From the Director's Desk

Normally I would use my own words to give updates on the happenings for our Veterans here at UNC. However, I will allow someone who does it for a living to give the lowdown on the Veterans in Higher Education Summit. Here is Tyler Silvy of the Greeley Tribune...

In short: YES! I cannot define the countless hours that I spend explaining why military students need to fill out their FAFSA information. Realize that your GI Bill will not cover ALL of your expenses. For example, parking and/or housing that costs over area BAH is not included. Also, all that time not in class (summer break, winter break, etc) is not covered. This means that you will not be receiving any benefits.

Enter FAFSA. By filing for FAFSA, you have the opportunity to receive aid such as Pell grants. Most of the time, these benefits do not affect your VA benefits. By filing FAFSA, you can also apply for UNC's Universal Scholarships. This means more money! BOOM! 

So, fill out your FAFSA and get your aid started. If you need assistance, you can participate in College Sunday (February 8, 2015) here at UNC or come into Veterans Services. We can help. Do not miss the opportunity to earn your degree with less cost to you. To be eligible for the most financial aid, apply by MARCH 1, 2015.

Veterans Day has come and gone. Our society has many ways to show their support for our military members and veterans, from free meals to discounts. As a veteran, I for one appreciate this generosity. I don't use my veteran status too often, but it is nice to be recognized every once in a while. 

However, one of the greatest difficulties with these benefits is proving that I am a veteran. As most of you know, we do not get a "veteran" card when we separate from the service. So, the next option is to carry your DD 214 around with you everywhere you go. I actually opted to take a picture of my DD 214 and I have kept it on my phone. A pain, but what can we do?

Enter the state of Colorado. Colorado has made it possible for veterans and military members to put an indicator on their Driver's License as proof of their military status. All you need is your DD 214 or military ID when you apply/renew your license. Awesome, right? For more information, check it out here.

Just wanted to pass on this information. Hope you are doing well and if you are in "finals mode," Good Luck! 

Last week, UNC hosted the first annual Veterans Week on the main campus. IT could not have been more successful and many were made aware of our military and veterans on campus. However, it could not have been accomplished without the long hours sacrificed by our staff and volunteers. For that we send out a huge Bravo Zulu.

I knew that UNC was a supportive campus for our military members. Yet, I did not know how supportive. I was astounded by the number of faculty and staff that came out braving the sub-freezing temperatures to attend numerous events, like the Vet Zone training and even the Military Challenge (an obstacle 1.5 mile obstacle course created to mimic bootcamp). On behalf of our military and veteran population on campus I want to extend a huge Thank You.

For those who missed out, don't worry. This will be an annual affair. You will get your chance! 

However, occasionally we do get recognition for our dedication and excellence. It may be through a Navy Achievement Medal or a Bronze Star. Whatever the award, it is usually when we go "above and beyond the call of duty." That is why I am proud to brag on the student veterans and staff that work here at UNC's Veterans Services.

The University of Northern Colorado has just been awarded the 2015 Military Friendly® School designation. "The Military Friendly® Schools designation is awarded to the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students, and to dedicate resources to ensure their success in the classroom and after graduation." - Military Friendly®

This is an honor to receive, because it really showcases the effort of those who work diligently to serve our military student population at UNC. Over the past year, our veteran student employees at Veterans Services have created and implemented numerous programs dedicated to assisting our military and veteran students. And they continue to bring new ideas to the table.

So, when you are in the neighborhood, please stop by and congratulate the students who are working in Roudebush Cottage. They are the backbone of Veterans Services. Without them, this award would not be possible. 

Wow. Where did the summer go? Is it really that time again? The beginning of the new school year has crept up on us. The time to register for classes, order outrageously expensive books, and come down with a bad case of syllabus shock. The anxiety and excitement that surround this time of year reminds me of showing up to Basic. Ahhhhhh, the good ol' days!

On a serious note, this can be a very stressful time for you, our military/veteran students, some who are showing up to campus for the first time. Often you cannot make Orientation and miss out on some critical elements that may assist in your academic success.

That was the motive behind the University of Northern Colorado's Military/Veteran Student Welcome Briefing. We created a quick crash course in all of the options and benefits that are available to you. Plus, we feed you. Yep. Real food. No MRE's. And family members are included.

