At Walter Reed Army Medical Center, where soldiers recover from injuries sustained while serving, the situation seems to be even more urgent. The long time away from traditional military life forces many patients here to contemplate what their post-service future looks like. For Spc. Simone Bernard , that future includes the skills she is learning right now.

"Now I have the experience," Bernard said. "I know what I need to do my job. Now I just need the certifications and college credits."

At all military bases, including Walter Reed, an education system exists that aims to provide academic support for service members and their families. Bernard, 21, has used her sixteen months at Walter Reed to further develop the computer skills she has learned in the army.

At a recent career fair on the hospital grounds, service members browsed booths looking to get a head start on the civilian job hunt. The tough economy seems to make that even more important.