Student Affairs Division Veteran-Student

Awareness Training

WHO ARE THESE VETERAN STUDENTS?

What Distinguishes this Student Group?• Over 2 million troops (15% female) have been deployed to

OEF/OIF (1 out of 7)

• Multiple deployments are common

• As of 10/11/10, 5,725 have died and almost 42,497 wounded.

120 deaths of females and 600 wounded females.

• Most frequent physical injuries include TBI, traumatic

amputations and injuries that require amputation, burns and

blindness

• The psychological impact of war has also led to increased rates

of suicide and other mental health concerns

• High incidence of military sexual trauma

• In war, there are no

unwounded soldiers.-Jose Narosky

• Veterans coming home from a conflict can expect

to have a broad range of psychological reactions

to what they have experienced while they were

away.

• It is likely that many will make the adjustment to

returning home well and their initial difficulties

will subside with time. However, for many others

their experiences abroad will continue to haunt

them.

• “I learned early that war forms its own culture. The rush of

battle is a potent and often lethal addiction, for war is a drug,

one I ingested for many years…

War exposes the capacity for evil that lurks not far below the

surface within all of us.

And that is why, for many, war is so hard to discuss once it is

over.”

-Chris Hedges, Veteran War Correspondent

War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning

• What has the government done to facilitate the

veteran’s transition back to the civilian world?

Preparing For Battle

• Battlemind Training - prepares the soldier

with the psychological tools he/she will

need to survive in combat

Battlemind

BATTLEMIND is the Soldier’s inner strength to

face fear and adversity in combat with

courage. Key components include:• Self-confidence

• Take calculated risks

• Handle challenges

• Mental Toughness

• Overcome obstacles or setbacks

• Maintain positive thoughts during times of adversity and

challenge

Transitioning Home Utilizing The

Battlemind Concept

• Buddies (Cohesion) vs. Withdrawal

• Accountability vs. Controlling

• Targeted Aggression vs. Inappropriate Aggression

• Tactical Awareness vs. Hyper vigilance

• Lethally Armed vs. “Locked and Loaded” at Home

• Emotional Control vs. Anger/Detachment

• Mission Operational Security vs. Secretiveness

• Individual Responsibility vs. Guilt

• Non-defensive (Combat) Driving vs. Aggressive Driving

• Discipline and Ordering vs. Conflict

Challenges for Student-Veterans

• Half of Us: Video: Voices of Vets

• Older students may have difficulty integrating into a

campus composed primarily of traditionally-aged

students

• Military educational benefits do not provide enough

resources to attend college full-time

• Academic preparation for college may have been

deficient

• Poor readjustment to civilian life

• Lack of structure in a university environment

Student-Veterans vs. Traditional Students

• Level of maturity

• Exposed to different cultures

• Responsibility/leadership experiences of a

higher degree

Engagement vs. Anonymity

• Some student-veterans have desire to

connect with other student veterans

• Some student-veterans prefer to “blend in”

primarily due to a perceived lack of

sensitivity to their experiences and opinions

• http://www.halfofus.com/video/?videoID

=76&chapterID=1

• What can we, as individuals, do or not do

to ease the transition of the Student

Veteran back into the civilian world and

into campus life?

Welcoming Student-Veterans To Campus

• Welcome them home

• Express your appreciation of their service

• Offer to help with their transition to (or back

to) campus

• Support with patience and listening

• Understand that the transition home is a

process and can take time

Good Ways To Start A Conversation

• What was your job and where did you go while in

the military?

• How are you and your family doing?

• Ask open-ended, general questions about their

military service

• Listen non-judgmentally

Topics To Avoid When Speaking With A

Veteran

• Pressuring a veteran regarding specifics about

their service they choose not to share with you

• Minimizing the challenges a veteran might face

• Making assumptions about any veteran’s political

or foreign policy views

• Singling out a veteran without prior approval (let

them choose who they tell about their distinction

as a student veteran)

Inappropriate Questions

• Did you kill anyone?

• Did you see anyone die?

• Are you glad that you’re back?

• Do you have to go back?

• Did you see any action?

• Was it hot? Did you see any camels?

• Do you think we are winning over there? Is it all

worth it?

Opportunities for Engagement

A comprehensive and holistic system for assisting

veterans• Identification of each Student –veteran

• Orientation for incoming Veterans and dependents

• Mentorship or Transition coach

• Academic advising

• Education for staff and faculty

• Procedures for making referrals

• Needs assessments and outcome studies

What Has UNCW Done To Make

Our Campus Attractive To

Veterans?