These Rutgers Alternate Route Candidates Share Their Military Experiences

Rutgers Alternate Route candidates come from incredibly diverse backgrounds. These career changers have unique experiences as they all approach the same goal: becoming a teacher.

Many of our candidates are also veterans of the United State military, each bringing valuable skills and knowledge that can help students of military families. Nationally, veterans make up roughly two percent of teachers and programs like Rutgers Alternate Route and Troops to Teachers make it easier for service members to transition to a teaching career.

To gain a better understanding about what it is like to serve in the United States military, we got in touch with five Alternate Route candidates that have military backgrounds. Their answers give perspective on what it’s like to serve, how to best support students of military families and the valuable skills they gained while serving.

What did you appreciate most about your time in the military?

“The opportunities were truly endless. I received excellent training, advanced education/degrees, unique and powerful experiences across the country and world, a camaraderie and bond with amazing humans, and a sense of pride and belonging like no other.”
-Jennifer Adase, U.S. Army

“The opportunity to improve my situation and myself and to receive valuable education and training. I was born in Newark and lived with my mom until I was 12. When she passed away, I went through the DYFS system and was adopted. After graduating from high school, I needed to move on and to work on my education. The Army afforded me the opportunity to do both. While on Active Duty, I got my AA from Campbell University. When my enlistment was over, I came home and served in the Army Reserve. When I was accepted to Rutgers, I met a recruiter from the NJ Army National Guard who let me know that state schools were free for those serving in the Guard, so I transferred. My entire education has essentially been free.”
-Brian Darling, New Jersey Army National Guard

“The two greatest gifts the Marine Corps gave me was personal growth and a sense of passion. Before I was a marine I didn’t have drive or direction, and now I have enough to share.”
-Paul Katzer, U.S. Marine Corps

“The two things that I appreciated the most from my time in the military were the opportunities that I was given and the relationships that I was able to make. After graduating from the Coast Guard Academy, my first tour was on a buoy tender in Cordova, Alaska. This location is extremely remote, so I had the opportunity to really get to know the people that I was working alongside and develop friendships and working relationships with them. The same thing happened at my second unit at Fort Dix, New Jersey, where I was a part of a team that responded to all hazard emergency situations, like hurricanes and oil spills. At both of these units, I was placed in leadership roles where I was in charge of multiple people and put in situations where I was forced to learn my jobs quickly. I wouldn't have been as successful as I was in these positions without the people that I both worked alongside and was put in charge of. I learned so much from them and was able to have experiences that I wouldn't have been able to have anywhere else.”
-Samantha Morrone, U.S. Coast Guard

“The people you connect with along with the experiences created.”
-Matthew Singh, U.S. Army

What are some ways that others can support those who have served or are currently serving?  

“Simple gestures of expressed appreciation mean a great deal.  When someone genuinely says, ‘Thank you for your service’ and acknowledges the sacrifices made for serving, I appreciate it most. I think the best way someone can express their gratitude is by honoring our elderly population of veterans. I feel that this group of men and women can benefit most from support and assistance.”
-Jennifer A.

“College educators and employers can show empathy and flexibility for their students and employees who are serving. Sometimes, members of the Guard can be called up with little-to-no notice. Members of the Reserve and the Active Components often have no-notice exercises and drills as well. Things have gotten much better since the ‘90s, especially since a student can do their homework or study on a device that fits in their pocket. Now, it's just important to build that relationship with students who might be serving and to know that they might be responding to an emergency at home or supporting their unit at the Joint Base, at their armory or reserve center, or abroad, under circumstances that are beyond their control.”
-Brian D.

“Understanding and empathy. With so much going on in the world and politics finding its way into everything we forget that service members don’t choose where they go or what they do. They miss holidays and the birth of children, or just simply precious moments going where they are told and doing what they are told. You may not support military or political decisions but make sure they know you support them and their sacrifice.”
-Paul K.

“Some ways that I feel people in the military can be supported are to be included and to be heard. These may seem like simple things, but when families need to move to new locations every three years and have their lives uprooted, it makes the whole family more comfortable knowing that they are included in activities and relationships with their neighbors, friends, and co-workers. This is especially important when that family has a spouse and father/mother leave for months at a time and their family dynamic is shifted. While some families may make the effort to reach out, some families don't and may need that extra assistance to be included in neighborhood activities. Another thing is for them to be heard. Many people don't ask how the family and kids are doing and a lot of times that is what military families need is someone to talk to about how they feel and listen to the struggles they are having.”
-Samantha M.

