Let me start by offering you this disclaimer: I am no expert on the educational benefits that are currently available to veterans. But I have taught long enough to have had the privilege to instruct many veterans and discuss their experiences with them. This post is based on those conversations.
First, take advantage of the benefits offered to you. For some of you, this may mean working extra hard to get what is owed to you. I've met many veterans who had to deal with mounds of red tape to get what they were promised by the government. While all the finagling is not fun, it's worth the effort. In my opinion, giving veterans access to free higher education is the least we can do to give back for the numerous sacrifices veterans make.
Second, check to see if your college/university has a VA Liaison. The institution where I work does, and this person is responsible for helping veterans to find out about the many resources available to them. If your school has such a person, set up an appointment with him/her to discuss what you have access to.
Third, use the counseling services your college/university offers. I have two kinds of counseling services in mind here: career counseling, and psychological counseling. Good career counseling from your school's career services office will help you determine how best to use your skills and expertise, thus enabling you to focus your education on a particular field and, in some cases, graduate sooner.
Psychological counseling is often free at colleges and universities. While many students may not want to admit they need these services, they can be particularly useful - especially for veterans who have been on several tours of duty. There is no shame in needing to talk through issues with someone, and free professional services are hard to come by, so you should make use of the services offered to you. One word of advice: contact your school's counseling office as early in the semester as possible - they tend to get bogged down and have to turn away students as the semester progresses.
Finally, communicate with your professors. Even though you may not feel it is necessary and don't want any special treatment, it can help your professors immensely if they know a thing or two about your background. Knowing students on a more personal level helps professors to be more sensitive to their needs and avoid assuming the worst about them (which, unfortunately, some professors - including this one - are guilty of on occasion).
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