The Post-9/11 GI Bill, taking effect on August 1, increases educational aid for veterans who served at least 90 days after the terrorist attacks of September 2001. This revised version of the bill adds an incentives package far greater than the one provided by the 1944 GI Bill. This fruitful new law is meant to keep soldiers from dropping from their military duty prematurely, equipping them with a chance at a valuable education that they otherwise would not be able to obtain. Military education is a cornerstone of American history, and more and more opportunities to become involved are available to those interested.

Military education is available to Americans in both public and private universities. International students also have the option of military education by means of the nation’s five service academies. From West Point in New York to the Air Force Academy in Colorado, the Army, Navy, and Air Force offers students interested in military with a wide spectrum of options all over the United States. If an international student is interested in going to one of these institutions, they can be nominated by their home government, which will also pay for their education. For domestic candidates, Congress is usually nominating body that decides academy eligibility.

The Defense Department has a history of allowing over 100 countries to nominate their best and brightest to attend the world’s best military academies. Up to six students from each country can attend any one university at a time. The Naval Academy’s next class will have fifty-three students, including eight foreign students (four of which are female).

There is great diversity in the military academies, allowing for a richer and more fulfilling experience for anyone who joins. To get the process started, those who are interested should begin by contacting the military of their own government for information about nominations. A military background and training avails a wide range of opportunities after graduating. From receiving technical skills in engineering and homeland security to training in computers and aeronautics, the experience the military offers is one highly valued by employers after completing.

As Barack Obama said on Thursday’s speech in Cairo, “Education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century.” These eleven words hold a universe of truth within them. Structured education provides the stepping stones on the pond path of our lives. It is the gateway on which the whole world balances. Don’t let a lack of education mean you’re at your wit’s end. Let the educational opportunities the military provides be your means to a new beginning.