A Veteran’s Guide to Higher Education: Surviving the Transition from Military Service to the Academic Environment

By Mike Cubbage

If you think serving a few years or even many years in the military means you’ll easily get into college or land a job—then think again.

Most service members find the transition to civilian life challenging. Schedule changes and undisciplined civilians set nerves on edge, which makes focusing on education tough.

Mike Cubbage, a former Army combat veteran, draws upon his personal experiences in re-entering civilian life as well as his work advocating for veterans in this guide to navigating the transition to civilian life. While he shares tips in many areas, he focuses on education. Learn how to:

find a school that will provide you with valuable support and skills;
take advantage of military benefits that help pay for education;
cope with the stress that goes along with transitioning to civilian life; and
apply skills you learned in the military to succeed as a student...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Apr 11, 2017
• ISBN: 9781483461502

Book preview

A Veteran’s Guide

to Higher Education

Surviving the Transition from Military Service to the Academic Environment

Mike Cubbage

Copyright © 2016 Mike Cubbage.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-6151-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-6149-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-6150-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016918861

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 11/30/2016

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1 Admission

•   SAT

•   LSAT

•   MCAT

•   GRE

•   GMAT

•   Converting Military Training to Academic Credits

•   The Importance of an I-Love-Me Book

•   Proper References

•   Guide to Applications

Chapter 2 Americans with Disabilities Act; Accommodations and Seeking Treatment; Dealing with Physical Disabilities and Mental Health Issues in the Academic Environment

•   ADA Overview

•   Montgomery GI Bill v. Post-9/11 GI Bill

•   VA Vocational Rehab

•   Dealing with Disabilities

•   Continuing Treatment while in School

Chapter 3 Recon the Objective

•   Finding the Right School for You

•   Make Visits a Priority

•   Consider Not Only the Academic Environment but the Social Scene and Family Orientation

•   Priorities

Chapter 4 Initiate a Plan and Establish a Schedule

•   Using Your Military Discipline to Plan, Execute, and Achieve

•   Maintaining a Schedule Conducive to Your Expectations

•   The Importance of Being Regimented

Chapter 5 Create a Foundation of Support

•   Friends and Family

•   Medical and Mental Health

•   Veteran Groups and Organizations

•   Keeping Contact with Brothers and Sisters from Service

Chapter 6 Reassimilation into the Civilian World and the Academic Environment

•   Leaping into an Unfamiliar Environment

•   Interaction with Professors

•   Interaction with Fellow Students

•   Understanding and Tolerating Different Viewpoints

•   Dealing with the Stupid Questions You Will Inevitably Be Asked

•   Establishing Worthwhile Professional and Social Relationships

Chapter 7 Developing a Study Program that Works for You

•   Do Not Let Family, Friends, Professors, or Fellow Students Dictate How You Execute Your Plan

•   Calling upon Your Military Skills to Effectuate Proper Study Habits

•   Accomplishing the Mission

Chapter 8 The Importance, Pros, and Cons of Extracurricular Activities and Student Organizations

•   Fraternities/Sororities

•   Sports Teams

•   Political Organizations

•   Veterans Organizations

•   Social Clubs

•   Utilizing Social Media

Chapter 9 Maintaining a Balance between Your Studies, Family Obligations, and Social Life

•   Prioritize

•   Establishing a Plan to Properly Allocate Time

•   Setting Time Aside for Yourself

Chapter 10 Responding to Criticisms, Stressors, and Feelings of Being Overwhelmed

•   Maintaining Your Cool in Less-Than-Desirable Situations

•   Avoiding Conflict and Diffusing Heated Conversations

•   Closing the Gap and Finding Common Ground

•   Understanding You Cannot Always Control the Situation: Breaking Contact

•   Dealing with Stress and Feelings of Being Overwhelmed

Chapter 11 Making Tough Decisions: Goals v. Realities

•   Prioritize, Prioritize, Prioritize

•   Getting Out before You’re in Too Deep

•   Developing a Proper Exfil Plan

Chapter 12 Using Your Experience as a Force Multiplier in the Academic Environment