This year our Welcome Briefing will be held on August 23rd, 2014 from 1000-1400. We will discuss academic advising, counseling, payments, VA certification, along with other benefits that UNC does not offer, like VA healthcare.

If you are attending UNC this Fall, whether continuing or for your first time, this event is for you. So, if you have not reserved your spot for this year's Welcome Briefing, please do so before August 16th to [email protected] with your name and number of people attending. This allows us to prepare for your arrival and get you started on your left foot! 

Many graduates of the University of Northern Colorado have gone on to do great things. Many lives have been changed and ideas brought forth. Often these feats go unnoticed. I suppose that is why I love this story. 

Lucy Disano is not only a UNC graduate (MM-13), but was selected to join "The President's Own" US Marine Corps Band. For those who are not familiar with this group, it is one of the highest honors for a musician serving in the US Armed Services. 

And if you live in the great town of Greeley, CO, you are in for a treat. Not only do we produce phenomenal musicians out of UNC, they also get opportunities to perform here. "The President's Own" will be playing in Greeley at the Union Colony Civic Center on September 16th, 2014. So, if you enjoy great music and want to see one of our own perform with the nation's top ensemble, now is your chance. 

You can read the interview about Lucy's UNC and audition experiences here.  

As I work with veterans and military students here at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC), I often get compliments on what we are doing for our students. Occasionally, I get complaints, comments, and suggestions for improvement. Some ideas are stellar.. others not so much. Many times the issues that are addressed are simple and can be completed in a reasonable amount of time. Others are not. Enter the Student Veterans of America (SVA).

The UNC chapter of the SVA is comprised of military and veteran students attending UNC who want to give back and leave a legacy. They are current and former servicemembers who want to change the issues that they see, one step at a time. Why am I blogging about this? Because you can help. Become a member.

The SVA chapter at UNC is open to any and all military and veteran students who want to be involved in getting things done for fellow veterans. The SVA is hoping to start the upcoming semester running, planning some great events in the upcoming months. From giving back to the community to attending Colorado Eagles hockey games, they have it covered. They also work closely with leadership members here at UNC in order to make the transition for veterans better than ever before.

That was Andrew Chambers' TEDx Talk in 2013. It was entitled, "Your Time in Iraq Makes you a Threat to Society."

As many of you know, June is National Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness month. This issue hits close to home for Veterans, their families, and those serving this population. Many of our military personnel, including veteran students, struggle with this issue everyday and try to get through it alone. They, or maybe you, expect the military training and mindset to kick in and conquer. However, it rarely works. 

To the veterans: Allow me to ask a few questions. Would it be seen as a weakness if a soldier requested another soldier to cover his six in a firefight? Would you call your buddy weak if you had to carry him/her out of the line of fire after taking a round to the leg? No. These are common survival tactics and are no different than requesting reinforcements to conquer the greatest enemy of all... the human mind. Asking for help does not signify weakness. It is your training and desire to survive kicking in. From day 1 of training, you are taught you are a part of a team and that nothing can be accomplished without the team. 

You are still a part of a team that is looking out for you. Family, friends, university staff and faculty, co-workers, or VA personnel. They are all there to assist. They may not understand, but they want to see you succeed and conquer. And in the rare instance that you cannot find someone to cover your six, contact me. We will find someone together. 

To family and friends: Understand that this is not a battle they can face alone. It can be incredibly frightening and exhausting to battle your own mind. To question everything. To wake up in the middle of the night with night terrors and sweating profusely. To be unable to understand inability to enter into a store, restaurant, or house without checking the "lines of fire," possible exits, and the necessity to sit facing the entrance. To be unable to trust. Hang in there. There is hope. Give them hope and help with a professional. 

If you do not find yourself included in any of the above, you can still help by getting this information out there. PTSD is an issue that affects us all and can not be ignored any longer. Over 30% of Vietnam Vets have experienced PTSD, and roughly 15% of our Gulf War Vets admit the same.* 

Now is the time to act. Thank you. That is all. Carry On!

