FROM COMBAT TO THE CLASSROOM

1. FROM COMBAT TO THE CLASSROOM SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

3. Abbreviations • Global War on Terror GWOT • Operation Iraqi Freedom OIF • Operation Enduring Freedom OEF • Operation New Dawn OND • Improvised Explosion Device IED • Veterans Administration VA • Chapter of Education Benefits Based on type of service • Veterans Service Organizations VSO’s • American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion

4. Post-9/11 Military &Veterans: National Guard/Reserve • Over two million men and women have been deployed to serve in the Global War on Terror. • 810,000 service members have deployed more than once to OIF/OEF • More National Guard members have deployed to OIF/OEF than Drilling Reservist (332,000 Guardsmen compared to 254,000 Reservists). • 40% of the Armed Forces is in the National Guard and Reserve. • National Guard OIF/OEF veterans tend to be older, with an average age of 37.

5. Post-9/11 Military &Veterans: Women and Families • Over 235,000 women have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and/or Operation Enduring Freedom. • Women comprise 15% of today’s military • Over half of the military is married and over 40% of service members have children. • In 2007, at least 700,000 children had at least one parent deployed to a combat theater. • Nearly 50% of all married active duty females are in dual military marriages.

6. Veterans Experiences While in Combat 58%Received small arms fire 78%Received incoming artillery, rocket or mortar fire 33%Handled or uncovered human remains 49%Saw dead or seriously injured Americans 72%Knew someone seriously injured or killed 56%Had a member of their unit become a casualty An IED is more likely to cause injury or death than any other cause. The military can’t defend themselves from or see their attacker, thus everything and everybody is a potential threat.

8. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Depression • PTSD is generally defined as an anxiety condition that can develop after exposure to a traumatic event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. • Roughly 130,000 OIF/OEF veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD and approximately 91,000 veterans have been diagnosed with Depressive Disorders by the VA. • Veterans with PTSD and/or depression face a broad range of physical, cognitive, behavioral, emotional and social challenges. • Repeated deployments increase the likelihood of developing PTSD. • Veterans may not know they have PTSD and thus may not seek proper treatment. • PTSD and depression are treatable conditions, especially when recognized early. • Veterans with PTSD may experience feelings of Guilt, Shame, feeling like the world is unsafe and the most toxic to the veteran is the feeling being a burden or feeling helpless.

9. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is caused by blunt force injury to the head which disrupts the function of the brain. • In combat TBI often results from the concussive force of explosives which causes the brain to slam against the skull, often the result of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). • An estimated 320,000 GWOT veterans may have experienced a TBI ranging from mild to severe. • Blasts and explosions have caused most of the more than 2,700 surviving casualties with moderate to severe TBI thus far reported. • Every OIF/OEF veteran is now screened. • A veteran may experience PTSD as well as TBI. Local Utah Statistics • 3,300 OIF/OEF veterans have been screened for TBI • Over 800 have screened positive • 220 have been diagnosed with TBI

10. Academic Functioning ChallengesPTSD TBI • Hyper-vigilance • Attending to stimuli in the classroom • Watching exit doors • Watching body language of other students (i.e. hands in pockets hiding something) • Intrusive memories • Irritability- vulnerable to distractions, noise, group settings • Sleep deprivation • Medication side effects • Slowed processing speed • Problems with attention and concentration • Problems with memory • Distractibility • Organization • Reasoning/problem solving • Easily overwhelmed • Fatigue

11. Ways to Help in the Classroom • Enhance feelings of comfort in the classroom setting and testing setting • Mitigate effects of fatigue (i.e., breaks, classes at specific times of the day) • Consider strategies that aid memory and recall (i.e. smart pens, taping lectures, tutoring) • Flexibility with assignments and tests • Close communication with student • Allowing additional time to complete homework or test Be flexible and understanding: • Veterans may have doctor appointments on class days. They may have waited 6 months to see the doctor. • Those still active in the National Guard/Reserves may be called up at anytime for training, drill or active duty service. They care about their classes but they must leave when they are told to go.