•   You Are Still a Leader—Leaders Know How To Follow

•   Picking Your Battles

•   Discipline Is Doing the Right Thing When No One Is Watching

Chapter 13 Personal After-Action Review

•   Taking Time to Review Your Plan and Execution

•   Do Changes Need to Be Made? Make the Reasonable and Necessary Changes

•   Continue Mission

•   Repeat

Chapter 14 End State: Using Your Experience and Education to Market Yourself in the Civilian Environment; Converting Your Military Skills to Civilian Application

•   Understanding that Your Military Skills and Experience Do Transfer to Civilian Jobs

•   Combining Your New Education and Prior Service into a Marketable Package

Chapter 15 Interviews, Resumes, and Cover Letters

•   The Importance of a Properly Designed Resume

•   Developing Multiple Resumes for Multiple Applications

•   Designing a Cover Letter that Reflects You; No More Cookie-Cutter Crap

•   Interviewing Techniques; Using What You’ve Learned from Promotion Boards to Establish a Successful Interview Strategy

Conclusion

Sources

About the Author

To Alecxander Anthony Silva

September 30, 1990—June 30, 2016

See you in Valhalla, brother.

Preface

I WROTE THIS BOOK AFTER being approached by many of my military colleagues throughout my career who saw that I was able to balance a military career with an academic one. They saw me at times struggle both mentally, while dealing with issues such as PSTD and TBI; socially, in dealing with a demographic I was no longer used to dealing with after having spent a significant time in the military; and physically due to my injuries.

I also ran into financial and medical issues that made things hard on me as a single guy with a limited support system, and at times I felt all alone in trying to succeed where I knew I needed help.

After attending almost half a dozen colleges, both brick and mortar and through online programs, I have become an expert in navigating the academic labyrinth. From initial application processes all the way to graduation, I have made it a mission of mine to devise a system that I know will work for all transitioning service members.

I have been called on time and time again by professors both at the undergraduate and graduate level to take under my wing veterans who exhibited many of the same attributes I did when I started my academic mission. I helped to show them that although it is a difficult process, it is nothing that we can’t handle, and with a little proper planning and simple implementation of our already acquired military skill sets, there was no reason we can’t only survive but thrive in this environment.

I have written several journal articles and scholarly papers in regards to this process, have been interviewed in print and radio broadcasts on this subject, spoken at national symposiums, and was finally cornered by enough of my friends and colleagues to really get this out to all of you via a survival guide in order for you to capitalize on my successes and learn from my failures.

I have devoted my professional career now to seeing to it that veterans transition more smoothly than they have in the past, both in the academic environment as well as the professional arena through my publications, blog, and involvement in veteran startups intent on veteran advocacy.

This is now where my professional knowledge, expertise, and passion lies.

Acknowledgments

I THANK MY BROTHER IAN, who has always had my back, has never ceased to impress and amaze me, stays true to his principles and resolve, and saved lives on the battlefield. He is a true American hero and an inspiration to those who refuse to relent or waiver in the face of poor leadership.

To my father who has always been a role model and a hero to me as well as others, a man whose moral compass is true, tested, and unwavering, someone I strive to emulate and stand proud to carry his name, a man who told me that there was nothing I could not accomplish and through thick and thin saw to it that I stayed the course.

To my mother who always saw to it that I refused to settle for anything less than what I was fully capable of and demanded nothing but the best from me in everything I set out to accomplish.

To my infantry brothers of the 101st, as well as soldiers, sailors, marines, coasties, and airmen I had the pleasure and honor to serve beside.

To my ROTC crew that made my college experience more than bearable and have become exceptional leaders across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

To those who paved the way for us and those who will carry the flag forward when we are gone.

And to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, you will never be forgotten.

To my friends who have always supported me no matter what crazy endeavor I was about to pursue.

I would also like to thank my leaders who saw something in me, put up with my shit, and pushed me forward, to my soldiers who made it easy for me to be a leader, and to those professors who took a personal interest in seeing to it that I achieve my objective.

I thank you all.

Introduction

A FTER A CAREER IN the armed services, service members often