On a family trip in Vienna, I walked past the University of Vienna and wondered: What if I’d studied here after my first enlistment? I could have traveled all over Europe by train. It turns out I could have—had I known to look in the VA directory. My Post-9/11 GI Bill may have covered international tuition and provided a monthly housing allowance, depending on eligibility and the program.

There are 600+ VA-listed institutions around the world. That was a missed opportunity that cut deep. Most SOPs are built on someone else’s mistakes—I hope you learn from mine.

After organizing the data in a Harvard Extension database project and refining the idea through Boots to Business at NAVSTA Norfolk, GI Global slowly took shape.

Continue your adventure. Use your benefits. Enjoy studying abroad.