Nearly 500,000 troops and veterans used the Post-9/11 GI Bill in 2012 – a 13% increase from 2011. Since 2009, $18 billion has been spent sustaining the program, including $8 billion in 2011, the latest year for which there are statistics.
Michael Dakduk, executive director of Student Veterans of America, expects to see a rise in GI Bill usage in the coming years. In a 2013 Navy Times article, Dakduk said, “There’s a draw down occurring right now. I think you’re going to see a rise in usage from veterans, spouses and children.”
As someone who has used the GI Bill benefits for my son’s education, and as a member of the Board of Directors for SVA, I can attest that the GI Bill is a phenomenal opportunity for vets to earn a degree at little to no cost. Yet I’ve also seen many users encounter significant difficulty completing their degrees. That shouldn’t happen but it does.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that a majority of those enrolled are men between the ages of 25 and 34. The differences between their life experiences and those of a typical 18 to 22-year-old undergraduate can be stark. A veteran may have served one or two combat tours, been shot at, witnessed IED explosions and even lost a battle buddy. Some new college students coming directly from high school may simply be worried about how to do their own laundry.
This disconnect may make it more difficult for the veteran to relate to his/her classmates – and the vet may also become bored with the single-minded focus on studying, discussing “the classics” and writing. To that end, a commitment from schools to veterans’ networks and mentor/protégé programs is mandatory. Let’s talk a bit about two best practices.
Veterans Networks: The most effective models involve a college or university providing vets with a physical location where they can meet to share challenges, find solutions to common problems and bond with someone who has been in their shoes (or, more appropriately, their boots). This location should also serve as a rally point for student vets – a place where the community can reach out and assist the student veteran with myriad needs. One of the best at doing this is Student Veterans of America, which has more than 850 chapter affiliates on campuses across the U.S.
Mentorship/Protégé Programs: Let’s get one thing straight from the start: the mentor does not need to have served in the military. But it sure helps if he/she has been where the veteran is now – in school and transitioning to a different level or career in the workforce. Regardless of how the program is structured, successful models will have one or more of the following roles:
- A peer mentor focused on both classes and student activities
- A local leader who might be somewhat removed from the classroom life and more focused on the professional, but who can still provide assistance across the spectrum
- A corporate mentor who focuses on easing the transition from student to career
Would you like to get involved and be a mentor? Which type would you be? And where would you place more emphasis? Let me know your thoughts.
