Military and Veteran Services Office
Service, Community, and Growth
Meet our Student Veterans
Join our military community at the University of Montana, and blaze your path as a future Griz!
Jacob Horton
Jacob Horton, like many of his fellow University of Montana military veterans, came to campus with a resume of unique experiences to apply to his academic studies. A seven-year U.S. Army veteran, he served on deployments to Afghanistan, the Philippines, Thailand and Korea, not to mention several stateside posts. Horton, a senior majoring in cognitive neuroscience, credits UM’s support of veterans and active-duty students for making the stressful transition from military to college life effortless. “The school sets veterans up for success, and I would absolutely recommend UM to vets.”
Katie Kennedy
Air Force veteran and Butte native Katie Kennedy spent seven years serving her country, including deployments to Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi and Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan. She chose to enroll at UM for two reasons: “It has a great physical therapy program and it’s close to home. I’ve been away for too long,” says Kennedy, who added that she selected PT because she wants a career where she can help people. “This is a great university, and I would recommend that new vets talk to prior vets to so you know what’s available to you.”
Jake Strand
Navy veteran Jake Strand enjoyed his work as a hospital corpsman so much that when he finished his time in the military in Dec. 2019, he enrolled in UM’s human biology program as the first step toward getting a medical degree. He was serving with the VMFA-251 in South Carolina at the time and remembers investing a lot of planning in his move to Montana. “It is a huge transition, physically and mentally” Strand says. “I strongly encourage reaching out to students, the VA and all other resources as much as possible. Missoula has a good veteran presence and strongly supports all military branches.”
Larry Whitmore
Larry Whitmore, a School of Social Work graduate student, served 26 years in various branches of the military, primarily as an electronics warfare officer flying worldwide reconnaissance missions. The West Virginia native retired to Missoula, so attending UM made sense. But he was also drawn to UM’s strong veteran support network. “Your transition from service member to student will challenge you in different ways than you’re used to,” says Whitmore of his advice to incoming veterans. “Use the skills you’ve learned but be open to new ways of doing things. Be prepared, be on time and be an example.”
Victoria Parker
Law student Victoria Parker served in the Army as an MP, including two tours in Iraq, and the Army Reserves as a drill sergeant. Raised on the Hungry Valley Indian Reservation in Northern Nevada and a member of the Western Shoshone Tribe, Parker says UM fit her most important criteria for law school. “I wanted a university that was surrounded by robust Native American and veteran populations,” Parker says. She encourages incoming veterans to become regulars at the VETS Office. “It should be the first point of contact for veterans receiving military education awards since they verify and process our payments.”
Paul Jindrich
College of Business MBA student Paul Jindrich was on deployment as a Marine Corps Infantry Officer in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan in 2019 when he applied for and got accepted to UM. The Iowa native chose UM because of the educational opportunity, but also because it of the endless outdoor activities it offers. Attending school on the Post 9/11 GI Bill, Jindrich says UM provides veterans with a great opportunity to get the most out of life. “My experience has been amazing and I am sure it will be for any veteran considering the UM,” he says.
Welcome to Griz Nation!
The University of Montana offers the most military-friendly experience possible with dedicated support and compassion for our military-affiliated students. The Military and Veteran Services Office assists all military-affiliated students with education benefits and resources necessary to succeed at UM.
Please visit us at our office, Call us at 406-243-2744, Email Us, or join our Zoom Room for further assistance.
Go Griz!
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill