Military veterans helped launch the PA profession. Yet today, many veterans still face unnecessary friction when they try to translate their service into a PA school application that civilian admissions readers can fully understand.

In this episode of Admissions Straight Talk, host Dr. Valerie Wherley speaks with Brandon R. Beattie, MMSc, PA-C, assistant professor and program director of the George Washington University (GW) PA Program. Brandon is a Yale-trained PA, a former U.S. Army combat medic, and an advocate for reducing barriers for veterans and underrepresented applicants in admissions. This conversation offers practical guidance for veteran applicants and useful reminders for admissions committees reviewing applications from those who have served.

Explain the Qualities Veterans Bring to PA Programs

Brandon names several qualities the adcom often seeks: grit, resilience, tenacity, teamwork, leadership potential, and the ability to assess a situation and determine what needs to happen next. Those skills are deeply familiar to many veterans, especially those who have worked in high-pressure service environments.

The challenge is that applicants cannot assume the admissions reader will automatically understand what a military role required. A veteran’s experience might include leadership, clinical judgment, crisis response, logistics, communication, or mentoring, but those strengths need to be translated into plain language. The application should help the reader see how military experience connects to the work of becoming a safe, effective, and service-oriented PA.

Translate Military Language for Civilian Readers

Military service has its own language. Acronyms, rank structures, unit names, deployment details, and job titles can make perfect sense to another service member while leaving a civilian reader confused. Brandon’s advice is direct: define the terms, explain the role, and make sure someone with no military background reviews the writing.

Valerie echoes that point based on her work with veteran applicants. If the reader does not understand the language, the applicant can lose credit for meaningful work simply because the experience was not explained clearly. A strong CASPA application should be concise, specific, and accessible to someone who has never served.

Give Admissions Readers the Context They Need

Veterans can fall into two traps: some overstate their service in a way that may not land well with admissions committees, while others are so humble that they undercut the very experiences that make them distinctive.

Brandon encourages applicants to find the middle ground. The goal is not to ask for special treatment; it is to explain the full context: the responsibility carried, the tempo of service, the challenge of pursuing education while working full time or relocating, and the maturity gained from those experiences. If an applicant attended multiple colleges, took online courses, or had an unusual academic path because of military obligations, that context can demonstrate time management and persistence rather than weakness.

Choose Recommenders Who Can Speak to Your Readiness

A military supervisor can be a valuable recommender, but Brandon cautions that the decision depends on what the application needs. For PA school, he recommends thinking carefully about three types of recommenders: someone in the PA or medical field, someone who can speak to academic rigor, and someone who can attest to clinical ability or professional performance.

A prominent title or high rank does not guarantee a strong recommendation letter. The best letter is detailed, relevant, and understandable to the admissions committee. If a military recommender uses too much jargon, the letter may not help as much as intended.

For the GW PA Program, Brandon says competitive applicants show academic readiness, mission fit, leadership potential, communication skills, coachability, and the ability to receive feedback. For veterans, the work is often less about finding those qualities and more about making sure the application reveals them clearly.

Related Resources:

• Brandon R. Beattie faculty profile
• George Washington University Physician Assistant Program 
• GW PA Program Admission Requirements
• GW PA Program How to Apply
• The Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Physician Assistant, a free guide
• Accepted’s Physician Assistant Application Packages 

Related Episodes:

• Inside Wake Forest’s PA Program: Inquiry-Based Learning, Service, and Leadership Training [Episode 627]
• From PA School Reapplicant to Future Provider: How Persistence Helped One Student Succeed [Episode 621]
• Becoming a PA at Sacred Heart: International Opportunities, Orthopedic Training, and Admissions Advice [Episode 613]