Missions, raids, patrols, clearing, firefights: no sweat. That was the daily rhythm of my unit’s deployment to Iraq. We were tasked with massive operations to root out insurgents, and in some cases undermanned and outgunned by an entrenched foe. We didn’t stop to think if it couldn’t be done. We simply moved toward the sound of gunfire.
But when conversation drifted to college—the post-military plan of most of the guys in my infantry company—an air of apprehension swirled around. Many of us didn’t do well in high school and figured it had been too long since algebra and English class. Ironically, higher education seemed like a risky move to a group of folks fighting in a brutal counterinsurgency campaign.
Veterans sometime limit themselves when going after higher education, but it doesn’t have to be that way, says Barbara Mujica, a professor at Georgetown University who also acts as a faculty adviser for the student Veterans chapter there.
From The Huffington Post:
They can overcome the obstacles. After years of service in Iraq or Afghanistan, the apathetic seventeen-year-old has matured. […] Veterans needing to ease their way back into academic life or fulfill requirements can complete a year at a community college and then apply to transfer to a more competitive one.
Mujica mentions an important path that many Veterans take. Community colleges can help ease Veterans back into academia and boosting confidence along the way. Several of my Army buddies went this route and were surprised at how well they did. They’ve all since transferred to more challenging and prestigious universities and are doing well. Some have already graduated—a feat hard to imagine back in Iraq.
There are other ways to help make your academic career successful. Check to see if your dream school waives SAT/ACT requirements for older or transfer students. You can also get involved with your SVA chapter (or start a new one), which can help direct you to resources on campus and connect with fellow Veterans along the way. And VA is stepping up with Vet Success support networks on college campuses across the country.
If you haven’t started school yet but plan to use VA education benefits soon, don’t sell yourself short. You’ve done some remarkable things in the military, and school can be just another mission instead of a bridge too far.
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True statement–> “But when conversation drifted to college—the post-military plan of most of the guys in my infantry company—an air of apprehension swirled around. Many of us didn’t do well in high school and figured it had been too long since algebra and English class.”
I went to comm college around 12 years ago after basic training and really didn’t put for the effort because I was uninterested and started the class a few weeks late. NOW, as a husband, father and a law enforcement officer….I feel the effort needed to get that degree. I’ve been reading books to keep my mind from cementing or turning into soup so I hope that has worked……we’ll see. Thanks for this, I really needed it.
i am a 63 yo Vietnam era vet. Are there any programs NOW, that would help me finish my degree or get certified in a trade?
VRAP (Veterans Reeducation Assistance Program) does just that. Google VRAP and check out the requirements. I’m 58 and spent 30 years in the Printing Industry and now with the change with digital work, there aren’t any jobs in NJ.
So I applied and was accepted into VRAP. It pays out about 1600. a month for tuition
for up to 1 year.