How My VA Home Loan and GI Bill Gave Me a Second Chance During the Pandemic.
After I finished my contract with the Marine Corps, I found myself staring down that familiar post-service question: What’s next? Like many veterans, I knew I wanted to pursue higher education—but I also wanted to build a stable life for myself and my wife.
Around that time, I purchased a modest home on the west side of Oʻahu. Nothing flashy—just something that felt right, something I could comfortably afford even on a single income. The real blessing was that I was able to buy it using my VA Home Loan benefit. No massive down payment. No private mortgage insurance. Just the kind of support that makes home ownership actually possible after service.
And the timing? Couldn’t have been better. I bought that home just two years before the market exploded in 2020. Without the VA loan, it simply wouldn’t have been an option. It laid the foundation for the next chapter of my life.
Going Back to School Full-Time
I decided to enroll full-time at Hawaiʻi Pacific University, using my Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Not only was I finally diving into subjects I cared about, but I was also working full-time—hustling to keep up with life, bills, and school.
But then—like it did for all of us—COVID hit.
Everything shut down. The island locked down. And I got furloughed. That job I had been relying on suddenly wasn’t there anymore. Rather than panic, I saw it as an opportunity: I leaned into my education and added more classes to finish my degree sooner.
How My GI Bill Saved Me During Lockdown
Here’s the thing a lot of veterans don’t realize: when you use your Post-9/11 GI Bill as a full-time student, you receive a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA). It’s based on the location of your school, and if you’re attending in person, it can be pretty significant—especially in places like Hawaiʻi.
During that lockdown period, my MHA covered my monthly mortgage and helped with groceries. It wasn’t everything—we still needed income, and thankfully my wife went remote and continued working—but it was enough. Enough to keep us afloat. Enough to keep the lights on. Enough to breathe.
Finding Peace in the Pause
Now I know saying this might be controversial, but for me, COVID was a blessing in disguise. Yes, it was a scary and uncertain time for many. But on Oʻahu, something rare happened: the island was quiet. No tourists. No traffic. Just peace.
And I felt that peace too—for the first time in a long while.
The GI Bill didn’t just help pay the bills. It gave me space. Space to focus on school. Space to plan for the future. Space to heal.
What Veterans Should Know
If you’re a veteran thinking about school, use your GI Bill. If you’re looking to buy a home, use your VA loan. These benefits are there for us, and they can be life-changing when used together. You don’t have to have it all figured out right away. I didn’t.
But looking back, these two benefits—the GI Bill and VA home loan—gave me something priceless: stability when everything else was shaking.
Want help navigating your GI Bill or VA loan? Drop a comment or reach out. I’m happy to share more of my experience or point you toward resources that helped me.
