Connecting Service Members to Education Benefits: VeteranDegrees at San Francisco Fleet Week

A weekend at Pier 27 spent listening to veterans, active-duty service members, and military families and helping them put earned benefits to work.

San Francisco Fleet Week at Pier 27

Pier 27 | San Francisco

San Francisco Fleet Week brought energy to the waterfront, and this year we were honored to participate. VeteranDegrees, part of the GoElite family, was invited to join a gathering of veterans, active-duty service members, and military-connected families at Pier 27.

Our table sat among other community tables along the pier under a clear blue sky, quickly becoming a place for conversation. Visitors stopped by to ask questions and share their stories.

Our purpose was straightforward. Education benefits are important resources for those who serve, yet navigating them can be complex. Programs such as Tuition Assistance (TA), Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E), and the GI Bill® each have distinct rules that may not be obvious to individuals exploring them for the first time.

Many people we spoke with were considering degree programs, timing, and post-service plans. Our role was to help them understand their options clearly and at their own pace.

Conversations at the Table

It was rewarding to meet so many service members and veterans and hear what brought them to the table. Some were exploring degree options, others were planning life after service, and families wanted to learn about available support.

These conversations reminded us that behind every benefit is a person with goals, and that face-to-face interaction can make a complex system more approachable.

Why It Matters for Our University Partners

For our university partners, this matters practically. Military-connected learners bring discipline, experience, and purpose to the classroom but often come to admissions and advising offices with questions that started long before applying.

When they have a clearer understanding of how their benefits apply, the enrollment process tends to be smoother for all involved. Events like Fleet Week allow us to meet prospective students where they are and better understand the questions your advisors may encounter.

Looking Ahead

We extend our sincere thanks to the San Francisco Fleet Week Association for hosting us and enabling connection with the military community.

In the months ahead, we look forward to applying what we learned in our work with partner institutions and welcome conversations with any school interested in better supporting military-connected students. If you would like to explore how we can assist your campus, our team is ready to talk.

Interested in partnering with VeteranDegrees?

We welcome collaboration with universities, VSOs, employers, and community partners who share our mission of empowering veterans through education.