“Being open and understanding of their experiences. Also, simply being there for the individual.”
-Matthew S.

What are some ways that teachers can support students of military families?  

“It is important to recognize the challenges that military families face, especially in times of deployment of a family member. There are great stresses and anxiety associated with deployment which have considerable impact on children. A teacher can play a critical role with being sensitive, understanding and supporting during this time. Students can also participate in coordinating care packages and letters to soldiers overseas. This is a great way for them to get involved while learning about military life, global events and learned appreciation for their sacrifice.”
-Jennifer A.

“While service members are subject to a number of stressors, their families can feel pressure, too. A military spouse may find themselves running the household alone while their service member is fulfilling mission requirements. A military child might be feeling the trauma of the absence of one parent while their service member is away. Again, it is important to develop relationships with and to demonstrate empathy for military families.”
-Brian D.

“Patience and understanding. Sometimes, military kids don’t understand the reason why they might go long periods of time without seeing a parent. Even when they do understand, it doesn’t always make it easier. The military is hard on families. Missed games or dance recitals or concerts turn into weeks and months away. Just asking how they are doing makes a world of difference.”
-Paul K.

“I think the biggest thing is just to be understanding and realize that some of these students may be going through a difficult time. Whether they are dealing with the stress of moving from a place that was home for a few years and making new friends, having a parent that isn't in the home, having to take on more responsibilities in the home, or having their parent coming back home and re-learning the family dynamic, most of these students have an additional stress put onto them that others don't. That can be a lot for both younger and older children to deal with. This stress can be reflected in the classroom through lack of effort, lack of motivation, behavior problems, or even perfectionism, to name a few. While these students shouldn't be treated differently than any other student, I think it is extremely important for the teacher to just be someone that they can talk to and that the teacher has an understanding of what they may be dealing with. Lending an ear to the parents and understanding what they are going through as well is equally important. The mom/dad may be a single parent at the time or the mom/dad could be coming back from being gone and wants to know how their child is doing in school and how they can help. Having an understanding on this end as well really helps the parents feel included when they may not be able to be there throughout the entire year.”
-Samantha M.

Why did you want to go into teaching?  

“I have always lived a life of service: Military, working in healthcare, volunteerism. I have found the most purpose and meaning in life when seeking to give myself to a cause and help others. After 22 years in corporate healthcare, in what I found to be a negatively evolving climate and focus, I lost my passion for that field. The last several years have brought to light some of the significant challenges that our young population have been facing; socially, emotionally and academically. I have always enjoyed ‘teaching’ and mentoring throughout my career and found new passion in redirecting that interest towards supporting children. Teaching seemed to be a natural fit for me and I couldn't be happier or more satisfied with making this change.”
-Jennifer A.

“Teaching was always the goal! I had a high school teacher who, prior to entering the education field, served as a field artillery officer in the Army. He has been a role model for me since I was 15 years old. The only difference between us is that I stayed in a little longer before I started teaching.”
-Brian D.

“Honestly It wasn’t my first choice. It chose me. One of the most fulfilling things about my time in the Marine Corps was mentoring young marines and helping them build themselves into better marines. After I got out, I wanted to join the FBI but with my injuries, I wasn’t able to. After getting back to a love of science, I found a passion in wanting to help young people grow just like those young marines.”
-Paul K.

“I actually grew up not wanting to be a teacher. My mom has been an educator for the past 30+ years and I had always told her that I would never be a teacher, so I'm sure that you can imagine her excitement and confusion when I said I was planning on becoming one. I actually realized my love for teaching when I was at my second unit. Once we became qualified in certain areas, we became the designated teachers for the new people coming in, so I had spent my last three years in the Coast Guard teaching others how to do things. It wasn't so much the material that I liked teaching, but it was the act of teaching itself and seeing the excitement that someone had when they finally understood something that made me realize how much I enjoyed teaching. I also really enjoyed passing on the knowledge that I had to others and helping others to understand how to do the same things I knew how to. When I was planning on getting out of the military, I knew that I wanted to work with the Troops to Teachers network to find a way to become a teacher.”
-Samantha M.