12. Suicide and Veterans • VA has confirmed 18 suicides per day among the entire veteran population and 1,000 suicide attempts per month among all veterans seen at VA medical facilities. • Women veterans are two to three times more likely to commit suicide than nonveteran women. • The suicide rate among 18 to 29 year old men who've left the military rose 26% from 2005 to 2007. • In July 2007 the VA established the Veterans Suicide Hotline. This hotline currently receives roughly 10,000 phone calls a month.

13. TRUST and RESPONSIBILITY • In the service, veterans had “each others backs” and knew they could count on their buddies no matter what. In the civilian world the goal is to do better than or have more that the next person, sometimes no matter what it takes. The veteran in the civilian world often ends up having trust issues because he doesn’t know who he can trust. • Members of the military are often put in positions of tremendous responsibility at a much younger age than their civilian peers. • Due to high turnover rates, an active duty service member may find they are in charge of anywhere from 15-45 people, whom he/she is responsible for bringing home alive. • Many service members feel deep frustration and longing for a sense of purpose when they return home and civilian jobs available to them do not offer the same level or responsibility. • Veterans may feel offended and at odds with civilians whom they feel do not trust them with the same responsibility or autonomy in their job duties.

14. Military Transition From To • Military Life • Unit buddies as family • Buddies have your back • Unit is your caring community • Unit works together • Commanders tell you what to do • Strict rules • Have a job that all count on you • Having a job • Being told when to do things • Having to hurt or kill or be killed • Drive fast and avoid hazards • Civilian Life • Family-Spouse/children/parents • Feeling like no one has their back • Community doesn’t feel caring • You are alone- you do it or loose • No-one tells you what to do • Different rules • Job where you don’t feel counted on • No job- can’t do what you were doing • Do things when you feel like it • Don’t kill or hurt anything • Drive the speed limit and don’t swerve

15. What not to say… • So what was going to war like • What do you think of the war? • Did you see anyone (people) die • Did you kill anyone? • Would you go back? • Did you get injured? • How did you get injured? • Are you opposed to the war? • Are you okay (mentally)? • Did you see a lot of dead people? • Are you traumatized? • I hear you’re quick to anger... • Talking about “why” we shouldn’t be “there.” • Are you experiencing PTSD? • Did you see any action? • Was it cool? • So how was Iraq? • That must have been hard... • Thank you for what you did. • Did you lose any friends? • Don’t ask to hear a story about an incident and say “cool. • Don’t tell them you views on the war. Careless comments or questions could bring up painful memories or trigger flashbacks and distress for the veteran.

16. What to Say… • “Thank you for serving” • “Thank you for your service to our country” • “Welcome back” • Say Thank you to their family for their service and support of their Servicemember. Ask questions that can get factual answers: • When did you get back? • What unit were you with? • What branch of the service are you/were you in? Remember • If you wouldn’t ask it at your family dinner table, don’t ask it at a social function to a complete stranger. • Don’t Pry. If they don’t want to talk don’t push it. • Don’t go overboard in praise or thanks to the veteran. Simplicity is the key.

17. A Request from a Veteran “Those of us who get back from the war zone are different people. People need to give us time to get acclimated to being home. We might be very quiet or socially awkward. Civilians should be very careful when telling us about their problems, we might react very angrily because of the severity of things we have gone through. Most of us aren’t looking for a pity party or an excessive amount of praise. We just want to be respected” (Anonymous, 2007).

