Ten Things You Should Know About Today’s Student Veteran
- Student veterans are a highly diverse group—as diverse as America itself.
- Veterans do not see themselves as victims. Ever.
- They can feel very alone on campus.
- They are often unaware of their own mild trau-matic brain injuries.
- There are three things you should never say to a student veteran (but they still hear them every day). “These wars were atrocities and a waste of human life,” “I don’t get why you’re having so much trouble—you volunteered, right?” and worst of all, “Did you kill anyone?”
- Female veterans suffer deeply, and almost always in silence.
- They often want to go back to the war zone.
- Combat trauma is an injury, not a mental illness.
- To succeed, veterans need your understanding, compassion and respect.
- Student veterans are one of America’s greatest untapped human resources.
Source: http://www.nea.org/home/53407.htm
Our Post has been an ardent supporter of Edmonds Community College veterans and their resource center since its inception. However, the ten items are good reminders that when we meet student veterans we reach out to them and invite them as equals and comrades. I can remember wandering the campus of the University of Washington without any resources dedicated to assist returning veterans. The transition was difficult at best. We applaud ECC Veteran Resource Center and continue to support them in their efforts to assist student veterans.