Honoring those who served: From service to success through education

November 09, 2026

This month, as we recognize the men and women who have served our country, we also celebrate the Kentucky veterans who are using education and professional development to shape their next chapters. Our Veteran Spotlight series has introduced three Kentuckians whose experiences demonstrate how higher education can build on military service and open doors to new opportunities:

• Arthur Jaramillo, a former Air Force missileer who earned a Master of Divinity with his GI Bill and now helps employers build their workforce;
• Silas Session Sr., a retired Army major who leads the Office of Kentucky Veterans Services; and
• Angela Ash, a Navy veteran and history professor at Owensboro Community and Technical College.

Their paths differ, but their stories share lessons for any veteran weighing what comes next.

Four lessons from our veterans

1. The benefits you earn are an investment. Jaramillo went back to school for a simple reason: "I had earned educational benefits through the Post-9/11 GI Bill, and I simply didn't want to let them go to waste." That practical decision, he says, ended up reshaping his career and his life.
2. Your service may already count toward a degree. Dr. Ash notes that she "amassed numerous college credits through my service, which contributed to my undergraduate credentials." Kentucky's public institutions evaluate military training for credit, based in part on the American Council on Education's guide, so it pays to ask before enrolling.
3. College builds a network, not just a resume. Dr. Session says returning to college "helped me be successful in my post-military career by helping greatly with my transition," and strengthened a professional network that carried him through every job since. Dr. Ash's advice echoes it: network early, and talk with people already working in the career you want.
4. Translating your experience is half the battle. After leaving the Air Force, Jaramillo found the challenge was "translating my military experience into terms that civilian employers could understand." Credentials like a degree, certificate, or license give employers a language they recognize, and Kentucky has people whose job is to help with that translation.

Resources to help veterans take the next step

• Post-9/11 GI Bill: See how federal benefits can help pay for tuition and fees, housing, and books and supplies, for up to 36 months. Check current rates and confirm your eligibility with the VA.
• ACE Military Guide: Look up how the American Council on Education recommends college credit for military training and occupations.
• Kentucky Career Centers Veterans Services: View priority of service, career assessments, resume help, and translating military experience into civilian terms. Questions? Email veteranservices@ky.gov.
• Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs: Find free help filing federal and state benefit claims through field representatives across the Commonwealth. Spouses and children of certain veterans may also qualify for the Kentucky Tuition Waiver at state-funded Kentucky colleges, which covers tuition only.
• KHEAA Military Student Aid: Discover state military student aid and discounted tuition for Kentucky residents.
• Heroes to Healers: Learn about CPE's initiative to move military-trained healthcare professionals into Kentucky's civilian healthcare workforce through bridge programs and credentialing support. Contact cpeworkforce@ky.gov.
• SkillBridge: Explore how service members still on active duty, internships and training with industry partners can gain workplace experience during the last 180 days of service while still receiving military pay and benefits.
• Futuriti: CPE's Future Finder, within the Futuriti college and career exploration website, provides a crosswalk for military veterans to find which civilian careers translate to their military experience. 

If you or someone you know is struggling, the Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7: dial 988, then press 1, or visit veteranscrisisline.net.

This Veterans Day, CPE thanks Kentucky's veterans and remains committed to helping them access quality education and credentials that support their educational and career goals. As Jaramillo put it, many of the opportunities that shaped his career were ones he never planned for. The first step is often just asking about the benefits and support you have already earned.