Growing up, I played with G.I. Joe action figures. I still collect G.I. Joe action figures, but this post is not about my toy addiction. 😂 For those unfamiliar, the version of G.I. Joe I grew up with in the 1980s is a fictional team full of men and women from all branches of service who defended American freedom 🇺🇸 🎆.
One figure always stood out: "Gung-Ho" was his codename. He was a really tough Marine. Well, it just so happened that my uncle was a Marine who served in Vietnam. Naturally, I used Gung-Ho to represent my uncle, who helped win all the battles for the Joes. But I was a kid and didn't understand what life would be like for these ageless heroes after their time in the military was over. I didn't grasp what my uncle went through coming back from Vietnam.
Over the years, I've watched classmates, family, and friends return from deployment in the Gulf War and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is jarring because it's no longer 1981, and I'm no longer innocently playing with a box full of plastic action figures and vehicles. It is an adult reality.
Transitioning from active duty to civilian life is difficult, and many researchers highlight this in multiple narrative inquiries and quantitative analyses on the topic. The conclusions and recommendations coming from this research have a common theme: We can and need to do better.
As an agent of social change, I want to see us move from a "Thank you for your service" mentality to one that feels more like, "Here's how we want to thank you for your service."
One of the ways higher education leaders help make this change a reality is by offering "Green Zone Training." Green Zone Training is a two-way experience. The first goal is to create opportunities for incoming Vets to gain a sense of community and acceptance and to learn about the services available to them. The second goal is educating students, faculty, staff, and administrators about Veterans' experiences transitioning from service to college. This framework would include creating a culture of empathy, appreciation, and support for their fellow students who are Veterans.
Supporting transitioning Veterans in pursuing a college credential to join the workforce is more than advising them on a program choice, granting some experiential learning credits, and taking their tuition payment. The pathway to Veteran student success must be paved with mental health services, emotional support communities, and an empathetic campus that uses works, not words, to show gratitude for their service to our country.
#GreenZoneTraining #studentsuccess #highered #careersustainability
Transitioning to student life is a challenging journey, especially for our Veterans who have served in the military. It's not just about achieving success in the classroom, but also ensuring they have the tools and support to thrive beyond their service. In this week's edition of Beyond the Classroom, we're diving into the unique challenges that veterans face when entering higher education.
#HigherEd #CareerSustainability #GreenZoneTraining
!['Thank You For Your Service' Is Not Enough: Transitioning Veterans to Student Life and Career Preparedness]()
'Thank You For Your Service' Is Not Enough: Transitioning Veterans to Student Life and Career Preparedness
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