Going back to school after service

Classes, deadlines and terms give days a shape. For many veterans, that rhythm helps with sleep, mood and motivation. You can build your own “battle rhythm” around it.

A degree, a trade or a license can be a bridge to work that feels meaningful. Many veterans choose fields where they can keep serving, like health care, teaching, public safety or social work.

Student veteran groups, study groups and campus clubs can rebuild some of the connection you had in a unit. Feeling connected to school and community is one of the things that protects mental health.

The median student veteran in a bachelor’s program is 28, and more than half are married or parents. Sitting next to 18-year-olds can feel isolating.

What helps

• Find other adult learners, parents or commuters
• Join a student veteran group
• Remember your experience is an asset in discussions

In the military, expectations were clear and someone checked. In college, you may only hear about a problem when a grade drops. Building your own system, and checking in with instructors early, fills that gap.

Classmates or instructors may ask clumsy or hurtful questions about service. You never owe anyone your story.

Short answers you can use

• “That’s not something I talk about, but I’m happy to tell you what I did day to day.”
• “I’d rather not go there. What are you studying?”
• “I was in logistics. Ask me about trucks.” (or whatever fits you)

Classes may discuss wars, the military or politics in ways that feel personal. It’s okay to share your view, stay quiet, or step out for a minute if you need to. You can also talk with the instructor privately.

Some veterans feel they don’t fit with other students or with the military anymore. That in-between feeling is common after service, and it often eases as you find your people.

Many veterans feel on edge in crowded spaces, with people behind them or loud, sudden noises. That alertness kept you safe in service. On campus it can drain energy you need for learning.

What helps

• Arrive early and pick a seat where you can see the door
• Have a grounding skill ready: feet on the floor, slow breaths
• Know you can step out for a minute and come back
• Take an online or smaller section if crowds are too much for now

Stress, poor sleep and brain injury can all affect attention and memory. If reading the same page three times sounds familiar, you’re not lazy. Your brain may be carrying a heavy load.

What helps

• Study in short blocks with breaks
• Use one planner for everything
• Record or photograph notes if allowed
• Ask disability services about note-taking help or extra test time

Late-night studying and nightmares can wreck sleep, and poor sleep makes focus, mood and memory worse. Protecting sleep is part of studying well.

Missed deadlines, group members who don’t pull their weight or a disorganized class can be maddening when you’re used to discipline. Having a cool-down plan helps you stay on track.

You must tell your school that you have a disability and need an adjustment. You can ask any time, but asking early is best because some adjustments take time to set up.

Practically every college must have a person who handles this, often called the Section 504, ADA or disability services coordinator. Their office can explain your school’s steps for asking.

Schools usually ask for documentation from a qualified professional that shows a current disability and how it affects learning. If what you have isn’t enough, the school must tell you what else is needed.

• Extended time on tests
• Note takers or recording devices
• Priority registration
• A reduced course load
• Adaptive software, like screen readers or voice recognition

Schools don’t have to change the essential requirements of a course. For example, they may give extra test time but not change what the test covers.

VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) counselors help veterans, service members and some family members adjust to college. VA lists counselors at 104 campuses.

They can help with

• Faster access to certain VA benefits while you’re in school
• Referrals to campus and VA health services
• Help arranging disability accommodations, like note-taking
• Vocational testing and career counseling

Many campuses have a student veteran group, often a Student Veterans of America chapter. SVA’s yearly census tracks who student veterans are and what they juggle.

A student veteran lounge or center can be a quiet place to study, meet others and ask questions without explaining yourself.

The U.S. Department of Education lists colleges that have signed on to the 8 Keys to Veterans’ Success, steps schools can take to support veterans. A listing isn’t a guarantee, but it can be a useful question to ask when choosing a school.

Questions to ask a school

• Is there a veteran center or lounge?
• Is there a VetSuccess on Campus counselor?
• How do I reach disability services?
• Who helps me with my VA education benefits paperwork?

Many colleges offer counseling to enrolled students. You can use campus counseling, VA care, a Vet Center, or a mix. VSOC counselors can refer you to campus and VA health services.

Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the monthly housing allowance is for students in school more than half time, and the amount depends on how many credits or hours you take. VA can’t pay the housing allowance during school breaks, so plan for those months.

If you go to school at least three-quarters time and use a VA education benefit, you may be able to do VA work-study. The work must be related to VA and veterans, such as at your school’s veteran office or a VA facility. You earn at least minimum wage, for up to 25 hours a week.

If you have a service-connected disability that limits your ability to work, Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) may help with education and career counseling, training and the move into college life.

• IBM SkillsBuild: more than 1,000 free online courses
• Rogers STEM Scholarship: extra benefits for some STEM students using the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Fry Scholarship
• VET TEC 2.0: high-tech training, limited to 4,000 paid participants a year

1. Put every exam and due date for the term in one calendar on day one.
2. For each big assignment, work backward and set mini-deadlines.
3. Each Sunday, plan the week: classes, study blocks, work, family, rest.
4. Each evening, check tomorrow’s plan.

Find two or three classmates who take it seriously. Divide up the work, quiz each other and keep each other accountable, like a fire team.

Instructors usually respect students who show up early with questions. Introduce yourself in the first weeks. If something like a VA appointment or a hard week gets in the way, tell them before the deadline, not after.

• Get outside or move your body most days
• Keep one evening a week free of school
• Protect your sleep, especially before exams
• Take breaks: 45–50 minutes of work, then 10 off

• Celebrate small wins together: a finished paper, a good grade
• Plan family time into the calendar first, so it doesn’t get squeezed out
• Share your schedule, especially exam weeks
• Talk about who will cover what at home during busy times

Single parents make up about 20% of student veterans. Ask your school about child care, family-friendly study spaces and evening or online classes.

• Dreading every class
• Drinking more to unwind
• Getting sick often
• Sleeping badly most nights
• Snapping at people you love

• Avoid singling out veterans to speak for “the military”
• Be flexible with VA appointments or drill weekends where you can
• Know where to refer students: disability services, the veteran center, counseling
• Mention support services on the syllabus and in class

• Ask about their studies, not about combat
• Invite them to study groups and events
• Respect it if they don’t want to talk about service

Feeling connected to school and community is a protective factor against suicide. A welcoming campus, a supportive employer and a family that cheers you on all help.

• Campus counseling center
• Disability services office
• Student veteran center or group
• VetSuccess on Campus counselor, if your school has one

• GI Bill hotline: 888-442-4551 (weekdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET)
• Vet Center Call Center: 1-877-927-8387, 24/7
• Veterans Crisis Line: dial 988 then press 1, or text 838255

If you’re a U.S. veteran studying abroad, the Veterans Crisis Line website lists numbers to call from overseas, and its online chat works from anywhere. If you served in another country’s forces, ask your veterans’ agency and your college about support.

Findahelpline.com lists free, confidential helplines in many countries.