Ever since the Principles of Excellence came out four years ago, higher education institutions have been working towards being more welcoming to military students. The University of Northern Colorado, in its foresight, created the Veterans Services office three years earlier, in 2009, specifically to meet the needs of this student population. 

Much has changed since the inception of Veterans Services here on campus. UNC Veterans Services has increased its military/veteran student population and offers many programs to support them while here on campus. The leadership of UNC consistently shows their support for the military/veteran students on campus by adopting new programs and initiatives to help these students not just survive, but strive in their pursuit of a degree. 

That is why I am excited to announce that UNC has created military/veteran housing and dining options that will not exceed the 2014-15 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Along with this initiative, UNC has also dedicated Decker Hall to be a military/veteran student learning community. This will allow military/veteran students to be around like minded students, yet still integrate into the greater student population to grow and gain knowledge while earning their degree. 

Memorial Day tends to be a bittersweet weekend for some. Granted, it is often the gateway to summer including BBQ, pool parties, boats on the lake, or working in your very own backyard. 

However, it also serves as another entry point. This weekend can be a time to reflect on what many men and women gave for the freedom that we enjoy and do so by celebrating by the pool, lake, or backyard.

This Memorial Day, I ask that you enjoy yourself. Have fun with your family and friends. Get that first sunburn of the season and soak up that extra day off of work.

I also ask that you take a moment to remember those brave souls that gave their life for ours. Attend a local memorial ceremony. Bring the kids. Teach them to look into the eyes of the WWII and Vietnam veterans and thank them for their service with a handshake and a smile. Start a conversation with an Iraqi/Afghanistan War veteran or active duty service member. Let them know that they are not alone. I promise you, they will appreciate it.

 If you would like more information on Memorial Day or its history, check out this Time Magazine article from 2009. Pretty cool stuff. That is all. Carry On!

The end of the school year is bittersweet. We celebrate with those receiving their degrees and certificates, and yet mourn the loss of a relationship that was created during their time here at UNC. As I reflect on the military students that are graduating this month, I realize how quickly time passes. That can be said for one of the military students, and a friend, who is graduating in a few days. This is his story put together by Mike Peters for our alumni magazine, Northern Vision. I hope you find it as inspiring as I did. Here’s to you, Nom, and all of those walking across the stage this month. Congrats. You deserved it.

 His voice is quiet. Soft, as he talks about it. He’s a former U.S. Marine, a gunner with a 50-caliber machine gun perched atop a Humvee in Iraq. A dangerous, frightening job. A world away from that experience, Nom graduated this spring from UNC with a 3.41 GPA in Criminal Justice. Someday, he wants to be a federal agent for his country.

Nom (a shortened version of his first name) was born in Laos, where his parents still carried the memories of a long, devastating war. When he was 5 years old, he and his family moved to America to start a new life. He grew up on Fresno, Calif., graduated from high school there, and enlisted in the Marines. A year later, at age 19, Nom found himself atop the Humvee patrolling the streets of Ramadi, Iraq.

Today, six years after joining the Marines and fighting in Iraq, Nom reflects on his service, recalling the anguish in losing a best friend, roommate and “other buddies” who didn’t return. He hesitates to go into detail about how those friends died, or how he almost lost his life.

“A unit in Ramadi was ambushed, and we went to reinforce them. …there were snipers on rooftops shooting at us. … rockets, grenades. … we wanted to get the unit out safely. … We didn’t get all of them.”

Coming home unharmed carried a burden. “I have both my arms and both my legs, and I’m also one of those Marines who came home alive,” Nom says. “Sometimes, I regret that I’m all right, when there were so many others who lost so much.”

Understandably, he’s guarded about sharing his military experience on campus — with the exception of UNC’s Veterans Services Office where he can talk over a cup of coffee with fellow veterans enrolled at UNC who’ve become his good friends.

“I don’t talk openly about being a Marine in Iraq because I don’t know how people will react. But my professors here were tremendous. Once they learned of my status, they were extremely helpful.”

Nom wants to complete a master’s degree in Criminal Justice at UNC, but right now, the finances are difficult. His G.I. Bill runs out with graduation, and he’ll have to find a way to get the money to live on. “Mostly, I already eat Ramen noodles more than anything else,” he jokes.

