How veterans turn the GI Bill into debt-free degrees

Key Concepts

• Guard Advantage: Utilizing National Guard benefits for education.
• Debt-Free Education: Achieving multiple degrees without incurring student loan debt.
• Gideon Education Consulting: Ashley Gbaja's company assisting veterans with benefit utilization.
• Dual Use of Education: Leveraging educational benefits for both personal growth and strategic business acquisition.
• AI and Education: The impact of artificial intelligence on the value proposition of formal education and career choices.
• Scholarship Utilization: Encouraging veterans to actively pursue and secure scholarships.
• Advocacy and Public Service: Ashley Gbaja's extensive work in advocating for veterans and hosting the "Tango Alpha Lima" podcast.
• Miss Veteran America: Ashley Gbaja's involvement in advocating for underserved women veterans.

Ashley Gbaja's Journey: From Service to Entrepreneurship and Advocacy

This summary details the insights shared by Ashley Gbaja, a former MP Sergeant in the Army and founder of Gideon Education Consulting, on the "Warrior Money" podcast. The discussion centers on maximizing veteran benefits for education, transitioning to entrepreneurship, and navigating the evolving landscape of education in the age of AI.

The "Guard Advantage" and Debt-Free Education

Ashley Gbaja shared her experience of obtaining four degrees debt-free while serving in the Ohio Army National Guard, and is currently pursuing a fifth degree and a certificate. She attributes this achievement to understanding and strategically utilizing military benefits. Her journey began with a desire for community outreach and financial stability, leading her to join the Ohio Army National Guard. This decision provided her with the opportunity to fund her state university degrees.

• Initial Degrees: Two degrees and two minors were secured through the Guard.
• Further Education: Subsequent degrees, including a Master of Public Health and a Master of Public Leadership, were obtained through community service on campus and within the veteran space.
• Current Pursuits: Acceptance into Johns Hopkins University for an AI certification in business at the Kerry Business School and application for a doctorate in education, entrepreneurship, and leadership, focusing on communication education and AI policy.

Gbaja's inspiration stemmed from a chance encounter at a community college satellite campus after her Advanced Individual Training (AIT). At 19, she was offered a job in higher education due to her knowledge of veteran benefits, leading her to work as a Veterans Benefits and Administrative Program Assistant. This early exposure provided her with a unique understanding of various fields, including pre-med, community and policy, health administration, and business entrepreneurship, enabling her to create programs and scholarships for veterans.

Gideon Education Consulting: Empowering Veterans for Strategic Business Acquisition

Gbaja currently works as a federal employee and is the founder and CEO of Gideon Education Consulting. For approximately eight years, she has been assisting nonprofits in the veteran and military-connected space, holding state contracts, and developing content, curriculum, communication strategy, and training. Her experience at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), working across the Veterans Benefit Administration and Veterans Health Administration in marketing and communications, provided her with a valuable federal network.

The American Legion played a crucial role in her journey, acting as a "glue" that connected her to opportunities. She helped build an American Legion post on her college campus with the premise of "engage, educate, and employ," which fostered community and resource gathering for veterans. This led to her becoming an employment and education national appointee for Ohio and being selected for an internship at The Washington Center's veterans cohort.

The idea for Gideon was conceived on a napkin in Lafayette Park, across from the White House, inspired by the historical writing of the GI Bill. The name "Gideon" reflects her role as a "guide on" during her military training, symbolizing her ability to guide others.

Dual Use of Education: Gbaja emphasizes that education for veterans should be viewed not just as a break in service but as a "strategic business acquisition." She highlights that veterans, accustomed to working for others, often desire to build something for themselves post-service.

• Entrepreneurship as Continued Service: For veterans passionate about problem-solving, entrepreneurship is a natural transition to continued service.
• Leveraging Benefits: Veterans are encouraged to use their education benefits for volunteerism, apprenticeships, or to build their own businesses.
• Self-Actualization: The goal is to achieve a personal version of the American Dream, which may involve returning to one's home state or establishing roots where last stationed.
• State Benefits: Consideration of state-specific benefits for families and dependents, as well as for GI Bill students or those utilizing the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program for service-connected disabled veterans.

