Some have heard the explosions of bombs, others worked on billion dollar machinery; some were stationed in Kandahar, others in Delaware. They are administrators, mechanics and engineers, and one in seven have seen live combat. They are the diverse group of veterans who have served our country, and in growing numbers, they are our fellow students.
Some have heard the explosions of bombs, others worked on billion dollar machinery; some were stationed in Kandahar, others in Delaware. They are administrators, mechanics and engineers, and one in seven have seen live combat. They are the diverse group of veterans who have served our country, and in growing numbers, they are our fellow students.
An estimated two million military personnel are eligible for the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which provides financial support for the education of those who have served in the military since Sept. 11, 2001. As a result, the numbers of veterans attending institutions of higher learning have skyrocketed.
At Portland State, there are between 800 and 1,000 veterans, and Allen Roberts, PSU Veterans Certification Officer, says that number will increase dramatically over the next few years. This influx of veterans presents a challenge to universities like PSU, which are not staffed sufficiently to meet the needs of a demographic facing a very unique transition.
In general, if one looks nationwide, it’s disturbing to see how few resources are available to men and women returning to civilian life who have, in some cases, experienced extreme mental and physical trauma.
The statistics confirm we need to do more.
Currently, more than a million veterans in the U.S are at risk of homelessness, and almost one-third between the ages of 18 and 24 were unemployed last year according to the Center for American Progress. A national study across 400 campuses revealed that 46 percent had contemplated suicide, according to the Student Veteran’s Association.
The frightening reality is that very few university counseling centers even have a veteran on their staff, let alone the training to address serious combat-related disorders. And, while every school has extensive services for international students (as they should), what about those returning from a culture and lifestyle that is alien to almost everyone in the entire student and faculty bodies?
Roberts, an Air Force veteran, said, “Many join the military as kids and leave as adults—everything they’ve learned has been from the military. That’s what they know.”
The struggle to “demilitarize” is one, he says, that a large majority of veterans face daily. From an extremely regimented code of conduct to an in-built, tightly-knit community, veterans have been used to a unique way of life, and even if they never see combat, the transition out of it can be traumatizing.
Yet, it seems veterans are still often the least advocated for, and that’s just plain wrong. Men and women who have served our country, in whatever capacity, should expect the utmost respect and support when they enter our halls of learning.
Thankfully, PSU is one university that seems to care about its veteran population and should be duly applauded. In March, Mark Lettiere, an Air Force veteran, became the first full time Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor at the university as part of a federal program called VetSuccess.
This is a significant step. As one of 24 campuses nationwide with the VetSuccess program and the only one in Oregon, PSU is showing it has “skin in the game” and will hopefully continue to prove to veterans that this is a supportive environment in which they can further their education.
Allen Roberts is convinced that Lettiere, who has years of military experience and a background in counseling, is going to make a huge difference and is an important step forward. His role will be to connect veterans to a wide range of resources available to them, as well as provide key support in helping them access vocational opportunities.
The university’s Veterans Services department has been understaffed and overworked for years, and though the team has mainly been responsible for certification procedures, they have, by default, been the only line of support for veterans in need of assistance. But now, with the introduction of Lettiere’s position, veterans will have a broader circle of support and access to services than ever before.
The hope is that the VetSuccess program will establish a permanent presence at PSU. This should be a priority for the administration as a whole. The school has a long history with veterans—the campus was originally developed with the involvement of those returning from World War II and one could say, they’re part of our DNA—that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Veteran students Jesse Milich and Monica Salas were in attendance at a recent university panel discussion, “Promoting The Success Of Military Student Veterans,” and though both admitted to a stress-filled transition into university life, they applauded the Veterans Services staff.
“It is a privilege to walk into an office and find someone who is there as an advocate for me,” Milich said. And, Salas, who’d attended six other universities, said not one could match the support she has received from individuals like Roberts and his staff.
Experiences like this should not be in the minority. Yet, sadly, sometimes they are. Britni Childs, PSU women veteran outreach coordinator, said that often veterans “won’t self-identify for fear of judgment”—especially in states like Oregon, that have a minor military presence, but major opinions on war.
That is unacceptable. Veterans should be able to walk through our doors and be embraced, regardless of peoples’ political views. Anything less is a travesty.
Though there is a lot more work to do, the presence of VetSuccess is a start and should be a model for universities across the nation. It is essential that programs like this become fixtures in every place of higher learning, and I, for one, am proud to be part of an institution that is on the forefront of this initiative.
President John F. Kennedy said, “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” Our veterans should expect the highest quality of support, and it’s high time universities let their actions do the talking.
