Soldiers face complex challenges, issues, and decisions when pursuing distance learning while deployed. These challenges are encountered frequently while completing undergraduate and graduate degree programs on active duty overseas. Many learning programs and benefits are available and utilized by military online learners in a war zone. Education programs and benefits, such as, GoArmyEd, and the Post-9/11 GI Bill, have had major impacts on deployed military learners. The dissertation reviews impacts on academic enrollment, utilization of military education benefits, and course completion of soldier-students affected by military deployment. A literature review, survey, and research based on soldiers deployed from 2009-2010 identified several impacts on military learners from the time of the deployment through a two year period following return. Issues include application and utilization of benefits, beginning studies, halting studies, or transitioning from traditional to distance learning programs. In addition, challenges with soldier awareness and use of military education benefits and distance learning programs are presented.