After 26 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, Ryan Agre had honed a lifetime of skills — leadership, personnel management, logistics, financial operations, and the ability to keep teams moving with precision. When he retired and moved to Idaho in 2023, he encountered a reality many veterans face: translating military experience into civilian opportunities, which was harder than he expected.
“I ran into dead ends a few times because I didn’t have a degree,” Agre said. “I was even in the final stages for a job, and one person asked about my degree. I told them I didn’t have one, and I lost out. That’s when I realized the only way to overcome that was to go get a degree.”
Agre’s path led him to College of Western Idaho (CWI) when Mission43, a charitable organization supporting veterans, offered a scholarship opportunity. CWI and Mission43 have partnered to create a clear path for veterans to receive college credit for prior military training, making it easier to pursue a degree while honoring past service.
Empowered by the scholarship, Agre decided to quit his job and focus on school full time. With his wife supporting the family, he began classes in January 2024 to earn his Associate of Applied Science degree in Management.
“I realized I was searching for purpose again,” Agre said. “Investing in myself through education would open doors that weren’t available before.”
Returning to the classroom after decades in the military wasn’t easy. Agre worried about being the oldest in the class and whether he had retained the skills needed to succeed. However, CWI’s smaller class sizes, supportive instructors, and mix of online and in-person coursework helped ease the transition.
“It was intimidating at first,” he said. “But it also felt energizing, like I was rebuilding something important.”
One of his first challenges was in an accounting class. Agre was used to practical, hands-on problem-solving in the military, so he initially struggled with the abstract concepts. However, with the help of CWI Tutoring Services, a student success coach, and faculty guidance, he began to grasp the material.
“Everything shifted when I realized I didn’t have to struggle alone,” he said.
Agre also credits staff like Shannon Kerr, CWI’s Veterans and Military Family Services coordinator, for guiding him through course registration, scholarships, and degree requirements.
“She’s been tremendous with the support for veterans at CWI, specifically with me,” he said. “It literally only took me picking up the phone and calling her, and she’d handle everything. The attention she pays to veterans is incredible.”
Mission43 helped Agre adjust not just academically but personally as well. While he had spent decades moving between military assignments and forming new communities, relocating to Idaho as a civilian was different. He didn’t have that built-in support system.
The organization connected him with fellow veterans through social events, leadership programs, certifications, and networking opportunities, helping him quickly build a sense of belonging.
“They helped me find my tribe,” Agre said. “From social events and local 5Ks to leadership programs and certifications, I quickly built a strong network. It gave me the confidence to put my name out there with local companies and see how business leaders operate. It was inspiring and made me feel like, ‘There’s no reason I can’t do this too.’”
The scholarship also allowed him to preserve his GI Bill benefits for his children, an important consideration for the family, and gave him the freedom to fully invest in his education and explore real-world opportunities that would connect classroom learning with career experience.
That opportunity led directly to his internship with Greyloch, a custom cabinet manufacturer in Star. This internship felt almost like fate.
When he moved to Idaho in 2023, he had watched the Greyloch building rise from his apartment balcony and even thought, ‘Someday I’m going to work there.’ After touring the facility with his family, he asked about internships, and through CWI’s Work-Based Learning program, he connected with Greyloch and landed his position.
On his first day, he was assigned tasks similar to those of a project manager for a major facility move, thanks to the skills he had gained through his Project Management Professional certification and his own initiative.
“I love everything about the company. The people, the work ethic, the values,” he said. “I finally feel like I’m contributing in a meaningful way again.”
Through hands-on experience, Agre has applied his leadership, management, and safety expertise while learning the inner workings of business, strengthening both his professional skills and confidence. Now graduating with his Associate of Applied Science degree in Management in December 2025, Agre hopes to continue with Greyloch full-time, but he’s also prepared to take the skills he’s learned at CWI anywhere.
“I’ve accomplished my goal of getting a degree,” he said. “Now I have that tool, plus all the experience, certifications, and lessons to present myself above entry-level positions. I know what I have to offer, and I know it’s meaningful.”
For Agre, the journey has become more than a degree — it has been about finding purpose, a sense of contribution, and a community that understands the unique challenges veterans face. He encourages fellow veterans or anyone considering returning to school to take that leap.
“CWI is 100% as good as any college or university. At a smaller school, you get more personal access to faculty and resources, which makes a huge difference. Take advantage of the opportunity. It’s worth it.”
