Remaining U.S.-based Navy College Offices to Close

PENSACOLA, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) announced that the remaining four Navy College Offices (NCO) in the continental United States will close as scheduled on Oct. 1.

Sixteen NCOs closed a year ago, with the modernization of the Navy College Virtual Education Center (NCVEC), which now serves as the Navy College Program's (NCP) central location for tuition assistance processing and education services. The initiative is part of an ongoing effort to increase virtual and self-service options for Sailors.

The four NCOs closing at fleet concentration areas in Norfolk; San Diego; Jacksonville, Florida; and Kitsap, Washington operated for the past year during the transition. Eleven overseas NCOs will continue to remain open in Atsugi, Japan; Guam; Misawa, Japan; Sasebo, Japan; Yokosuka, Japan; Bahrain; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Rota, Spain; Sigonella, Sicily; Naples, Italy; and Pearl Harbor.

"Many of today's Sailors have grown up with online tools and are very tech savvy," said Rear Adm. Kyle Cozad, commander, NETC. "This initiative is an example of how we're striving to better provide education services to our Sailors when they choose, wherever they are and with the resources they need at their fingertips, instead of requiring folks to schedule appointments, get off work, jump in the car to accomplish everything that we've demonstrated Sailors can do on a personal device today."

Since Oct. 1, 2016, the NCVEC has fielded more than 300,000 phone calls, help requests, e-tickets, web chats, tuition assistance requests and more.

Part of the NCVEC's new service delivery model has improved the Web Tuition Assistance (TA) approval process. The new process automatically checks/validates:

*the academic institution's course/tuition information,

*validates a Sailor's status, including degree plan,

*counseling,

*no missing grades,

*expiration of active obligated service (EAOS) status,

*TA annual usage, etc.

Through the NCVEC, education counselors are available to answer questions about all Navy College voluntary education programs and provide counseling services to Navy service members stationed throughout the world. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Eastern time zone.

Options for Sailors through the Assistance Center online at www.navycollege.navy.mil include:

*submitting a help request,

*scheduling an appointment using the NCP Counselors Appointment Scheduler,

*chatting with a counselor though the Assistance Center by clicking the "Chat Now" button

and

*searching frequently asked questions and topics.

Sailors may call the NCVEC at 877-838-1659 during hours of operation.

NCVEC tools can also be accessed through the NCP app, available to download for free through the Google Play and iTunes stores.

NCP is managed through the Naval Education and Training Professional Development Center.

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For more information on the Naval Education and Training Command, visit http://www.netc.navy.mil.

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For more news from Naval Education and Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnet/.