FROM THE FRONTLINES TO THE FRONT OF THE CLASSROOM: WHY VETERANS BELONG IN OUR SCHOOLS
By Alex Harrington, GCDF, CCSP
Editorial Note: This blog is part of a series written for fellow federal employees who, like me, are facing the challenge of moving on after a career in public service. After nearly 30 years—serving first in the U.S. Marine Corps and then as a federal civil servant—I’ve found myself among those impacted by the current Administration’s workforce reductions. Accepting the Department of Homeland Security’s early retirement offer was not an easy decision, but it has placed me on a new path. One that I know many of you are walking as well. My goal in this series is to share practical tools, strategies, and encouragement drawn from both my professional credentials and my own transition journey, with ChatGPT helping me refine and organize these ideas so they’re ready to support you in your next chapter.
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After hanging up the uniform, every veteran experiences a certain moment when the mission-driven tempo gives way to an unfamiliar stillness, the deployments come to an end, and the dust settles. That silence is deafening to many of us. We miss the purpose, the camaraderie, and the profound, almost sacred sense that our daily actions had meaning.
The pain that arises when a chapter ends before you're ready to turn the page is something I'm all too familiar with. I am now facing an unexpected crossroads after decades of public service, first as a United States Marine and then as a civil servant who has had the honor to serve in military and law enforcement agencies—both overseas and in the United States. Given a difficult and disheartening choice to retire or risk forced separation, I chose retirement. Not because my desire to serve had faded, but because the path before me no longer aligned with the values I hold dear.
I am incredibly proud of everything I have accomplished during my nearly three decades of service to this nation. Nevertheless, I still have a burning desire to serve. I still yearn to be a part of something bigger than myself. I'm aiming for a new mission because of this: one that creates understanding, develops character, and shapes futures.
I am incredibly proud of everything I have accomplished during my nearly three decades of service to this nation. Nevertheless, I still have a burning desire to serve. I still yearn to be a part of something bigger than myself. I'm aiming for a new mission because of this: one that creates understanding, develops character, and shapes futures.
And I firmly believe that many veterans are aiming for a new mission as well.
For those of you who are looking for a new mission, then consider teaching as your next mission.
A New and Important Mission
The schools in our country are in dire need. There is a genuine and expanding teacher shortage, particularly in middle and high school special education and underserved communities. However, the call to action goes beyond simply covering a void. It's about meeting a need for courage, compassion, discipline, and leadership—qualities that come naturally to people who have worn the uniform.
Under duress, veterans know how to lead. We have guided the uncertain. The untrained have been trained by us. When no one else would stand watch, we did. We have been teachers all along in many ways.
The Classrooms in Which We Belong
Imagine a 10th grader who is having a hard time figuring out who they are in the world entering a classroom where the teacher has traveled halfway around the world to lead troops through uncertainty and hardship. Imagine that student receiving instruction from someone who has not only discussed but also lived the values of perseverance, discipline, and sacrifice.
Being present like that has a transformative effect. It demonstrates to our young people what physical resilience looks like. It serves as an example of how to be present even in the face of adversity. Most significantly, it demonstrates that service is not limited to the military. It just changes.
The Impact of Your Time in the Classroom
“The classroom may not be a battlefield, but it is a front line,” is a common statement I make when I talk to veterans who are thinking about their next chapter.
It is at the forefront of influencing people’s thoughts, uplifting their spirits, and illuminating the way for the coming generation. Additionally, many veterans need the classroom, just as the classroom needs veterans. Healing comes from the mission, the teamwork, and the opportunity to serve once more. It provides guidance. It gives our days purpose again.
How to Begin the Adventure
The following resources can help those who are prepared to pursue this calling:
Veteran‑Specific Teaching Pathways
- Teach For America: Military Veterans Initiative. This initiative trains veterans to teach in high‑need schools, supporting you throughout your education career and fostering educational equity.
- Operation Socrates. Helps veterans (and spouses) navigate teacher certification and K‑12 job placement, with state‑specific resources and guidance.
- Troops to Teachers: Virginia Center. For those in Virginia, William & Mary’s center offers no‑cost support to help veterans simplify the path to licensure and research certification options across colleges.
- iteach. An easily accessible, adaptable route to teacher certification that enables you to enter the classroom at your own speed.
- WV Veterans to Teachers Program. The West Virginia Department of Education supports the Veterans to Teachers Program, offering veterans a structured route to teacher certification. The program includes guidance on licensure requirements, testing preparation, pathways to substitute teaching, and support for college coursework—all aimed at making the transition smoother.
Financial & Training Support
- SkillBridge (DoD program) via American Board Blog. During your final 180 days of service, you can engage in apprenticeships or training—including teacher preparation—while still on active duty.
- VA Education Benefits for Licensing & Certification Prep. Your GI Bill benefits (Post‑9/11, Montgomery, or Survivors’ and Dependents’) can reimburse licensing test fees and prep courses—even for multiple attempts or recertifications.
Professional Support and Resources
- Student Veterans of America (SVA). Comprising nearly 1,600 chapters nationwide, SVA offers peer networks and support if you're pursuing teachers colleges or certification. Their advocacy also helps protect educational benefits.
Your Legacy Continues
You served your country once, and now it needs its veterans to serve again in a new way. Even if the uniform is folded away, your mission remains intact. A new mission awaits you where your skills are needed more than ever. Classrooms are waiting for you to take charge. Students are clamoring for your advice. There are lessons about life, resiliency, and honor that only you can impart.
You're not finished.
This is the next mission.
That is why my new frontline is the front of the classroom. And I hope many more will join me.
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About the Author:
Alex Harrington, GCDF, CCSP, is retiring after nearly three decades of distinguished federal service, most recently as Senior Executive Advisor for Policy and Performance Operations with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. A Certified Career Services Provider and Global Career Development Facilitator, Alex founded Federal Career Connection, an initiative that has helped thousands navigate career transitions into public, national, and military service. A Persian Gulf War veteran and former U.S. Marine, he writes about resilience, leadership, and hope, drawing deeply from his personal journey as a Stage IV cancer fighter. Alex resides in West Virginia with his wife, Teresa.