But with the background and experience Nom already has, there’s no doubt that someday, he’ll be a federal agent in the country that he loves so much.

                                            -Mike Peters, Northern Vision May 2014

Tis the season... for graduation. Campuses around the country will be holding their ceremonies, ushering a mass of young professionals into the workforce. Many of these graduates will be walking across that stage with regalia from honors societies and official student organizations. These ceremonial pieces are more than just bragging rights, they prove that they belong to a select group of individuals. For UNC, our Veteran and military students are no exception.

I enjoy, nay, love the honor of issuing out our Veteran stoles to our Veteran and military students. This is my chance to take part in their story and meet them face to face and to have the privilege of listening to their journey of triumphs and heartaches, successes and failures. This is the time that I get to honor their achievements and observe their own realization that they are not done. They still have greatness within themselves. This is what makes my job worth every ounce of blood, sweat, and tear. 

So, as you are sitting there this graduation season on those comfortable bleachers and folding chairs, I ask you to keep an eye out and cheer for all of the students wearing their awards. Even if they are not your student, give them some recognition. They deserve it. However, when you catch a glimpse of that student walking across with a United States Veteran stole around their neck, I request that you please stand up and cheer like your life depended on it, for they may have offered their life for yours. Thank you.

In today's politically correct society, it often makes it difficult to know what to say in certain circumstances. One of the situations that I always encounter is when a civilian realizes that I am a vet. There is often this awkward dance around political beliefs and stances, with the usual "thank you for your service" to end the dance. This makes me cringe. Not that I am ungrateful for this symbol of gratitude, but I joined the military for many reasons. To be thanked was not one of them. 

I would argue that I am not alone and have many comrades feel the same way. During my conversations with military students and veterans, I have found that they also have encounters with faculty, staff, and other students who make awkward statements or inquiries. Although not perfect, the following article has a number of good ideas on what is appropriate to bring up and discuss with military members and veterans about their service. And please, I beg you to NEVER ask question #1. EVER.

Ultimately, remember that we are human just like you. We also desire human interaction just like you. Continue to reach out. We appreciate it. That is all. Carry On.

Many are unaware that if you are utilizing your VA benefits while going to school, you are eligible for tutoring services. Cool, right? So, I hear ya, "There has to be a catch?" Yes... and no. Here are the eligibility requirements:

The student must be in a postsecondary program half time or more. For the Post-9/11 GI Bill, rate of pursuit must be at least 50 percent.

The student must have a deficiency in a course that is part of his or her approved program.

The student must be enrolled in the course during the quarter, semester, or term in which the tutoring is received for the course. Tutoring may not occur between quarters or semesters.

**Note that this benefit is not available under REAP.

"A 'Veteran,' - whether Active Duty, discharged, retired, Guard, or Reserve - is someone who, at one point in their life wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America' for an amount 'up to, and including their life.'" 

I often come across young men and women on campus who are not familiar with the services that we provide for them. Occasionally, it is due to the simple fact that they never knew we existed. As much as this pains me to hear this, I understand. It is hard for us to reach every service members or veterans if they are not utilizing their VA benefits.

On the other hand, I frequently hear from many that they "are not a Veteran" and do not believe our services are for them. This kills me. As the quote states, any "Active Duty, retired, Guard, or Reserve" is considered a Veteran. You laid your life on the line, no matter how great or small, to defend the people and values of this great country.

This was an issue for me as I discharged from the Navy. I would often get the question, "Are you a Veteran?" as to which I would answer, "No." I did not feel as though I was worthy enough to consider myself in that great population. I was under the understanding that a Veteran is one who served in combat, who gave their all, not just "serving in the military." I could not have been more wrong.

This is more common than not. It is my belief that many Veterans are humble and do not believe that they are "as great" as those "Veterans" who have gone before us. Make no mistake, YOU are a Veteran. YOU are the one who decided that your life is worth giving for the greater good.

So, If you are a current service member, honorably discharged, or retired, our services are for you. We also welcome dependents and spouses of these fine people because of your sacrifice. Today I can state that I am proud, and humbled, to consider myself a Veteran when surrounded by great men and women who have accomplished far greater than I. And I urge you to be as well.