18. Approximately 161,000 Veterans are in the State of Utah from WWII to OIF/OEF

19. 3 Utah Veterans Departments to Assist and Support Our Veterans • Utah Department of Veterans Administration 550 Foothill Blvd # 202 801-326-2372 Terry Schow, Director Utah Department of Veterans Affairs • State VA employees • State Transition Assistance Advisor • State Utah Director Veterans’ Employment and Training (V.E.T.S.) • Vocational Rehabilitation and Education (VR&E) • Property Tax Abatement for Veterans with disabilities Veteran Service Organizations American Legion 801-326-2380 Disabled American Veterans 801-326-2375 Military Order of the Purple Heart 801-326-2471 Veterans of Foreign Wars 801-326-2385 AMVETS http://www.amvets.org Vietnam Veterans of America http://www.vva.org

20. Federal and State Medical Services • Veterans Affairs Regional Office 1-800-827-1000 • Federal Employees -- Claims processing • Disability rating established -- Home Loans • VA Salt Lake City Health Care System 500 Foothill Blvd 801-582-1565 5 years Medical treatment after discharge 6 months of Dental after discharge • PTSD Clinic 801-582-1565 • TBI Clinic 801-582-1565 • VA Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) • OIF/OEF Transition Support 801-582-1565 ex 5246 • Salt Lake City Vet Center 801-584-1294 • Military One Source 1-800-342-9647

21. Transition Assistance Areas veterans may need transition assistance with might include, but are not limited too: • Adjustment with loved ones • PTSD/TBI • Mental health issues • Employment • Finances • Medical benefits • College • Stress Management Bart Davis Dale Brockbank State Transition Utah Director Assistance Advisor Veterans’ Employment and Training

22. Veterans Education BenefitsThe Servicemen’s Readjustment Act 1944 Some Types of Educational Benefits for Veterans: • Ch 30 MGIB Active Duty GI- Paid into • Ch 31 VA Rehab Veterans with 20% disability or more • Ch 32 Post Vietnam • Ch 33- Veterans Post 9/11 • Yellow Ribbon Program Post 9/11- 100% eligible • Ch 34 Vietnam Era • Ch 1606 Reserve and National Guard-not activated • Ch 1607 Reserve and National Guard-Activated OIF/OEF • State Tuition Assistance National Guard/Reserve • GoArmy Ed Tuition waiver • Parent School/Secondary Degree at Parent school-guest here • Purple Heart Tuition Waiver State Tuition Waiver State School

23. Veterans And College THINGS TO KNOW Rules for using benefits are very rigid Veterans can only take Required classes for their declared degree Veterans have 36 months of benefits to complete their education National Guard and Reserve members may be called up during the term with no prior notice The Military is very structured and organized. When Veterans come to college sometimes it it feels like chaos.

24. Challenges for Veterans in College • Navigating the Bureaucracies in their College/University • Dealing with the Bureaucracies of the VA • Tuition is due the first of the Term but their GI money is not available to them until the next month if not later • Academic Credits earned in the Military Training often will not transfer to their College • They receive pay for credit hours enrolled. If required classes are not available for them, they have to take a reduction in monthly amount of money they receive for living allowance.

25. Veterans in College • Are older and more mature than traditional students their age • Want to finish their education and get a job • Are more likely to be married than traditional students • Tend to be more respectful of instructors and fellow students • 92 percent of active duty military personnel in the United States use computers at their places of duty • Are a minority population on campus • Military veterans are graduates of the world's largest system of specialized professional and technical training schools, those operated by the Department of Defense. However, much of the training they receive will never transfer into a college degree for them • Have a guaranteed source of income for schooling • Tend to get frustrated with students that complain and cause problems in class or that do not respect the instructor * Want you to tell them exactly what you want and keep it simple

26. Create an Inclusive One–Stop Veterans Center SLCC Veterans CenterDedicated - OCTOBER 13, 2008

27. SLCC Veterans’ Center 2010Expanded services and hours 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM Monday-Friday M Veterans’ Office 4 Offices, Break/Storage Room and Large open Office Space Veterans’ Center Study area, computer lab, and free printer, Lounge for the veterans to relax Near College Wellness Services -College Counseling Services -Massage Services -Medical Clinic Near Disability Resource Tutoring Four Certifying Officials 2 full time college employees 2 part-time college employees 10 VA work-study employees Additional VA Support 1 FT VA VetSuccess Advisor 1 PT VA Vet Center Counselor

