Over the course of this past year the Veterans Success Center (VSC) has made huge strides in being more visible and more involved with other areas across campus. I wanted to concentrate on reaching the incoming student-veterans so that when they encountered the veterans program it appeared to be far more established than it was, and interaction with it being perceived as a daily opportunity. This meant that we would need to be far more involved with the early processes of becoming a student such as: Premiere Night, SOAR/TSOAR/Preview Day/ Veteran specific orientation and Veteran campus tours. We also wanted to be much more accurate in speaking to our student-veteran population, so we worked directly with the Admission Office to create an …show more content…
This more dynamic space has enabled us to host more student-veterans as well as increased our foot traffic and use of our area. Because of the central location of the VSC being located in the WUC we are able to meet student-veterans where they are as they mill through the building to take advantage of some of the services offered. Lunch time is by far one of the busiest times for the VSC as well as early mornings and late evenings.
Outreach and events have become some of the larger focuses. In order to accomplish this the VSC worked collaboratively with several other clubs and organizations such as the student-veterans club, WOU Student Veterans of America. We developed closer relationships with ASWOU, Abbey’s House, Stonewall Center, Campus Dining and Housing. Some examples of our successful events include: education Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day markers along Monmouth Ave., Veterans Day student-veteran panel, Memorial Day Banquet, Campus-wide Easter Egg Hunt, Toys for Tots float for the winter parade, raising almost 400 lbs. of food over 3 weeks via a food drive for the WOU food pantry, and much more. The Student Veterans of
There are so many history stories in history books and on the internet, but the source from people who were actually there is so much better than reading the nonsense. It’s better to hear stories from people who have actually lived and witnessed it rather than just read stories about it. Most students listen better than they read. When you listen to stuff, it sticks in our mind way longer than looking at a book trying to figure out what’s going on. Veterans are an example of this. They tell us stories about the times they were in the training and when they battled, if they did or have already. They have always been an important part of our nation’s history, present, and future. Everyone who went into the military or is currently planning to join has or will have a story to tell. It will be a part of them that they will always remember, the good times and the bad times. So many veterans love telling all the experiences they have witnessed. Thinking of it, it’s not a bad thing; it’s a great thing to be able to say they were actually there. Many students ask what the training is like when they first join the military, although it’s really tough, many still consider going, some even make the commitment to join right after they graduate. Those who do make it, the commitment, are the reason our nation’s history and future is how it is and how
Over the last decade or so we have seen our country fail our Veterans on so many different levels. The U.S. Governments treatment of our Veterans has come under fire because so many of our Veterans are not being adequately taken care of. Some would say this is a mere oversight in our government, but to me it is a lack of ethics. Menzel defines “Ethics as values and principles that guide right and wrong behavior.” When we look at the landscape of our Government beginning with the Executive office we see a lack of leadership in my opinion. The President of the United States should be the biggest advocate for our Veterans. Unfortunately, we see decisions that are made based on political motives instead of what’s right for the men and women who have sacrificed their lives for the
Our flag stands tall and people say that it blows with the last breathe of every soldier who has given their life to our country. On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day on the eleventh month in 1918 an armistice occurred.This soon became a federal holiday in 1938. Veterans are important to our past and future because they stand up for what is right. They put their life on the line to help defend our country. Although they have families of their own, they have stepped up to defend everyone elses family in the U.S. too. Veterans fight for our country and we should be very grateful for them.
People often say that freedom is not free and that price has been paid by countless brave individuals. These brave individuals are known as veterans. Veterans should be remembered, respected and honored because of their sacrifices, courage, and patriotism.
In today's society where opinion matters, people have been extremely vocal about the lack of support the government has provided to our veterans. Many feel as if the government should do more, while others feel as if they are doing enough. Everyone will have a difference of opinion no matter if they have severed in the military or not. No matter how one may feel, is extremely important to take care of our veterans. As they have sacrificed their lives, time, and family to protect our country. Contrary to one's belief, the government provides a substantial amount of programs, which support the veterans. Honestly more could be done. On any given day you could see women and men standing on the corner holding signs implying they are homeless veterans and will work for food. A few programs the government offers our veterans are funding for mental health services, The Wounded Warrior Project and Vocational Rehabilitation and Education, which will be discussed throughout this essay. When you research the programs, they make it sound as if all proceeds are going towards the best treatment and care money could buy.
