Serving Again: Veterans Become Teachers

Veterans bring a unique and powerful set of skills to the teaching profession. They apply their service, leadership, and dedication to create vibrant, structured, and student-focused classrooms. Notably, more than 100,000 Veterans have transitioned to teaching over the past 30 years. Read on for more information about why Veterans becoming teachers is crucial for the well-being of our society and education systems.

Fast Facts about Veterans as Teachers

• Teachers who went through the acclaimed Troops to Teachers program are rated highly by administrators. In fact, they performed better than traditionally trained teachers in instructional quality, classroom management, and overall teaching.
• According to Rutgers Graduate School of Education, 96 % of HR professionals say Veterans are “uniquely trained to work through chaotic times.”
  • They continue, Veterans represent a diverse pool of individuals and can demonstrate resilience / thrive in many roles.

Call to Action: Schools

Schools and certification programs should actively recruit Veteran candidates. Beyond that, they can provide tailored onboarding to translate Military experience into instructional practices. Through this, we honor their service and strengthen our classrooms.

Many school principals recognize the natural leadership that Veterans bring to education and actively seek to hire them. Principals value how Veterans lead by example, set clear expectations, and foster a culture of respect and perseverance—qualities that translate seamlessly into effective classroom management and student success. To further support this transition, programs such as Operation Socrates help Veterans become teachers by connecting them with certification pathways. Lastly, certification programs like American Board need to actively recruit Veterans into the teaching profession. Through partnerships like these, schools gain dedicated educators with proven leadership experience, and Veterans find a meaningful second career serving their communities once again.

Why Hire Veterans

• Leadership & team-building: Veterans have led diverse teams under pressure, which equips them to guide students, collaborate with colleagues and foster class culture.
• Discipline & structure: Military service demands punctuality, clear expectations, and perseverance. These same traits create classroom environments where students know what’s expected and thrive.expected and can thrive.
• Real-world credibility & service-orientation: Veterans often view teaching as an extension of their service, bringing authenticity and a mission-driven mindset that resonates with students.
• Adaptability and resilience: Having operated in varied and unpredictable environments, veterans are well-prepared to respond to changes in classrooms, student needs and instructional demands.

In short, Veterans offer more than subject-matter knowledge. Veterans bring character, resilience, and a model of public service that enriches the classroom experience. They can also highlight the importance of community.

Evolving Pathways for Veterans

The federal Troops to Teachers program supported veterans entering education for nearly 30 years. It ended at the national level in 2021. The Department of Defense replaced it with the SkillBridge program. SkillBridge offers valuable career transition opportunities for service members. However, it now requires in-person seat time, which does not fit the American Board’s 100% online, self-paced model. Out of respect for our mission and working adults, American Board has stepped back from that partnership.

Still, American Board remains dedicated to Veterans becoming teachers. We proudly offer our most significant program discount to Veterans and their spouses. You can learn more about that here.