28. Services Provided in ourOne-Stop Veterans’ Center • Information for VA benefit enrollment • Certifying Officials are always available to assist students • Tuition Assistance information • Veteran Support Agencies • Teach students how to use the VA and College Computer systems • Tutoring services • Veterans’ Club Meetings • Assistance with basic residency questions • Disability Resource referral • College Admissions Information • General class information • Free college catalogs • Basic Financial Aid information • Registration assistance • Transfer Credit assistance • Change of address for VA and College • Change of major with the VA and College • Contact info for support agencies at the college • Assistance Navigating college • Tutoring services

29. V E T S U C C E S S . G O V • Assistance in applying for VA benefits • Adjustment and career counseling services specific to VA benefits and Veteran Issues • Referrals for medical and mental health services • Transition support services • On-campus outreach to Veterans • Referrals for on-campus academic and career counseling services • Job placement assistance and coordination with local Disabled Veterans’ outreach Program Specialists (DVOP) and local Veterans’ Employment Representative (LVRs) The VetSuccess on Campus program is a collaborative effort between SLCC and the VA to provide on campus support for student Veterans. Representing both the Veterans Benefits Administration and the Veterans Health Administration, Dan Crandall located in the Veterans Center, 801-957-4399 is available on campus every day to assist Veterans with all VA related matters.

30. Create a Center for Veterans On Campus Create a welcoming office to assist your Veterans Streamline college procedures for veterans because if they get frustrated they may walk away

31. TELL US WHERE YOU SERVED!!! • Let your veterans know you value their service to our country. Simple things make a difference. A map of the world is hung on a bulletin board Each branch of the service has a different colored pin Veterans are encouraged to place a colored pin in the map where they served

32. SLCC Veterans’ Lounge • Overstuffed Couch • Overstuffed Recliner/Rocker • Large TV - DVD/VHS player • Chess Set • Chairs • Microwave • Coffee maker Veterans know they can come into the lounge and study, watch TV or sleep. Meetings are also held in the lounge.

33. VETERAN COMMUNITY SERVICES AVAILABLE AT SLCC • VetSuccess-VA Pilot Program - assistance with counseling, VA benefits and with problems they may have with their education and finding employment • Vet Center Counselors – Transition support services, on campus outreach • Veterans Upward Bound: assisting with free tutoring in Math, English and basic Computer skills for veterans. • State Transition Advisor- Bart Davis can assist veterans with all benefits, concerns and problems. Available by phone at 801-523-4937. • OIF/OEF Patient Advocate from the VA Hospital- available to assist veterans to sign up for health care benefits and with medical problems or concerns. • VA Rehab Counselors meet on campus with their students attending SLCC once a semester.

34. Veterans are proud of the Branch of Service they served in • A visiting Navy-Korean War Veteran and family have a picture taken a picture taken by the Navy flag

35. Ways to Make a Difference • Set up a veterans club on campus • Apply for grants for veterans programs • Prepare and administer a veterans needs survey asking them what they would like to have available on campus for them. • Make the admission, registration, and orientation process easier for them. • Allow veterans to register early for their classes. • Defer their tuition until later in the term allowing them to receive their money from the VA. • Streamline college procedures for veterans because if they get frustrated they may walk away • Develop a user-friendly veterans website • Create a campus group from your Counseling Center, Disability Resource Center, Financial Aid, Student Government, VA Certifying Official, Admissions, a Faculty Representative to discuss ways to improve and support your veterans.