“I wanted to make an impact socially. Teaching was a great avenue to have an influence on the upcoming generations. I had the opportunity prior to deployment to visit a classroom and speak to elementary students, which had a profound impact on my potential direction following my service.”
-Matthew S.

How did serving in the military prepare you for teaching?  

“Integrity, leadership, discipline, organization and patience are all qualities that I developed during my years in the military and have been so valuable in preparing me for teaching..”
-Jennifer A.

“I would certainly say that serving as a recruiter for the Army National Guard and as an instructor prepared me for the classroom. As a recruiter, I dealt with school-aged students frequently; I also developed relationships with faculty and staff all over New Jersey. As an Army instructor, I developed the ability to stick to a lesson plan and to differentiate instruction.”
-Brian D.

“In some ways, yes - in others, no. One of the things my wife always has to remind me is that I don’t have the same expectations on me that I did while serving. However, on the other hand, I had already established a professional persona and a personal persona; and am able to act accordingly when needed.”
-Paul K.

“The experiences enabled me to have a certain level of resilience and self belief.”
-Matthew S.

As you began your teaching career, was there a learning curve?

“There is definitely a difference between the way that civilians and military leaders operate, yes. However, I came into the job used to working long hours, operating independently, and leading small groups. The transition has been comfortable.”
-Brian D.

“There was a very large learning curve when I began my teaching career. Aside from not having any other job other than the military and having to learn the aspects of job hunting like writing a resume, going through interviews, and working with an HR department, I also had to learn the language of teaching. While my mom was a teacher, there were many things that I had never heard of and had to learn really quickly. The Alternate Route Program and my school principal and mentor really helped me through this transition. I was able to ask questions about how to do things, what things meant, and was able to get advice to help me through my first year of teaching. Surprisingly, things I had learned in the military also helped me through this transition as well. Being thrown into a job that I had never done, having to learn things quickly, and not being afraid to ask questions were all things that I had learned in the military and really helped me.”
-Samantha M.

What do you enjoy most about being in education?  

“I get the most pride when I can help a student reach their greatest potential by helping them see how capable, important, special and smart they are in their own amazing way. Helping them achieve confidence leads to extraordinary things.”
-Jennifer A.

“It might be cliché, but I enjoy the kids the most. It's awesome watching them realize that they have accomplished something they previously thought that they could not. It's great when you see them make a connection between the material and the real world.”
-Brian D.

“Helping students reach their potential, whatever that means for them. And having a little extra time to spend with my son.”
-Paul K.

“What I enjoy most about teaching is being able to pass on my knowledge and help students understand new material, as well as seeing their reaction once they understand new material. I don't think there is anything more rewarding than seeing a student's excitement when they understand something for the first time and seeing them build on that knowledge the further along they get in the school year.”
-Samantha M.

“The more I learn, the more I know how much I do not know.”
-Matthew S.

What do you wish people knew about military life?

“One thing I wish people would understand is that the military is made up of highly trained professionals. It is harder to get into the military than it is to get into an Ivy League university: an applicant must be physically fit, legally unencumbered, and able to pass a rigorous academic test. I have seen high school graduates score as high as a 99 on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery; I have also seen college graduates score as low as a 14. The people serving in the military today are ideal applicants for matriculation in the country's best colleges and for positions in Fortune 500 companies. If one takes a chance on a Guardsman, Reservist, or Veteran, they are sure to see a return on their investment.”
-Brian D.

“It is very different from what you’re used to in your day to day, but it’s not all bad. There are less decisions, and it can be a little repetitive. But you always know what you have to get done, and you make friends that are closer than family. Expectations are high but it will show you that you are capable of more than you think you are.”
-Paul K.

“It is a very rewarding and also a very difficult job to have. Many people join because they want to serve their country and help others but in doing so, they lose time with their families and miss out on so many memories. It isn't easy, but they do it because they love it.”
-Samantha M.

“The experience alone will have a lasting impact on how you think, act and behave in all settings.”
-Matthew S.

If you’re considering following your dream of teaching, Rutgers Alternate Route can offer you the support and training you need to succeed. Be sure to follow Rutgers Alternate Route on Twitter sign up for Alternate Route’s monthly newsletter for more information and stories from the field of education.