VET NET Ally Program NASPA

1. VET NET Ally ProgramNASPA Michael Barraza, Psy.D. Patrick O’Rourke Marshall Thomas, Ed.D. California State University, Long Beach

2. WELCOME

3. Pat O’Rourke • Acting Director, Veterans Affairs Services • Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army (1982-2004)

4. Michael Barraza, Psy.D. • Staff Counselor, Counseling and Psychological Services • Specialist, U.S. Army (1995-1999)

5. Marshall Thomas, Ed.D. • Associate Director, Learning Assistance Center • Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps (1986-1992)

6. INTRODUCTIONS

7. Today’s Agenda • Overview • Who Are Our Veterans • Why I Joined • Basic Training – Military 101 • Break • Challenges for Veterans • Status Exercise • Campus Initiatives • Situational Awareness • Becoming an Ally • Discussion

8. VET NET Ally Program Overview

9. VET NET Ally Goals • The VET NET Ally program is a faculty and staff training program designed to • educate members of the university community • foster a supportive campus atmosphere, and • establish a network of visible Allies for veterans.

10. VET NET Ally Confidentiality Statement • One of the most important aspects of being a VET NET Ally is that you are entrusted with providing an atmosphere of safety to those that come to you. In the simplest terms, VET NET Ally confidentiality means that what a student says to you is confidential and stays with you.

11. VET NET Ally Confidentiality Statement • By posting your VET NET Ally sticker, you are sending a message that information shared with you will not be shared with others, unless the student has given you permission to do so. This is particularly important for students who have not openly declared that they are service members or veterans, since a common concern is whether they should identify themselves as such. Students will only share their opinions, reactions, and feelings with you if they trust that those disclosures will be kept confidential.

12. Vet Net Ally Confidentiality Statement • It is, however, also important to recognize that there are limits to confidentiality. It would not be appropriate to maintain confidentiality if a person shares that they intend to physically harm themselves or another person. Protecting the immediate safety of the individual is more important than protecting their confidentiality. • If you have any concerns about what constitutes confidentiality or the limits to confidentiality, please contact your institution’s counseling center.

13. Definitions • Veteran • Combat • Non-combat • Service Member • Active vs. Reserve Duty • Department of Defense (DoD) • OEF/OIF

14. The G.I. Bill • Vocational Rehabilitation Program • Montgomery G.I. Bill • Post 9/11 G.I. Bill

15. Who are our veterans? By the Numbers

16. Population *Estimated numbers for spring 2011

17. Undergrad Ethnicity Data

18. Undergrad Gender Data

19. Undergrad Age Data

20. Fall 2010 Undergraduate Applicants

21. 2010 Campus Data

22. Fall 2010 Enrollment Data

23. Spring 2011 Enrollment Data

24. Fall 2010 Combat Tours • More than 50% have seen combat

25. Spring 2011Combat Tours • Since fall, an 11% increase in combat veterans

26. Spring 2011 Living Status • 44% live with a partner or spouse

27. Spring 2011 Employment Status • More than 1/3 work at least part time

28. Spring 2011 Colleges • 30% came from outside CCC campuses; 36% from local CCC’s

29. Spring 2011 Colleges • More than 75% have attended two or more colleges prior to CSULB

30. Persistence Data* *One-year retention for new transfers; Institutional Research and Assessment, 2010

31. Veteran/Non-Veteran Comparison* * Fall 2009 freshman cohort as of fall 2010; Institutional Research and Assessment, 2010

32. Benefit Program Data

33. 2010 NSSE Annual Report Student Veteran Data • 11,000 self-identified • 4,680 combat veterans (44% of the survey) • Seniors = 75% of the data; 1st year = 25% • 1 in 5 combat veterans reported a disability • 1 in 10 noncombat veterans reported the same • Veterans were more likely to attend public institutions

34. 2010 NSSE Annual Report Student Veteran Data • Peer Comparisons (veterans/nonveterans): • Fulltime, 1st year veterans spent 2X as much time working and 6X more on dependent care • Senior veterans had lower integrative and reflective learning and lower faculty interaction • 1st year veterans showed the same satisfaction level as peers • All combat veterans showed slightly higher amounts of study time

35. Reduced military forces by 32%*? Between 2010 and 2018: 520,272* forced to leave the service Difference from the 1990’s RIF? Number of combat tours/veterans *Department of Defense military personnel statistics. Retrieved from http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/personnel/MMIDHOME.HTM What If The U.S…

36. Why I Joined

37. VET NET Ally Why I Joined • The purpose of this is to highlight the many reasons why people choose to join the military.

38. VET NET Why I Joined • Every year approximately 280,000 people JOIN the US military. • http://www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=11914

39. VET NET Why I Joined • There are many reasons why people join the military, why do you think people join? • Most people join for a combination of factors • Economic Incentives - Career Preparation • Adventure - Familial Tradition • Patriotism - Rite of Passage • Change of Environment • Eighemy (2006), Griffith (2005), & Renehan(2006).

40. VET NET Why I Joined • I needed to belong • Prop 187 • I needed to help • Limited economic resources • I needed a change • Yes to college but not now • Wanted experience something different

41. VET NET References • Eighemy, John. 2006. Why Do Youth Enlist? Armed Forces & Society. 32 (2): 307-328. • Griffith, James . 2005. Will Citizens Be Soldiers? Examining Retention of reserve Components Soldiers. Armed Forces & Society. 31 (3): 353-383. • Renehan, John. 2006. Why I Serve. Chronicle of Higher Education. 52 (47): B5-B5.

42. Military 101 Culture and Lifestyle

43. Military Culture - Terminology • bulkhead • porthole • deck • chow • leave • cover • head/latrine • colors

44. Military Culture – Chain of Command Retrieved from Chavez High School Houston, TX Army JROTC webpage http://www.freewebs.com/airbornerangercommandos/joker.bmp

45. Boot Camp • Initial training required by all services • Physical • Mental • Emotional • Tailored to the unique needs and characters of each service • The “self” is replaced by the “team” • In a society that has few rites of passage Boot Camp provides one Video Title 3 Chapter 4

46. How long does Initial Training Take? • Coast Guard (Guardians) • 8 Weeks Basic Training • “A” School (varies by job assignment) • Navy (Sailors) • 8 Weeks Recruit Training • “A” School (varies by job assignment)

47. Air Force (Airmen) • 8 Weeks Basic Military Training • Technical Training (varies by job assignment) • Army (Soldiers) • 9 Weeks Basic Combat Training • Advanced Individual Training (varies by job assignment) • Marine Corps (Marines) • 12 Weeks Recruit Training • 4 weeks of Marine Combat Training (For non-combat arms Marines) • Military Occupational Specialty school (varies by job assignment)

48. It’s not all boot camp • Life after initial training differs greatly • By Service • By Occupational Specialty • By Geographic Location • By whether or not one is in a combat zone

49. It’s not all boot camp!Military service is a job • Large bases are like cities • Each service member performs a role in his/her city • Service members have families • “Three hots and a cot” • Pay twice a month • Medical/dental benefits • Weekends and holidays • 30 days paid vacation

50. …but some things never change!Military service is a lifestyle! • Service members can be deployed • Anywhere • Anytime • Uniforms • Physical Fitness • Continuous training • Policing one another • It is all about the “team,” the “unit,” the Corps. • Leadership