As one of the first flight schools to offer Veteran flight training benefits, we have a long legacy of professional flight training for Veterans. Learn more about using your Veteran benefits to achieve your aviation goals by contacting us to explore your options.
LEFA supports comprehensive additional benefits for flight training for veterans, including the Post 9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33), the Montgomery GI Bill® – Active Duty (Chapter 30), and Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) (when approved by individual counselors). Benefits may also be applied to attending Central Oregon Community College (COCC). Visit the COCC VA website for additional information or email coccaviation@cocc.edu.
1. Via Central Oregon Community College (COCC) Aviation Program:
Under this GI Bill®, you could be eligible for 100% of tuition and flight training, including your Private rating. For more information, please contact:
Zoë Ditmore,
Administrative Assistant, COCC – Aviation Department
Tel: 541-318-3715
Email: zditmore2@cocc.edu
2. Directly via Leading Edge Aviation Program:
You could be eligible for up to the VA’s annual flight training cap to pay for flight training. You can use this amount to help pay for these ratings/certificates: Instrument, Commercial, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), Certified Flight Instructor- Instrument (CFII), Add-On Ratings, Multi Engine Training, NVG, Turbine Transition, and Mountain Training. This route will not pay for any part of your Private certificate.
This is an education program for individuals who initially started active duty on or after July 1, 1985, and for military retirees who entered the service before 1/1/77 and were eligible to receive chapter 34 benefits on 12/31/89. You must establish eligibility under one of these four categories:
Category 1: For those who first entered active duty after June 30, 1985, and didn’t decline the MGIB in writing upon entry into active duty.
Category 2: For those with remaining entitlement under the Vietnam Era GI Bill® (Chapter 34, title 38, U.S. Code).
Category 3: For those who were involuntarily separated for certain reasons or those who were separated under the VSI (Voluntary Separation Incentive) or SSB (Special Separation Benefit) program
Category 4: For former Veterans Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) participants who elected to convert to MGIB during the open window periods and for a small group of National Guard members who were given a brief opportunity to elect MGIB.
This is an education program for active members of the Selected Reserve. Selected Reserve components include the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corp Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard. You can be eligible for chapter 1606 benefits if you meet the following requirements:
**COCC has an aviation degree program separately approved by the Department of Veteran Affairs that is not affiliated with Leading Edge Flight Academy.
With our longstanding commitment to the Veteran community, we understand the unique challenges and opportunities our Veteran students face. The LEFA team is here to help support our Veteran students and ensure you get the most out of your VA Benefits during flight school. Leading Edge will permit any covered individual, who meets the enrollment requirements for a course, to attend or participate in the course of education for which the individual provides notification of eligibility. Leading Edge will not impose any penalty due to the delayed disbursement of funding from DVA educational benefits paid directly to the school.
