As America’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan come to a close, the number of student veterans appears to be on the rise around college campuses throughout the United States.
“As of spring 2011, there are 350 students who have enrolled at Cal State Long Beach, who identify themselves as having served in the military,” said Marshall Thomas, director of CSULB’s Veterans Affairs Services.
The number of student veterans enrolled in the past semesters was not available but Thomas believes the numbers are growing.
“We do know we have one of the largest incoming classes of student veterans this fall,” Thomas said. “California has more veterans than any other state.”
For veterans like Jason Greenidge, junior political science major, coming back to school was always the plan.
“It was a very smooth transition, I always wanted to go back to school,” Greenidge said.
Greenidge, a veteran who served as a medic, began his military career in 2000, when he enlisted and was stationed at Ft. Stewart in Georgia.
“[Coming back to school] was a stepping stone for my life,” Greenidge said.
But Greenidge believes the experience for each student veteran is different.
“When [student veterans] come to campus, they feel very alone sometimes,” Greenidge said.
The student veteran stressed the need for students to reach out to veterans and allow them to share their experiences.
“People should start listening to veterans’ experiences — you can learn about life experiences from each veteran,” he said.
With the number of collegiate student veterans growing around the country, Greenidge recommended preparing faculty to work with these students.
“I think every faculty member should be trained in the way they deal with veterans, be sensitive to them and [what they may be sensitive to],” he said.
Student veterans, who decide to go back to school, have a number of resources that may help with their education plans as well as the transition from military life to civilian life.
“We are a clearing house of information,” Thomas said, referring to the Veterans Affairs Services on campus.
Although Veterans Affairs does not offer counseling, they do refer students to counseling on campus, while also helping them with housing and access to their benefits.
Through Veterans Affairs, veterans are able to access G.I. Bill benefits, plan their educational paths, and address any bumps in the road toward their educational goals.
While student veterans make up the majority of students with military ties, children of veterans also make up part of the veteran community on campus.
“The Cal Vet fee waiver is used by over 300 students on campus, they are children of disabled veterans who meet certain income requirements [to] have their tuition fees waived,” Thomas said.
Veterans across campuses have taken advantage of the opportunities to continue their education and Greenidge said he believes these veterans are coming back to school to make something of their lives.
“[Veterans] are tired of being constantly deployed, they want to get out and do something better with their lives,” he said.
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