How did a Vietnam soldier's life change during and after the war. Society had a lot of different views regarding the soldiers and the war. When coming home veterans faced many distinct challenges. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial helped to heal the nation. The Vietnam War had a major impact on the United States and the soldiers who fought in it.
According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV), nearly 200,000 American Veterans are homeless on any given night (Rieckhoff). NCHV - the resource and technical assistance center - reported that the number of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) - (OEF) veterans are becoming homeless much more quickly than Vietnam veterans. As the war in Iraq and Afghanistan continues the number of homeless veterans increases. The next generation of American Veterans is on its way home, and tens of thousands more will return from combat over the years to come. Upon returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan thousands of veterans are facing a new nightmare, the risk of homelessness.
Montachusett Veterans Outreach Center, Inc. (MVOC), is a non-profit organized under tax code 501(c)(3), located in north central Massachusetts. It is one of the oldest continually operating veterans' outreach organizations in the nation, in a state that has done much to support its veterans. Founded as the Vietnam Veterans Outreach Center in 1983, the center has expanded its services over its thirty-year existence to include all veterans. The staff of eighteen manages services from a central office as well as a newly-opened satellite office in an adjacent town. MVOC serves as an excellent example of the New Model of Care. It offers transitional and low-cost housing, mental health counseling, benefits advising, outreach services, case management, structured daily activities, and a food pantry ("Montachusett Veterans Outreach
The goal of the V.A. is to provide quality and timely service to all veterans. The current budget deficit has made it increasingly difficult for the V.A. to provide the aforementioned services to the veterans. According to Thomas B. Edsall, in his article about veteran healthcare, “Clinics are shutting down, and appointments delayed” (Edsall 1). In both its old and new forms, the VA drew its mission statement from an extract of President Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address: “to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan” (V.A.) this means that the VA’s ultimate purpose is to take care of veterans.
On the 11th of November, the U.S. observes Veterans Day. On this day, we are meant to honor the men and women who have sacrificed so much of their own lives to serve this country. Whether one may favor the Army, Marines, Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, or the National Guard, we should all pay our respects to all those who served both current, former, and deceased. But what is the purpose of Veterans Day? And why is it so important to observe this particular holiday?
Currently, the Texas Veterans Commission is working on a woman veteran program to give women an opportunity to have meetings with other women who have served. Since their male counterparts often have different experiences and they may not be relatable. The Texas Veterans Commission is also working on drumming up funding for the Fund for Veteran’s Assistance with an all-new scratch off card They have had one in circulation since 2009 which has contributed more than fifty-two million dollars to the fund. They are also getting donations through the Department of Public Safety that allows drivers to donate to the Fund for Veterans Assistance at the time of license issuance or renewal. This program launched in 2013 after the Texas legislature approved the bill to allow these donations. Another program the Texas Veterans Commission is launching is the Veteran Entrepreneur Academy. This program is designed to encourage veterans to become entrepreneurs and start their own businesses. This program gives them a business mentor and support to grow their
The U.S Department Veteran’s Affairs (VA) provides a wide range of benefits for our service members, veterans and their families. Some of these benefits include but are not limited to include compensation, disability, education, and home loans. Throughout this paper I will discuss these benefits and the eligibility required to receive them. Eligibility for most VA benefits is based on type of discharge received through the military which is normally all discharges under other than dishonorable conditions.
The “VBOC on the Road” and “VBOC on the Rez” workshops were specifically highlighted for their success in serving veterans. The workshops, in partnership with local Chambers of Commerce and other agencies, present introductory learning opportunities in underserved communities and Native American pueblos and nations throughout the state. The program teaches members of those communities how to seize on their strengths and become entrepreneurs who will then go on to contribute to our state’s continually growing and diversifying economy. More
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Organization (VFW) is a nonprofit group founded in 1899 comprised of military service members and qualified veterans. Their mission is to serve the veterans, military, and community while nurturing camaraderie (VFW, n.d.). They aim to ensure that all veterans are appreciated for their service and are recognized for the sacrifice they have made for this great country. The VFW of Rapid City, South Dakota is one of many locations in the United States. They offer many resources to their local veterans as well as promote awareness regarding war-associated illnesses.
Our friends, our family, our heroes. Our veterans fit into these three categories, so why should 8% of 1500 veterans be unemployed (Maffucci). Why should they have so many financial stresses to worry about on top of their mental health conditions. Also, why is our government not doing everything they can to help the men and women that served to protect us and our country. The government needs to do more to employ our veterans by, reducing their financial stresses, and helping our veterans who have health issues that developed while they were in the service.