Commercial Diving Training for Veterans

FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILY

CDI Institute is dedicated to the success of our veteran students and is proud to be operated by veterans. Our staff of former service members recognize the unique needs of veterans and their families. Whether making your first adjustment into civilian life or just looking for a change in career, as our programs grow, we are committed to increasing our outreach and resources specific to veterans like you.

G.I. BILL® AND VR&E PROUDLY ACCEPTED

CDI is proud to accept GI Bill ® benefits for students. If you are interested in using your GI Bill ® benefits to attend CDI, please contact us. Tuition and other costs can currently be covered for veterans eligible for the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program. You will need to initiate this process with VA to determine eligibility and details. Click here to get more details about the VR&E program and how to apply, or feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

VA ADDRESS

VA Regional Office
PO Box 8888
Muskogee, OK 74402-8888

AVAILABLE GRANTS FOR VETERANS

CDI offers grants to military veterans. To qualify, we ask that you provide proof of your current enlistment or discharge from active military service. The grant is applied directly to the application fee.

FOR MILITARY FAMILIES

CDI's Institute is located approximately 12 miles from Luke Air Force Base providing a close proximity to military services. If you are the spouse or dependent of a service member and are interested in using my Career Advancement Account (myCAA) benefits to pay for your tuition at CDI

FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR VETERANS

Arizona 211 Community Information and Referral Services

Dial 211 or 1-877-211-8661

Operator will help you find the appropriate resources closest to your residence

American Legion

602-264-7706

Possible one-time assistance for rent, utilities and food

American Red Cross – Grand Canyon Chapter

602-336-6660

Assistance for rent, utilities, food, and other services available for Active Duty, Retired, Reservist and National Guard (activated for more than 30 days)

AZ VFW Charities

480-941-5258

http://AZVFWcharities.org

Online application for financial assistance

Boots for Our Troops

844-838-2368

Possible one-time assistance for rent, utilities and food

Community Actions Programs:

Phoenix:

(must be City of Phoenix resident/or pay City of Phoenix water bill)

  • John F. Long Family Services Center

602-262-6510/1-866-807-9994

3454 N. 51st Ave Phoenix 85031

(M-F 7:30am-5pm)

  • Sunnyslope Family Services Center

602-495-5229/1-866-853-3828

914 W. Hatcher Rd. Phoenix 85021

(M-F 7:30-5pm)

  • Travis L. Williams Family Services Center

602-534-4732/1-866-882-1778

4732 S. Central Ave Phoenix 85040

(M-F 7:30-5pm)

  • Senior Intake Line

602-262-6631

(Appts taken 1pm Mondays)

Mesa:

635 E Broadway Rd. Mesa 85204

480-833-9200

Tempe:

2150 E Orange St. Tempe 85281

480-350-5880

Chandler/Gilbert:

345 S. California St. Chandler 85225

480-963-1423

Buckeye:

210 S. 6th St. Bldg. 700

623-925-3911

Avondale:

328 W Western Ave Avondale 85323

623-333-2703

Glendale:

5850 W Glendale Ave Glendale 85301

(for Glendale residents only)

623-930-2854

Tolleson:

9555 W Van Buren Tolleson 85353

623-936-2760

Scottsdale:

7700 E. Roosevelt St. Scottsdale 85257

(M-F / 8A-5P) 480-312-2323

Guadalupe:

9241 S Avenida del Yaqui Guadalupe 85283

(M-F / 8A-5P) 480-505-5385

Peoria:

(Includes Sun Cities & Youngtown)

8335 W. Jefferson Peoria 85380

623-979-3911

Surprise & El Mirage Utility & Rental Assistance

623-222-4673

DAV Chap 20 (Glendale):

623-931-7320 (9am-12:30pm)

Emergency assistance for utilities, rent

Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF Grant) – Homeless Prevention & Rapid Re-housing

  • UMOM (Phoenix & West Valley) 602-466-1655
  • Save The Family (East Valley) 480-898-0228 x106
  • US Vets - Single Veterans / No dependents - 602-441-0612

Keith Root – SSVF case manager

602-687-8132

Primavera (Tucson)

520-623-5111

Pinal County Veteran Service Office

520-876-0699

Yuma County Veteran Service Office

928-726-6022

22 Until None

www.22untilnone.org

One-time assistance with utilities or food ONLY(Active, Reserves, NG, OTH (depending on circumstances of discharge, NO BCD) / Veteran can apply online and follow instructions)

AZ Heroes to Hometown

https://azheroestohometowns.org/

Possible emergency assistance for rent, utilities and food

Arizona Military Family Relief Fund

602-234-8403

Currently deployed AZ Service Member, KIA/WIA or Post 9/11 AZ vet w/military related hardship

Armed Forces Foundation

205-547-4713

Injured Combat Veteran with family separated no more than 18 months

DAV Chap 24 (Sun Cities, El Mirage, and Surprise):

505-301-0540

Emergency assistance for utilities, rent

Lutheran Social Services

480-654-4539

Military Assistance Mission

602-246-6429

All current Arizona military E-6 and below may be eligible for this one-time assistance through MAM as well as purple heart recipients post 9/11 regardless of rank

National Veterans Services Fund Inc.

