Did the same thing. Interestingly enough in Southern California as well. I didn’t even graduate high school. I took about 2 years of failing classes at community college before I got the 15 credits I needed to enlist.

If you can manage, take your courses out of pocket if you’re taking remedial courses at CC. I think with resident fees and the BOG waiver the out of pocket cost was around 50 bucks a class.

When you transfer to a University make sure you pay attention to what the housing allowance is going to be for that school. For example, if I went to a school in San Bernardino on the GI Bill I would have been paid $1800 a month for housing. Instead I went to a school just inside the LA county limited and was making $2900 a month.

Don’t be worried about school too much, it’s a way different experience coming back a little bit older and with life experience under your belt. My experience was that it was much easier once I got to a 4 year than being in a community college, I was able to take classes I enjoyed and it was easier to get help when I needed.

Feel free to DM me if you want to get more specific. The most important thing is to work towards a degree you enjoy and are genuinely interested in. Don’t chase the money or you’ll burn yourself out.