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Approximately 790,000 students were expected to take advantage of the GI Bill in 2017, a benefits package that is intended to help soldiers and veterans readjust to civilian life.
Unfortunately, the intended effects and opportunities are often not realized because of the challenges these soldiers face while trying to complete their post-service education.
However, if soldiers are able to anticipate these challenges and make adjustments for them, they can excel in the classroom and beyond.
Challenges of the Post-Service Education
The challenges soldiers face, for the most part, fall into four categories: psychological, physical, academic, and administrative.
Perhaps the most difficult issues to overcome are the psychological challenges. Many soldiers feel isolated on college campuses. They struggle to establish the camaraderie they grew accustomed to in the military. Soldiers have very little in common with younger, less-disciplined students. Other soldiers report they miss the action; college life seems boring and mundane.
Physical injuries and limitations can also inhibit learning. Soldiers may return to civilian life with issues ranging from brain damage to lost limbs. Not only can these physical limitations make learning difficult, they can further alienate soldiers and veterans who already feel they’re different from the norm.
By the time veterans and soldiers get to college, it has usually been several years since they last engaged in tasks like writing and mathematics. After all, essay compositions and calculus aren’t popular pastimes during combat deployments! Remedial courses are often needed to get soldiers and vets up to speed in the core academics.
Many soldiers also face administrative challenges. It can take weeks or months to process GI benefits, causing students to miss college enrollment and registration deadlines. Additionally, many unscrupulous schools view the GI Bill as a revenue stream. They aggressively market to soldiers, but fail to live up to their promises. This forces soldiers to exert significant due diligence while researching options to ensure they don’t fall victim to scams.
How to Overcome Challenges
By recognizing the challenges associated with post-service education, soldiers and vets can work to overcome them.
1. Pick a school that is veteran-friendly. Some colleges and universities have made more of an effort to assimilate veterans than others. They offer veteran-specific orientations, classes, and clubs. Check this list of the 10 best options in the U.S.
2. Find a school that is flexible. Typically, soldiers and veterans need more flexibility than traditional students. They are usually older and have more responsibilities, like family, jobs, or continuing military service.
3. Don’t study online. Online courses have distinct advantages, but when it comes to veterans, the drawbacks often outweigh any perks. College campuses provide an emotionally-safe environment to re-engage with society. Civilian interactions are extremely limited with online colleges.
4. Learn to function independently. In the military, there is always someone higher up to met out orders and dictate which actions should be taken. In civilian life, this is rarely the case. For example, students need to pick their own courses, self-motivate to complete homework, and manage the various responsibilities of life and course work simultaneously. Soldiers need to acknowledge this responsibility and prepare for it.
5. Get help if it’s needed. Whether it’s additional one-on-one help with writing an essay to keep grades up or a therapist to overcome mental health issues, assistance should be sought early on. Soldiers are trained to solve problems, adapt, and overcome challenges. While helpful on the battlefield, these characteristics in civilian life cause soldiers to be reluctant to seek help. However, problems escalate the longer they are left unattended.
6. Connect with fellow veterans. To be successful in college, veterans often need to form a core group of peers who have shared experiences and a similar mindset. Seek out other veterans and soldiers so there are people who can relate to your struggles.
7. Don’t shun civilians. While it is important to connect with veterans, those relationships shouldn’t result in total isolation. The primary purpose of the GI Bill is to help veterans readjust to civilian life. Avoiding civilians defeats this purpose!
8. Utilize available resources. There are numerous organizations (like these) designed to assist veterans and soldiers as they complete their education. Check to see which options are applicable and take advantage of them to their fullest capabilities.
9. Be confident. The responsibilities and stress associated with learning might seem daunting. However, veterans are far more prepared than they realize. Military training instills complex problem solving, a skill which yields great success in college. In fact, veterans are far more prepared than their younger, less-mature civilian counterparts.
10. Be patient. Post-service education will be a major adjustment. It shouldn’t be assumed that challenges will quickly and easily be resolved. An abundance of patience and perseverance will be needed.
Post-service education comes with many challenges, but the long-term rewards are definitely worth the effort you’ll exert to overcome them.
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Photo: Getty Images