MCC Daily Tribune
Partnership to Expand Pathways to Healthcare Careers for Military Service Members Announced
Through Partnership, Military Students Will Receive Academic Credit for Military Medical Training, Enabling Them to Graduate Sooner Ready to Further Their Healthcare Careers
Albany, NY — State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. announced a new partnership with the Defense Health Agency’s Medical Education and Training Campus (METC) to create expanded educational pathways for service members pursuing degrees in health care-related fields, including active duty, National Guard, and Reserve servicemembers and veterans who are previous METC graduates. Through the METC-SUNY Degree Bridge Partnership, SUNY campuses will recognize military medical training for academic credit, enabling military students to graduate sooner ready for healthcare careers.
"There is a place at SUNY for every student, and SUNY is committed to supporting our military students throughout their academic journeys," said SUNY Chancellor King. "This partnership with the Defense Health Agency’s Medical Education and Training Campus will remove barriers for our military students, while also providing clear pathways into meaningful careers in healthcare. We are proud to support our military and veteran students.”
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "SUNY is grateful to our servicemembers for the sacrifices they have made to protect our nation. Through this partnership, more military and veteran students will be empowered to pursue an excellent healthcare education at SUNY. SUNY’s military students enrich our campus communities, and we are proud to recognize their leadership and contributions every day."
METC Chief, Strategic Planning and Partnerships, R. Keith Hall said, "It was truly a joy working on this collaborative project and partnership with SUNY leaders and campuses. I repeatedly recognized SUNY leaders' high-level commitment to fairly award transfer credits. Learning about all the resources available to military members who attend SUNY campuses, I feel confident that our METC instructors and graduates will have positive learner experiences which is of utmost importance to me as a Veteran and advocate. I look forward to years of continued collaboration and more academic pathways that bring value to our METC alumni."
METC Program Manager, Strategic Planning & Partnerships, Geovanny Govea said, "As a Program Manager working on this initiative, I was incredibly impressed by SUNY's dedication to understanding the rigor of military medical training. It is deeply rewarding to be part of a project that directly removes educational barriers for our service members. This partnership creates a tangible bridge for military-connected students, and I am excited to see how it accelerates their academic and professional success."
The initial phase of the partnership will include Alfred State College, SUNY Canton, SUNY Empire State University, Finger Lakes Community College, SUNY Oswego, and SUNY Potsdam. As part of the partnership, the participating SUNY campuses evaluated METC coursework to connect the program requirements to SUNY academic courses and create structured pathways for entry into associate and bachelor’s degrees in programs including healthcare management, allied health, human development, and public health.
In the initial phase of the partnership, SUNY has reviewed 10 METC courses across 19 degree programs, developed centralized degree connections that translate military training into academic pathways, launched a dedicated online resource hub, and has begun coordinated outreach to military education centers, Veteran’s Affairs hospitals, and partner organizations to connect service members directly with SUNY campuses. The Medical Education and Training Campus, which operates under the Defense Health Agency and is located at Joint Base San Antonio, is the U.S. Department of Defense’s largest enlisted medical education campus, training personnel across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
Jeannine Mannarino, President of Patriot Hills New York, said, "Patriot Hills proudly supports SUNY's partnership with the Medical Education and Training Campus (METC), a transformative initiative that recognizes the exceptional training, leadership, and service of our nation's military healthcare professionals. This collaboration creates meaningful pathways for servicemembers and veterans to translate their military experience into advanced educational opportunities and career advancement in critical healthcare fields. At Patriot Hills, we believe empowering those who have served our country through education, workforce development, and continued support strengthens not only our communities, but the future of healthcare across New York State and the nation. We commend SUNY for its leadership in building innovative partnerships that honor service, expand opportunity, and invest in the next generation of healthcare professionals."
State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said, "A medic who has treated patients has already done the work. SUNY is now ensuring that work will be recognized toward a degree and career advancement. This partnership shortens the path, lowers the cost, and helps fill health care jobs. I thank Chancellor King, the Defense Health Agency, and Governor Hochul for opening this door for our service members and veterans."
State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Chair of the Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs Committee, said, "As Chair of the Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs Committee in the New York State Senate, expanding options for active military members and veterans remains one of my top priorities. Our veterans and service members give so much to our country, so it is crucial that we honor their service by investing in programs that serve them. The METC-SUNY Degree Bridge Partnership ensures that service members have opportunities for educational advancement within health-care related fields and creates the much-needed, expedient, and affordable pathways to degree programs within SUNY. I hope to see this program expand to other institutions across New York State."
State Assemblymember Steve Stern said, "As the Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee of the New York State Assembly, I have the privilege of working with and for the brave men and women who sacrifice so much to protect our great nation. This innovative program recognizes the exceptional skill and experience our military medical staff bring with them when they enroll at our extraordinary SUNY schools. This partnership with the Defense Health Agency Medical Education and Training Campus (METC) will allow our veterans to complete their education more quickly, reduce their indebtedness and bring their skills to the workforce in the fields of health care management, public health and more. I applaud SUNY Chancellor John B. King, and METC for this important initiative."
The SUNY-METC Degree Bridge Partnership builds on SUNY’s commitment to supporting military-connected students. In November 2025, SUNY announced the SUNY Military Tuition Rate, which aligns tuition with federal benefits for active-duty service members. SUNY also launched the Veterans Enrollment and Support Internship Program, appointed SUNY's first-ever Assistant Director of Enrollment for Military and Veteran Recruitment, and expanded prior learning assessment to help both adult learners and current and former military members to advance their careers. SUNY also provides free college application waivers for military-connected students year-round, to up to seven campuses.
SUNY also launched a dedicated one-stop shop website (www.suny.edu/military), which includes information on available credit for military service and experience; tuition assistance, such as the Veterans Tuition Awards program approved by Governor Hochul; specialized scholarships, and dedicated campus services like veteran lounges and associations for all 64 SUNY campuses. The website also connects veterans with services offered by the counties where each campus is located, helping them stay close to home and community, and is regularly updated as new information becomes available.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum.
Veronica Chiesi Brown
Community Relations
05/15/2026