advocate Health.
3. Senior Manager, Brand Creative at Scout Motors.

Hiring? Let us know.

Mark your calendars

Ballantyne Breakfast, September 2, 7:30 - 8:30 a.m.

Another Broken Egg Cafe, Charlotte

South Charlotte's best veteran networking breakfast attracts ~20 veterans each month, and you are welcome.

Veterans Coffee, September 3, 8 - 9 a.m.

Higher Grounds by Manolo, Charlotte

This coffee is back from summer break. Join us for a cuppa!

Uptown Lunch, September 9, 11:45 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Dilworth Neighborhood Grille

The granddaddy of all Veterans networking events in Charlotte. Is back from summer break. Come meet your people.

Volunteer Opportunity, September 10, 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Freedom Park

Join local corporate volunteer groups as they help keep Mecklenburg County Parks beautiful. This is the big mulch event to ensure Freedom Park is ready for The Festival in the Park.

Veterans Mat Collective, September 11, 6:45 – 8:00 a.m.

Charlotte Jiu-Jitsu Academy

Reconnect with your military roots or step on the mat for the first time, you belong here.

Panthers Kids Combine, September 13, 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Bank of America Stadium's South Lawn, Charlotte

Join in to be an ambassador of joy as we assist one of our partners and our community while ensuring the kids remain safe and take turns.

Know any cool veteran events that we should know about? Email me.

Complete event lineup

If you are reading this, you love the Bridge Bulletin! Help us break 10k subscribers by the end of the year by forwarding this newsletter to a veteran family who needs to get it.

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