This blog is for veterans who have transitioned to four year universities or are thinking about going back to school and not really sure how it will go. I'll give you a little background story, so maybe you can empathize with me.
I was in the Air Force for almost six years as an enlisted electronics repair and calibration technician. My job code was 2P051- Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory Technician.
After a while, I found my niche and was the go-to guy for all of the low frequency, capacitance, armament preload systems, and three phase test sets needed at my base.
In 6 years, I'd lived in San Antonio, Biloxi, Songtan, South Korea, Tokyo, Japan, Al Udeied AB, Qatar, and fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada.
I have a lot of great stories from my past travels, but I won't delve into them.
I read some statistic (look it up if you don't believe me) that 40% of veterans never use their GI Bill benefits. The purpose of this blog is to show that it is possible to make the transition to a highly reputable university and succeed.
To get out, I applied for an early miscellaneous separation. I didn't qualify for the early separation for education, because I had about a month over that time frameleft. All I knew was that starting school in the fall was what I wanted to do. My flight leadership and squadron commander were very supportive. They signed the papers after I provided my acceptance letter and submitted the request form in the Virtual MPF.
I applied to Southern Methodist University, Temple University- Japan, and The University of Texas.
The school that I decided to go to was Southern Methodist University. It's kind of a big deal, because the school is known to be expensive and tough. By the grace of God, they covered the shortfall in the new GI Bill and opted into the Yellow Ribbon Program.
The support I received in every step of the admission process was unmatched by Texas. In fact, Texas didn't let me know that three of my credits didn't transfer after being evaluated- making me ineligible for transfer. SMU, on the other hand, sent me information every week, sent personal emails to me informing me of my status in certain areas, and never put me on hold over the telephone. If there was a problem, they told me about it before it became an issue.
While I know Texas is a good school, I'm confident I chose the right one (as opposed to going to junior college and waiting for next semester to roll around).
On a side note, Temple University in Japan was very helpful as well. I decided not to go there for reasons having nothing to do with that school.
My transition:
I came to SMU as a sophomore with a 3.5 cumulative GPA. Mind you, this is spread out over five years of off and on night classes. My math skills had depreciated. I didn't have to use anything other than scientific notation and simple algebra to calculate tolerances and 4:1 ratios while working on test measurement specifications in the PMEL. I want to major in Economics. I want to be that guy that can prove, with numbers, how our nation can calculate it's decisions and maximize utility. It's not just a career move, it's what must be done to ensure the United States of America maintains its prominence in the coming decades. To do that at SMU, requires me to pass Calculus. I started at PreCalc. I failed my first test.
It became crystal clear that I was going to have to step my game up. Dropping meant paying back the school and government over 3,500 dollars. Failing meant wrecking my GPA(not good for when law school applications roll around), forcing me to either take the class again, or pick a less relevant major relative to the grand scheme of the world.
It was difficult, I was losing hair and sleep, but I summoned the discipline and confidence I often had to tap into while in the military. I reviewed the things I missed/didn't understand the first time the whole weekend following the first test. Then, I sought out preemptive support and put in extra hours studying the new material. My next test showed the culmination of efforts from my brothers, professor, graduate students at study hours, and myself. I got a C-.
Benefits and the Reciprocal Investment
If you are a veteran and you are reading this, I want you to know that you can make the transition to civilian college life. You can succeed- even in areas you may be weak in. I've met a handful of vets at SMU and I am inspired every time I hear their stories and witness the confidence they have in their ability to make the world a better place.
Only 40% of veterans use their GI Bill. If you are really a servant of this great nation, don't feel bad about aiming high and maxing out your benefits. The government and private sector value you. They know you have a great foundation and want you to expound on those real life experiences with a cultivated brain. They know you are a good investment and expect results. Let's remember this parable in the Bible:
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’
23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’
24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"
Now, I'm not sure how much gnashing of teeth a veteran could potentially experience, but I do know unemployment is 30% higher in vets than the rest of the population. I had a job lined up right after I got out, so I'm not sure if this is skewed (I can only speculate).
The point is, no matter how willing and ready they are, only 1/4 of Americans can even qualify to join the military these days(http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/05/new-report-says-percent-young-americans-unfit-military-service/). Less than that end up serving. If you were one of those lucky people that was given the opportunity to serve, raised your hand and submitted yourself to protect and defend the rest of the population; know this- the race isn't over. You owe it to those who didn't get the chance. You owe it to the great nation that gave you one.
