Since the military became an all-voluntary force (AVF), men and women have chosen to serve as a career, viewing it as a way to accomplish their life goals. Whether these goals include advancing in rank or transitioning into civilian life, service members find themselves needing additional training and/or education while serving. Although the military regularly provides a multitude of military-specific learning opportunities to meet the needs of service members, the institution also shows a commitment to service members' college education, as evidenced by the Department of Defense's funding of tuition assistance and locating education centers on military installations. Consequently, it is important to understand how a soldier's life mission integrates education and military culture. "Life mission" is defined as the personal goals and motivations that drive one's choices. In this article, the authors explore the realities soldiers face when entering college, their roles as both soldier and student, and how as adult learners they have both similar and different life experiences when compared with civilian adult learners. Based on interviews with 13 soldiers and five academic professionals at one military education center located on a large military installation, the authors consider how to better understand the importance of life mission and adult learning theory when working with active-duty soldiers enrolled in college and those professionals who advise these soldiers.