By MARGO MYERS
Special to Veterans life

As thousands of veterans leave the military to launch a new career, education is playing a key role to ease their transition. And the return to college can happen at any age. 

Take for example, Terry Bradshaw and Cheryl Montgomery, a couple who, between them, have two full U.S. Army careers, service in the National Guard, a 22-year marriage and three children raised to adults.

The couple, who are both in their 50s, are  pursuing university degrees to advance their post-military careers. In fact, Bradshaw believes he’s getting more out of his studies now than he might have at a younger age.

“The good thing about school is that I went later in life,” Bradshaw said. “Once you get started with classes, you start putting goals together and I think to myself, ‘I can go for this, I can go for that.’ You start being more innovative and creative for yourself, more doors open up and you have more choices.”

Bradshaw and Montgomery are planning for what some might consider their second careers. Bradshaw graduated from Brandman University at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord campus with a bachelor’s degree in organization leadership in June 2014. He’s working on his master’s degree at Brandman in the same major.

With roles in the Army that included human resources and truck driving, Bradshaw retired from the Army in 2011 as sergeant first class, and knows he has more to accomplish in life.

“I’m 58 years old, and I’m pondering my next step and looking at my options,” he said.

Bradshaw’s wife, Cheryl, is considering her future, and pursuing her university degree to expand her options. She retired from the Army in 2005 after a career in personnel, and currently works at Gray Army Airfield at JBLM.

“I’m working towards my bachelor’s in organizational leadership at Brandman,” Montgomery said. “Once I get my BA, my plan is to get a master’s in human resources and pursue a job in that field.”

With both of them in school, plus holding down jobs, Bradshaw and Montgomery know what it’s like to juggle a busy schedule. And then they decided to add yet another challenge: buying a house during the school term.

“It’s crazy,” Bradshaw said.

“Crazy is right,” Montgomery added. “Juggling work, classes, buying a house, painting and moving all at the same time with the final week of classes.”

Bradshaw said, “I don’t know how we did it. But we did.”

Having classes at Brandman that are both online and in person helped the couple manage the stressful period. Montgomery said the Brandman staff checked in often, too.

“The staff will actually call and check with me and ask if I need any help,” Montgomery said. “They see how I’m doing and whether I need tutoring. A lot of schools don’t do that.”

Bradshaw and Montgomery are using their Post 9-11 GI Bill benefits to help pay for their education as they plan for their future.

“It’s a competitive world out there,” Bradshaw said. “But with my degrees, I’m going to make sure I have choices about my next career.”

On- and near-base programs are designed to help active duty, veterans earn their degrees 

These colleges have a presence on or near military bases in Kitsap County. The contact information for the college’s veterans service office or liaison is listed.

— Brandman University, Naval Base Kitsap — Bangor. Call  800-746-0082. Email acadadvisorBN@brandman.edu. Go to www.brandman.edu/bangor-nbk/contact#sthash. 4Bw1Ulb7.dpuf

— Old Dominion University: Naval Base Kitsap — Bangor. 1042 Tautog Circle, Building 1042, Room 103. Contact Duane Sharpe, associate director of military and veterans education, 360-479-5114, dsharpe@odu.edu.

— Old Dominion University: Naval Station Kitsap — Bremerton. c/o Navy College Office, 120 S. Dewey St., Building 491, Room 214, Bremerton. Contact Duane Sharpe, associate director of military and veterans education, 360-479-5114, dsharpe@odu.edu.

— Olympic College, Naval Base Kitsap — Bangor. Navy College Office, Building 1042.  Call 360-473-2821. Email vetcenter@olympic.edu.

— Olympic College, Naval Base Kitsap — Bremerton. Navy College Office, Building 491. Call 360-473-2821. Email vetcenter@olympic.edu.

— Olympic College, Bremerton campus. 1600 Chester Ave. Call 360-792-6050. Email prospect@olympic.edu.

— Olympic College, Poulsbo campus. 1000 Olympic College Way NW, Poulsbo. Call 360-394-2700. Email poulsbocampus@olympic.edu.

— Vincennes University: Naval Base Kitsap — Bremerton. Contact Jeff Dobson, site director,  120 S. Dewey St., Building 491, Bremerton. 360-478-7202. Email jdobson@vinu.edu.

— Washington State University: Olympic College Poulsbo, 1000 Olympic College Way NW, Poulsbo. Call 360-394-2700. Email poulsbocampus@olympic.edu.