A leading military-focused publication has released its rankings of the best colleges in the nation for veterans, with four institutions in the Technical College System of Georgia placing in the top 24. Savannah Technical College topped the annual list compiled by Military Times, receiving the number one overall ranking.

Military Times is the aggregate publication for the Airforce Times, Army Times, Navy Times and Marine Corps Times. In its evaluation, the publication highlighted career and technical colleges that exhibit a culture and curriculum catering to military veterans. Wiregrass Technical College (#13), Gwinnett Technical College (#19) and Central Georgia Technical College (#24) accompanied Savannah Technical College in the final rankings.

"As a technical college, we focus on needs within our local area, and so we've really got our fingers on the pulse of what local employers are looking for," said Jeff Ashmen, military outreach coordinator for Savannah Technical College in Georgia.

In total, the Technical College System of Georgia is serving 2,568 veterans and 2,420 service member dependents during the fall of 2016.

“We’re very proud to be one of the best college systems in the nation for military veterans and their families,” said TCSG Military Affairs director Robert Keown. “At TCSG, we strive every day to better serve those who have served our country.”

This past summer, the Technical College System of Georgia unveiled the new Veterans Education and Career Training Resource Center in partnership with the University System of Georgia. Located in Warner Robins, Ga., VECTR is a central hub for Georgia veterans. The facility serves as a “one stop shop,” offering career counseling, educational coaching and workforce training all in one place.

TCSG has rolled out several initiatives that make its colleges an ideal choice for veterans. The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement allows transferring active duty members or reserves to receive their courses via distance education, without the worry of having to start over. Forty-one out of 50 states are SARA members, making the continuity of a service member’s education much easier.

When a veteran chooses to enroll in a TCSG college, he or she receives as many prior learning credits as possible in accordance with their training and educational background. And through the ConAP program with the United States Army, some service members have already developed a relationship with a TCSG college when they enroll. ConAP allows TCSG to help active duty soldiers and reservists apply for admission, use distance learning and begin their college experience. This fall, TCSG is serving 751 active duty and reservist service members.

Veterans face specific challenges, which is why the Technical College System of Georgia has instituted the Green Zone training program at all 22 of its technical colleges. Green Zone training gives TCSG faculty and staff an enhanced understanding of the military experience’s emotional cycle of development and an awareness of the resources available to veterans and their families.

These initiatives, coupled with scholarships for distinguished service award recipients, have consistently caused TCSG colleges to rank highly in their services for veterans. There are currently over 750,000 veterans in Georgia, the eighth highest state veteran population in the nation.

“With the high number of military personnel and their families in Georgia, we have made it a priority to be proactive in facilitating their transition to civilian life and work,” said TCSG Commissioner Gretchen Corbin. “Each one of our colleges has a designated military affairs representative that organizes the military relationship within their community.”