After 15 years in the United States Army, My Wery found herself out of uniform and on the University of Arizona campus in the fall of 2024. She admits her first months as a college student were difficult.

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"I never felt like I knew what I was supposed to do," Wery said. "I thought I was just too old to go to school here, and I felt like I should drop out and get a federal job with my military experience. That's all I kept telling myself – until I walked into the VETS program."

Known as VETS, the U of A's Veterans Education and Transition Services program provides comprehensive support for military-connected students, including help with VA education benefits, academic guidance and peer-to-peer mentoring. The program also assists with enrollment certification, offers tutoring and workshops, and connects veterans to career counseling and community networking opportunities.

The U of A's dedication to military-affiliated students has earned national recognition. Military Times ranked the U of A No. 4 overall and No. 3 among public universities in its Best for Vets: Colleges 2024 list, citing strong resources, financial aid options and a commitment to helping veterans transition successfully into academic life. In addition, U.S. News & World Report ranked Arizona Online No. 5 on its list of Best Online Bachelor's Programs for Veterans, released in January as part of the publication's 2025 Best Online Bachelor's Programs rankings.

For students like Wery, the U of A's support for veterans goes beyond resources – it's about finding a sense of belonging. Now well into her bachelor's degree program in global studies in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Wery says she found an extended family.

"Now, everyone calls me 'Mama My' because I bring breakfast treats in the morning," she said. "This is definitely my place, and these are my people."

Blaze Smith, the VETS program director and a Navy veteran, said providing a space for military-connected Wildcats to access resources and community is the program's primary goal.

"After serving in the military, I wanted to go back to college," he said. "I remember thinking to myself, 'I've been to war, college should be a breeze, right?' Well, I was really wrong. I was a 27-year-old nontraditional student coming back to school with a family, trying to navigate the G.I. Bill and the VA while enrolling in classes – and I was not prepared."

Like many students, Smith found support through the VETS Center, located on the fourth floor of the Student Union Memorial Center. After learning how to use his benefits and adjust to campus life, he dedicated himself to helping others. Before becoming VETS director in 2024, he led first-year orientation and peer-advocacy programs.

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"I work with these people every day, looking for the ones who – like I was – are confused, nervous, terrified, whatever they are feeling," Smith said. "I watch to see how they change and how the VETS program changes them. It's simple things, like when they come out from the corner and start socializing, sharing in conversations, and becoming confident students and individuals. That's how I gauge the success of this program."

The U of A has a deep-rooted connection to the U.S. military, dating back to its establishment as a land-grant institution under the 1885 Morrill Act, which required military tactics to be taught. From 1896 to 1969, all male students were required to complete a two-year military training program, and during World War II, the university trained more than 11,000 service members on campus.

Today, U of A continues its commitment through programs like ROTC for the Army, Air Force and Navy, which allow students to serve while earning their degrees. The university also caps undergraduate tuition for active-duty military students at $250 per credit hour, aligning with the Department of Defense's tuition assistance limit and allowing many to attend tuition-free.

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Additionally, in 2022, the Arizona Board of Regents expanded benefits by offering free tuition – on a first-come, first-served basis – to spouses of honorably discharged veterans who enroll at Arizona public universities or community colleges.

For Dean Haight, a transfer student studying applied biotechnology in the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, this support system made all the difference. 

"I remember my first day of classes: I was back in school after 20 years, and there were robots delivering food everywhere," said Haight, an Air Force veteran who served from 2002 to 2022. "My first instructor was 15 years younger than me. I realized I was in a different world after leaving the military. If it wasn't for the VETS program being that bridge, I would've stumbled hard."

Haight, like many students, found a sense of belonging through VETS. After spending a semester getting to know the program, he applied for a work-study position – a job he still holds today.

"The VETS program offers a sanctuary of sorts for students," Haight said. "It's a quiet area for people with a shared mentality. You may experience generational differences in a lot of other places on campus – but that doesn't happen here. Being one of the older guys, I get to be around people who aren't my age but share common experiences, interests and language."