I'm an Army vet, and I teach at a CC. Yes, I can pick out the prior service students. I use our common experience to help build a good rapport with those students. I know when they're getting pissed with immature kids without discipline, and I head it off at the pass if I can. Sometimes I let them go off, sometimes I do it for them.

So Guard, when you come and tell me you have a MUTA-5 or 6 coming up, I get it. I'll cut you some slack. I know the Guard is paying for your school, and no sense killing the goose laying golden eggs. Do right by me by giving 110% in class, and I'll have your back.

One semester I had five students who were sent to my class by their local Air Force Reserve training NCO. Lots of fun shit-throwing during breaks, and they all called me "sir" respectfully.

But it's the combat vets that are the hardest. I was never deployed during my service, and I never say or try to pretend I understand that experience, but sometimes we connect. What's hard is, more often than not, they don't stick with going back to school. It's either VA appointments, PTSD issues, or just plain having a hard adapting to civilian life again. I try to be supportive, and I'm pretty compassionate with them and accommodate them all I can, but damn, you gotsta step up too. The whole world isn't against you.

I see too many professors being complete assholes to vets for no good reason too. Fuck those people.