Helping Military Service Members Balance School and Military Life

Life can become particularly hectic for military service members. Uncertainty looms as we watch the news and wait for contact from our senior leaders while we attempt to move forward with our daily lives.

Balancing multiple commitments is the standard for an active-duty service member who may also be pursuing an education and raising a family. This is also true for reservists who have full-time civilian jobs as they attend school while maintaining family responsibilities and fulfilling their reserve duties. Although certain times can be chaotic, you have many support resources available when you study online through Penn State World Campus.

As an Air Force reservist and a full-time content strategist for Penn State World Campus, I understand that wearing many hats is exciting, yet daunting. Maintaining the balance of all aspects of life takes thorough planning, time management, and unconditional support.

Penn State World Campus is nationally recognized for its support of military and veteran students. Through the Military Support Team, you can expect to receive guidance with planning your education and achieving your goals. Our team can assist you with utilizing your military education benefits, receiving credit for your Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) or Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSC) training, determining eligibility for Military Grant-in-Aid, and planning your course of study. Once you are enrolled, if unforeseen circumstances arise, our staff is here to help you plan ahead and persevere.

Military support from Penn State World Campus is ongoing. Penn State collaborates with many prominent education partners to better serve our military student population and their families. While you may be familiar with some of them and have already utilized their services, we encourage you to explore our Military Resources to see the range of Penn State partnerships.

Even if you are looking for a way to connect with other military students, you can create a Pride by using Canvas, Penn State’s learning management system. Canvas Prides are informal collaborative spaces created by any student, faculty, or staff. Students have the opportunity to discuss any topic they choose with anyone else who is interested.

Balancing your military and personal commitments can be strenuous and overwhelming. With the support services specifically created for military and veteran students by Penn State World Campus, you can advance your education online from just about anywhere in the world.

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.