Vietnam Veterans - info to apply for your HS Diploma

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS FOR VIETNAM WAR VETERANS
The 2009 Florida Legislature passed the Corporal Larry E. Smedley Vietnam Veterans High School Diploma Act. This act, effective July 1, 2009, authorizes the Commissioner of Education to award a high school diploma to honorably discharged Vietnam War veterans and increases the opportunity for some Florida veterans to receive a high school diploma. Senate Bill 316, Chapter 2009-37, Laws of Florida, provides for the award of a high school diploma to eligible Vietnam veterans. This legislation amends s. 1003.43, F. S.


To be eligible, veterans must meet the following criteria:
Must be a Florida resident
Inducted into military service before completing the necessary graduation requirements
Must have served in the Vietnam Era, February 28, 1961 through May 7, 1975, as established in s. 1.01(14)(f), F. S.
Received an honorable discharge


The Florida Departments of Education and Veterans’ Affairs will work together to assist veterans with the application process for their diplomas. Interested veterans should contact Ed Ortiz at the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs at ortize@fdva.state.fl.us or by calling (727) 319-7400. Additional information may also be obtained by contacting the Division of Career and Adult Education, Florida Department of Education, 325 W. Gaines Street, Room 754 A, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400 or by dialing (850) 245-9029.


Senate Bill 316 is available on the Legislative Home Page at http://www.leg.state.fl.us/ Applications and other relevant information can be found at http://www.fldoe.org/workforce/

After Emailing Mr. Ortiz, for Levy County Residents he let me know via email...
The quickest way to obtain a copy of the DD Form 214 is to request it online, via the web at: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/evetrecs/ At the very end of the process a signature verification form needs to be printed and faxed or mailed to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), and they will process your request.

You must do this within the first 20 days of entering your request, or your request will be removed from the NPRC system.

The 2nd way is to have the Veterans visit Michael Engel, the Levy County Veteran Service Officer (CVSO), and Michael will assist them and complete a Standard Form 180, which is then mailed to NPRC.
Michael's address follows:

LEVY County Veteran Service Officer Michael Engel,
Veteran Service Officer Gordon Ayogte,
Assistant VSO Christine Hartter,

Visit Administrative Assistant Office: 353 South Court St.
or Mail: PO Box 310, Bronson, FL 32621

Phone: (352) 486-5210, (800) 733-5389
SUNCOM: 645-5210, Fax: (352) 486-3329
E mail:levyvets@yahoo.com

We, The Florida Department of Veterans Affairs do not keep copies of DD Form 214's, the CVSOs usually have copies at their Offices.

Thank you for your inquiry.
Ed Ortiz
Executive Assistant Benefits and Assistance Division
Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs