Located in a community that features a high population of active-duty and recently retired Servicemembers - as well as military spouses and family members - Tacoma Community College has concentrated on providing a high level of service to those affiliated with the military.

That effort has not gone unrecognized.

G.I. Jobs Magazine recently named TCC a "Military Friendly School" for the third year in a row. The annual list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America's Servicemembers and veterans as students.

"We're a part of the community, and the military is an important part of this community," said Dale Stowell, the school's director of marketing, communication and outreach. "We have the resources and services to support them, and our Veterans' Affairs office is staffed to help them navigate the process of enrolling." 

Schools designated as "military friendly" prioritize the recruitment of students with military experience. Institutions may also offer scholarships, discounts, veteran's clubs, full-time staff, credit for military service and other services to assist student veterans.

This year, the magazine incorporated a survey of student veterans into its institution review process. Peer reviews from current students give insight on the student veteran experience at particular institutions to prospective student veterans. This feedback can be viewed at www.militaryfriendlyschools.com/2012 list.

TCC features an on-campus veterans' club and a faculty that is used to having veterans and military spouses on campus and in classrooms, said Bill Harrington, the school's VA coordinator.

"Our enrollment numbers for veterans have more than doubled in the last two years," Harrington said.

The benefits the Post 9/11 GI Bill offers has made it easy for veterans to get going with their education, and if Servicemembers qualify, the school can even defer tuition payments, Harrington added.

TCC also offers several career training programs that appeal to veterans, such as nursing, radiology and Emergency Medical and Health Services.

"We have veterans that just want to come to college to start pursuing their education," Harrington said. "After they've been here a while, then we can start steering them toward a specific program."

The GI Jobs website gives Servicemembers and veterans a chance to meet individual student veterans from the various schools virtually to learn more about personal school decisions and the transition from the military to an academic environment.

Area schools Clover Park Technical College, Pierce College, University of Washington Tacoma and Pacific Lutheran University also made the list.