36. Be Conscious of What You Do and Say An instructor told her students that if they didn’t finish their work she would line them up against the wall and shoot them. --In Iran, this veteran came upon the scene of a mass execution by the Government of Iran done in this method. As an assignment in an art class, an instructor had her art students bring to mind a painful memory- think about it- feel your emotions again- what do you see or smell? Now, draw a picture of the event. --The veteran in the class came to me in a state of fear and distress. He said “There is a reason we bury those memories so deep.” An instructor in a class played “Call to Prayer” (Muslim morning song) loud every day in class for the semester. The veteran student asked him not to play it everyday because it was disturbing to him. The instructor played it anyway. --The veteran said while in Iraq he listened to this music every morning and then listened as the enemy combatants said “death to Americans”. He struggled to go to this class and do assignments. A veteran had been injured by a IED in Iraq and his buddies were killed. When he returned a stranger asked him how he lost his leg. --This brought back the memories and pain of the blast. The student said he did not know why he lived and his buddies died. It wasn’t right, he said. I should have died too.

37. Collaborate with others to Serve Your Veterans At SLCC we work closely with other college departments and resources to benefit our Veterans We shared with the cashier that the Veterans’ checks will be late and they made adjustments to payment deadlines for our veterans to give them additional time to get their money. We brainstormed with the Director of the Disability Services and other departments to identify ways to increase the use of their services by our veterans. We held a dinner for the veterans and their family. We asked the Student Body Officers for their assistance with activities and Day Care when providing events for our Veterans. We invite various veteran service providers to our campus to assist our veterans with their transition from the military to our communities.

38. Be Involved in the Veteran Community • Participate in events in the Veteran Communities - develop a friendship with them. • Share your ideas with other schools and use what you learn for your school and your veterans • Be a learner – be open to learn more about veterans issues and ways you can assist them • Contact your State VA and local VSO’s and find out what they do for veterans and invite them on your campus. Let them know you care. • Find out what activities are happening in the community and inform your veterans. Attend some of the activities.

39. Lt. Col. Mark Smith‘Down Range to Iraq and Back’ The journey home marks the beginning of an internal war for the Marines. Give them the space they require to slowly turn the switch. • The switch from violence to gentle. • The switch from tension to relaxation. • The switch from suspicion to trust. • The switch from anger to peace.. • The switch from hate to love

40. SLCC Affiliations • Helmets to Hardhats - www.helmetstohardhats.org • WAVES - Western Association Veterans Education Specialists • NAVPA - National Association Veterans Program Administrators • WSVC - Wasatch South Veterans Consortium • UISFAC - Utah Inter-Service Family Assistance Committee • ESGR - Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve • SOC - Service members Opportunity Colleges • VUB - Veterans Upward Bound • DWS - Dept Workforce Services-Vet Rep • VR&E - Veterans Rehab & Education • US Army Wounded Warrior Program • OIF/OEF Transition Services • SVA- Student Veterans Of America

41. Suggested Reading Down Range, To Iraq and BackBridget C. Cantrell, Ph.D. & Chuck Dean Once A Warrior Wired for Life Bridget C. Cantrell, Ph.D. & Chuck Dean Veterans and Families’ Guide to Recovering from PTSDStephanie Laite Lanham The Miracle of Mindfulness (Recommended by one of my Veterans)Thich Nhat Hanh ACE- From Soldier to Student, July 2009 Item #311931 WWW.acenet.edu The Military Advantage, Christopher P. Michel and Terry Howell Military.com Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents Department of Veterans Affairs

42. Additional Resources • www.utvethelp.com 1-866-456-4507 • veterans.utah.gov 1-800-894-9497 • Military Onesource 1-800-342-9674 • A Straightforward Transition Manual swords-to-plowshares.org • Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Vets www.coalitionforveterans.org • Military.com http://www.military.com • Student Veterans of America www.studentveterans.org • National Center for PTSD www.ncptsd.va.gov

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44. Contact Information Darlene Head Goldman Manager, SLCC Veterans’ Center Salt Lake Community College PO Box 30808 Salt Lake City, UT 84130 Main Office phone: (801) 957-4289 Certifying Officals (801)- 957- 4248 Direct Ph: (801) 957-3833 Fax: (801) 957-4987 E-mail: darlene.head@slcc.edu www.slcc.edu/veterans