(800) 521-0198  

https://nvf.org/

VA Social Worker has to submit referral / 1 year of service minimum

Operation American Patriot:

623-853-3636

Operation Second Chance

fax: 1-888-672-4838

Have or expect to have a Military or VA rating of not less than 70% and have a minimum 6 months of active duty service. VA Social Worker has to submit referral

Operation We Are Here

http://www.operationwearehere.com/index.html

one-stop HUB of resources for the military community and military supporters

The Salvation Army:

  • Sun City Area (623-977-1084)
  • Phoenix Central Corps (602-265-3359 X202)
  • Mesa Citadel Family Services (480-833-8322)
  • Glendale Office (623-934-0469)

​Possible emergency assistance for rent, utilities and food

Utility Assistance Programs

SRP Economy Price Plan

(low income households)

602-236-8888 – Phoenix or (800) 258–4777

APS Energy Support/Medical Equipment program

(low-income)

602-371-7171

Application: https://www.aps.com/en/Residential/Account/Assistance-Programs

Southwest Gas Low-Income Ratepayer Assistance (LIRA) Program

1-877-860-6020

Application online at following site: https://www.swgas.com/en/az-special-programs

The Society of Saint Vincent De Paul

1-877-211-8661 or 602-266-4673

Provides one-time assistance for rent, mortgage and utility bills

Military Heroes Fund office:

[email protected]

703-838-1335

703-838-1344 fax

The Military Heroes Fund Emergency Financial Assistance Program offers financial assistance for wounded, ill, and injured OIF and OEF veterans who are experiencing an unexpected financial setback.

Operation Home Front

https://mafa.operationhomefront.net

1-877-264-3968 (toll free) or 210-549-4600

Emergency financial assistance, please call the Emergency Assistance Line

Operation Ward 57

http://www.operationward57.org/programs/honor-courage/grants/

Temporary financial assistance, shelter, food, utilities & health expenses, assistance with child care, vehicle repairs & other routine household expenses, home & vehicle adaption, funeral expenses, adaptive equipment, moving assistance, travel, etc. VA rating of not less than 60% / Apply online

Reserve Aid

(972) 934-4731  

http://reserveaid.org/wp-content/uploads/RAapp2016.pdf

Reserve Aid only supports Reservists and National Guard members who were activated for service to Iraq/Afghanistan. You must have returned from that deployment within the past two years

Salute America’s Heroes

888-447-2588 

www.saluteheroes.org

Emergency financial assistance for wounded Veterans in Iraq and Afghanistan

USACares

http://www.usacares.org

Post 9/11 Veteran with military related hardship

Veterans of Foreign Wars: UNMET Needs Program

1-866-789-6333

Post 9/11 Veterans with deployment related hardship who served active duty within past 3 years

https://www.vfw.org/uploadedFiles/VFWorg/MY_VFW/UnmetNeedsApplication

Coalition to Salute America's Heroes

703-291-4605 ext. 110

https://csah.webauthor.com/go/apply.cfm

Assisting veterans who have been severely injured while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom

Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund

760-725-3680

https://semperfifund.org

Post 9/11 Marines or Navy Personnel injured in combat who were attached to a Marine Unit

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Testimonials

Look what our alumni has to say about CDI
  • Transitioning from military to civilian life is never going to be easy. CDI has helped make that transition into finding a career I have a passion in effortless. Their admissions department gave me all the information I needed, and did all the heavy lifting with the GI bill® so I didn’t have to worry.
    Kyle Wilson
  • After serving in the Army for six years I was ready for a new kind of adventure. That's when I found commercial diving and decided to dive in—literally. I chose CDI in Goodyear, Arizona, because they know how to translate military skills into diving excellence, with some of the instructors being veterans themselves. They didn't just teach me how to dive; they showed me how my discipline and resilience I learned in the military could make me a standout commercial diver. The support and respect for veterans at CDI were second to none. They understood the transition from military to civilian life isn't always easy, but they made it feel seamless. They were all about getting me ready for the real deal, and it paid off. Now, I'm with General Dynamics Electric Boat, working on the most advanced nuclear submarines out there. It’s a whole new world for me, and I’m loving the challenge. Thanks to CDI, I’ve managed to find a career that pushes me to learn daily and uses my military background to its fullest.
    Rain Landry
  • My name is Emma Elsy. I grew up in Arizona and knew that I wanted to do something diving related. Community College was not for me, I did one semester and said “absolutely not.” I found CDI and I knew that this was exactly what I wanted to do. I was already an advanced scuba diver going into the program so I had a leg up. It was hard being the youngest in this program and also being a woman on top of that. It was intimidating but it taught me a lot of things and gave me a lot of different paths. I enjoyed working with my team at CDI. I got a job before I graduated working as a diver in the keys cleaning boats. School prepared me for the routine that I have with the job. I found a place to stay and I couldn’t ask for anything better. I’m happy that I perused CDI and found a path that will open math other doors for me.
    Emma Elsy