Our United States male and female veterans of the Uniformed Services have fulfilled a purpose, to protect the United States from our enemies, but once discharged their purpose changes. What career or life do they want after service? Education can open doors into careers and new lifestyles to design the next phase of their lives.
This Veteran’s Day, we thanked and saluted those faithful service men and women who serve our country. Those who sacrificed their lives, families and education. For some service-members, returning to civilian life can be traumatic. Furthering their education, is a process many veterans find difficult for various reasons like readjusting to civilian life or dealing with depression or post-traumatic stress.
20% of those who served in Iraq or Afghanistan have post-traumatic stress or depression and 453,000 veterans were unemployed in 2016
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Many veterans feel rejected, abandoned and alone upon return and without support can turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with their experiences.
Having the ability and resources to continue their education can be therapeutic, using the opportunity to learn to adjust in a social environment and building new relationships with service-members, and other faculty and students.
Military experience can transfer to occupations like transportation management, police officers, construction and maintenance. Which are all excellent professions. We should all want our veterans regardless of age, race, gender and disability to have the tools to study fields not related to their military background if they choose. For those who have interests in other professions, additional education is necessary. Certain professions require a college education, like lawyers or engineers and a 4-year college degree, masters, doctorate or law school degree may be required.
For our veterans all these options need to be available to them. Nine US states currently offer tuition waivers to veterans who reside these states. Government initiatives like The Forever GI Bill, assist with education, unemployment and other benefits.
The Forever GI Bill, recently signed by President Donald Trump removes the 15-year limit to education and housing services for veterans discharged after January 2013. The update gives veterans the flexibility to ensure the correct path and best possibilities for a bright future. Which should be what all Americans should want for them. We tell our children, “Education is the key” and reigns true for our servicemembers as well. The opportunity and assistance doors are opened to you.