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Why Veterans and Military-Connected Students Choose Life West

Mission-Driven,
Just Like You

Chiropractic is about restoring function, enhancing performance, and helping people live healthier lives — all without drugs or surgery. For many service members, it’s a natural extension of the values they already live by: purpose, precision, and service to others.

Military Benefits
Accepted

Life West proudly accepts VA education benefits, including the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33), Montgomery GI Bill® (Chapter 30), Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31), and more. Our team is here to help you navigate your benefits and maximize your eligibility.

Life West proudly participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program at both campuses, offering unlimited matching to cover tuition above the Post-9/11 GI Bill® cap for private education for qualifying veterans.

A Community
That Understands

You’ll join a close-knit, mission-aligned campus with other service-minded students — including veterans — who are driven to make an impact in the world through chiropractic.

Military & Veteran Support at Life West

At Life Chiropractic College West, we honor the service and sacrifice of our military community by providing a supportive, purpose-driven pathway to a career in chiropractic. We’re proud to offer the following benefits and resources:

GI Bill®-Approved Programs*
Life West is a GI Bill®-approved institution, and our Admissions and Financial Aid teams are ready to walk you through every step of the process.  Side note for review GI bill trademark usage – for internal review not for the document

Support Every Step of the Way
From your first info session to your last adjustment before graduation, Life West is committed to supporting your success — with advisors who understand the needs of military-connected students.

Tuition Protections Under Public Law 115-407

Under the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-407), Life West does not impose late fees, deny access to classes, or require additional loans for Chapter 33 or Chapter 31 students while awaiting payment from the VA. This policy allows students to continue attending while benefits are being processed.

Built for Your Next Chapter

  • Quarter-based calendar with 4 start dates/year in California and 2 in Nebraska
  • Clinically inspired curriculum with hands-on training from Day One
  • Access to our Technology Training Center and Nexus Brain Center
  • Advanced Preceptorship Program connecting students with chiropractors serving elite, athletic, and military populations

From the Front Lines to the Clinic

Your training prepared you to lead under pressure, problem-solve in real time, and operate with integrity — the same qualities that define great chiropractors. At Life West, we help you turn those strengths into a life-changing healthcare career.

Sports Clubs

At Life West, students can sharpen their skills and expand their network through hands-on programs and specialty clubs like the Sports Performance Club and Applied Kinesiology Club—perfect for future leaders in sports health.

Chiropractic and Military Advocacy

At Life West, we support not only our military students, but also the greater mission to expand access to chiropractic care for all service members — active and retired.

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is actively advocating for H.R. 344 – the Chiropractic Health Parity for Military Beneficiaries Act. This bill would require TriCare to include chiropractic care as a covered benefit for retired military personnel, National Guard members, and the Reserves. Currently, only active duty members are eligible for chiropractic care through the Department of Defense.

Many service members experience chronic musculoskeletal pain by the time they retire — yet they lose access to non-invasive chiropractic care just when they need it most. Without coverage, some turn to prescription drugs, including opioids, to manage their pain.

This legislation is designed to offer a drug-free, effective alternative for pain management and physical recovery. Life West stands with the ACA in supporting this bill and the larger effort to expand chiropractic access across the military community.

Life West students at both the Hayward and Bellevue campuses are eligible to use the following benefits*:

  • Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33)

  • Montgomery GI Bill—Active Duty (MGIB-AD, Chapter 30)

  • Montgomery GI Bill—Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR, Chapter 1606)

  • Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E, Chapter 31)

  • Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance (DEA, Chapter 35)

  • Post-Vietnam Era Veterans’ Educational Assistance Program (VEAP, Chapter 32)

Life West students at both the Hayward and Bellevue campuses are eligible to use the following benefits*:

Gain hands-on experience with Bay Area athletes—and join one of our 11 annual Global Service Trips, delivering chiropractic care to communities in Mexico, Tonga, India, and beyond.

Preceptorship Program Built for Real Practice

Finish your clinical training with top sports chiropractors through our Preceptorship Program, which connects students to high-level practices nationwide—including clinics serving professional sports teams.

Sports Clubs

At Life West, students can sharpen their skills and expand their network through hands-on programs and specialty clubs like the Sports Performance Club and Applied Kinesiology Club—perfect for future leaders in sports health.

Human Performance Research Lab

Life West Research is advancing our understanding of chiropractic using biomarker technology in our Human Performance Research Lab. Our in-house portfolio of research equipment includes devices for measuring HRV (Heart Rate Variability), EEG technology, and actigraphy tools that track movement and sleep quality.

We are studying how chiropractic care affects resilience, sleep, and overall vitality—not just in illness, but in peak wellness. This cutting-edge research supports our commitment to whole-person health and evidence-informed practice.

From the Dugout to the Adjustment Table

Meet Dr. Bruce Chester – Former Chiropractor for the Oakland A’s and Director of the Technology Training Center and CIL Program at Life West

Dr. Bruce Chester didn’t swing a bat — but he was an essential part of the Oakland A’s game-day lineup. As the team’s chiropractor before their move, he helped players move, perform, and compete at their highest level.

His journey from athlete to athletic trainer to chiropractor wasn’t traditional — but it led him exactly where he was meant to be. Now, as Director of the TTCC Lab and CIL Program at Life West, he’s mentoring the next generation of high-performance chiropractors.

Want to work in pro sports? Master the art of movement, fine-tune your technique, and commit to the craft.

This is Where You Level Up

Gain hands-on experience with Bay Area athletes—and join one of our 11 annual Global Service Trips, delivering chiropractic care to communities in Mexico, Tonga, India, and beyond.

Preceptorship Program Built for Real Practice

Whether your goal is to work with professional athletes, open a performance-based clinic, or simply help people move and live better—Life West is your next play.

Graduate Practice-Ready - The Ultimate Guide to Chiropractic School eBook

Dig Deeper

Download The Life West Admissions eBook

Exploring what a chiropractic degree program looks like? While you’ll find answers to all of your questions here on our website, we’ve consolidated information about the topics we discuss most often in our Admission eBook – everything from a dive into the curriculum to a year-by-year breakdown of what to expect. Download a copy today.

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