Educators from all over the east coast have been taking part in a brand new program at Stockton College, and Thursday they got to meet some of the service men and women they may be helping in the future.

For the past three days, 50 professors and educators have been students thanks to a new program called Operation College Promise.

"These are young men and women who have given the great sacrifice, and deserve the best in return," said Stockton College Assistant Dean of Students Tom O'Donnell.

Colleges all across the country are serving more and more veterans.

"It's a tremendous influx actually in some of our school's; we're seeing as many as 50 to 75 percent more among our nine members. We have as many as 10,000 active duty veterans and dependents," said Director of Operation College Promise, Wendy Lang.

To give them the best, they have been working toward a certification at Stockton College. But, today they're getting insight from the 177th New Jersey National Guard Fighter Wing.

"I think it's vital, when you are working with a veteran or service member you need to know what they do, and to have this opportunity to see what they do first hand makes all the difference in the world," Lang said.

Some members of the group are veterans themselves, and know first hand how important this visit is, as well as the information they take away from it.

"It's great to culminate with this because you see the people you're really helping. Um, the airmen out her are doing a lot, not only for their own state, for their country," said UNC-Charlotte educator, and veteran Logan Cason.

The nine educational institutions involved in the program have 12,000 veterans. That accounts for about one-eighth of their whole student population. With this certification, the educators will be able to help when their service is done.