When Chris Aukerman’s four years are up, he will come out of the United States Army as a combat veteran.

He will also be 25 years old and looking into going to college.

“When I enlisted, I knew the sales pitch I got from the recruiter was not completely honest,” Aukerman said. “But you do get a ball park figure of what you’re in for. I was told that four years of active duty would pay for four years of college.”

Aukerman, of St. Charles, is one of more than two million men and women who are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces. When enlisting, they are promised everything from veterans’ loans to college tuition.

Armed and Ready has a mission to make sure veterans receive what they were promised. The organization has teamed up with 380 VFWs to help the returning soldiers by hosting seminars. Although Aukerman hasn’t needed the services of Armed and Ready yet, he said he intends to take advantage of the group’s offerings.

Bob Perry, president of Armed and Ready, said he gathers information for the veterans and puts it under one roof.

On Saturday, that roof was the Veterans of Foreign Wars Leon Richardt Post 6791 in West Chicago.

“Our seminars are all about the vets,” Perry said. “My father-in-law was a life member of the VFW and he would tell me there was a need for vets to help other vets.”

One of the organizations at the seminar was Military Assistance Program, which provides different programs to help the families of the troops and also a list of hundreds of job openings for the returning troops. Steve Wilson, Assistant Director of the program, is a Vietnam veteran and wants to make sure today’s troops aren’t treated the way he was when he got back from Vietnam.

“These seminars provide a forum for people to come by and get job placement opportunities and medical benefit forms,” Wilson said. “It makes me feel wonderful to help out our troops.”

The job postings are a huge advantage, Aukerman said. He said the military is great for networking. Though he initially thought the VFW was not for him, he has since changed his mind. Aukerman’s perception of the veterans who belonged to the VFW also changed when he saw how much they do for the troops.

From raising money for new gear, to getting a television, Aukerman said he had his eyes opened to how much they really care.

“When you get home, a lot of people don’t have family members or local friends who have served in the military,” Aukerman said. “They have no one to talk to who will understand what we’ve been through. The VFW is there for the troops in so many ways.”

Aukerman’s advice for people who are going to enlist is to have an open mind and be prepared for deployment. He said Illinois is a front-runner for military benefits, but if you don’t know what to ask for they won’t volunteer the information. Aukerman was deployed for 18 months and said it has made him value his life more.

“There’s both good and bad things about being in the military,” Aukerman said. “But I definitely stand up a lot straighter now and am proud of serving my country.”