Navigating the AI Era in Education and Career Choices

Gbaja addressed the growing discourse around Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on the value proposition of formal education. She believes AI has been present for a while, and its integration into daily life will transform the marketplace and upskilling methods.

• Human Component: Despite AI's advancements, the human component remains crucial. Gbaja stresses that AI cannot replace human interaction, relationship building, or the execution of tasks.
• Core Values and Alignment: When advising individuals transitioning out of service, Gbaja asks about their core values, passions, and what "stokes their fire." Aligning these with market needs and personal skills leads to better decision-making.
• Planning and Discipline: She advocates for putting plans on paper, acknowledging that while AI can map out opportunities, it cannot perform the work or build relationships.
• Trades as a Viable Path: Gbaja highlighted that individuals with high school degrees, particularly veterans in trades, are achieving significant financial success, citing the increasing demand for electricians in data centers. She projects a tripling of demand for electricians in data centers within the next 15 years.

Maximizing Scholarship Opportunities

Gbaja strongly encourages veterans to actively pursue scholarships, referring to them as "free money." She observes that many veterans disqualify themselves due to self-doubt or the belief that others are more deserving.

• Overcoming Internal Barriers: The "enemy with an outpost inside their head" prevents many from applying. This mirrors the hesitation some veterans have in filing disability claims, believing others need it more.
• Abundant Funding: There are numerous foundations and philanthropic missions dedicated to supporting higher education, veterans, and specific fields of study.
• Strategic Application: To secure scholarships, individuals should:
  • Identify Values and Educational Aims: Clearly articulate personal values, educational goals, and how they plan to contribute.
  • Showcase Engagement: Highlight campus involvement, community contributions, and personal or family significance of their educational pursuits.
  • Be Proactive: Plan ahead, know deadlines, and secure letters of recommendation from trusted individuals.
  • Persistence: Gbaja shared her experience of advocating for and securing a full degree at the University of San Francisco despite not initially qualifying for GI Bill or VR&E, by writing letters and explaining her situation.

Advocacy and Public Service: A Multifaceted Career

Gbaja's advocacy work is extensive and began in an unlikely setting: a women's prison in Ohio. While serving in the National Guard, she helped build military leadership programs in a correctional facility, which have since been adopted in other prisons.

• Miss Veteran America: Her run for Miss Veteran America was driven by a desire to support underserved women veterans facing homelessness and financial instability.
• Board Service and Testimony: She served on various boards, focusing on women veterans' needs and resources. Her advocacy extended to providing proponent testimony for Ohio Women Veteran Celebration Day, which successfully passed.
• American Legion Partnership: The American Legion invited her to help launch the "Tango Alpha Lima" podcast, aimed at fostering intergenerational communication among service members, veterans, and families.
• Podcast "Tango Alpha Lima": This podcast, sponsored by the American Legion, has been running for five to six seasons. Gbaja has hosted special series on topics like entrepreneurship, exploring the "messy middle" of business beyond the basics, and interviewing individuals from diverse industries. She also led a special series on women's history and military sexual trauma, with a particularly impactful episode on the LGBTQ+ community in the veteran space achieving significant download numbers. Gbaja sees the podcast as creating a safe space for important conversations.

Gbaja's personal motto, "I can, I will, watch me," encapsulates her proactive and determined approach to seizing opportunities and achieving her goals.

Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Ashley Gbaja's story is a testament to the power of strategic benefit utilization, proactive engagement, and a commitment to service and advocacy. Her journey highlights that:

• Veteran benefits, particularly educational ones, are a powerful tool for personal and professional advancement.
• Debt-free education is achievable through diligent planning and resourcefulness.
• Entrepreneurship offers a fulfilling path for veterans seeking to build their own futures.
• The evolving landscape of education requires a focus on human skills and core values, even with the rise of AI.
• Scholarships are a vital, often underutilized, resource that veterans should actively pursue.
• Advocacy and public service can stem from unexpected places and lead to significant impact.

Gbaja's role as the "debt-free sniper" serves as an inspiration for veterans to maximize their earned benefits and translate their education into tangible income and personal fulfillment.