Career transition can be stressful. This stress level is intensified for veterans who are transitioning between not only careers but also, what is perceived to be, transitioning between worlds, military world to the civilian world. Within a civilian workforce, veterans are often misunderstood and stigmatized, that results in misconceptions and…

The Post-9/11 GI Bill is the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA's) largest educational program. It provides payments for eligible veterans to cover tuition and fees, housing and other costs while they pursue a higher education. However, for some veterans this pursuit is interrupted when the school they attend unexpectedly closes. This testimony…

The role of various neurological structures and their functions play a key role in determining risk versus reward and pleasure versus pain. This neurobiological evolutionary development ultimately drives our motivation or avoidance based exclusively on our desire to survive. Following 16 years of prolonged combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, the…

This study sought to explore faculty members' perceptions of student-veterans' transition at a two-year college compared to a four-year institution. The guiding framework for this study was provided by Schlossberg's (1984) Theory of Adult Transitions. A simple random sample was used to identify 557 academic faculty members for the study. Overall,…

Women have historically served as members of the armed forces and today the numbers of women are increasing and their roles are expanding. Increasingly women are experiencing combat related mental health concerns as well as issues unique to serving within a military culture. Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) will be eligible for jobs as…

A series of activities have been undertaken to increase the participation of veterans with disabilities in computing and information technology (IT) postsecondary education and career fields. These activities were coordinated by the Alliance for Access to Computing Careers ("AccessComputing"), led by the Department of Computer Science…

The intent of this pilot program of studies is to transition returning veterans into an academic setting by establishing an academic and social framework to foster resiliency and retention. This curriculum, composed of three courses addressing resiliency, learning-teaching, and leadership, uses a recovery model approach. The program was repeated…

The deployment of National Guard and Reserve forces and active duty soldiers has created new veterans of a foreign war. What role should education and educational benefits play in their return to civilian life? Since 1944, GI Bills have financed the college education of a large group of veterans, and have come to be viewed by some as a right--as a…

It has been documented that exposure to severe and prolonged stress can result in emotional disturbances which may last for decades. Research has focused on the diagnosis of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), symptoms of which include flashbacks, increased startle response, interpersonal withdrawal, suspiciousness, impulsivity, and…

Many military veterans struggle with substance abuse, homelessness, physical and emotional disabilities, disappointing work histories, and low income. A vocational rehabilitation program at a Veterans' Administration medical center, designed to help veterans with some of these struggles, is described here. Personnel work within the context of each…

The geography of U.S. higher education changed dramatically with the enactment of the Serviceman's Readjustment Act of 1944, popularly known as the G.I. Bill of Rights (Public Law 346). This discussion shows how the G.I. Bill paved the way for marked changes in terms of where colleges and universities were located and who benefited from higher…

Discussed are the legislative evolution, nature, and impact of the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 (the G.I. Bill) on higher education. Influences on this legislation are traced back to Thomas Jefferson, and parallels with other federal legislation are discussed. The specific provisions of the act are treated, and the pervasive impacts of…

In an effort to compare the psychological characteristics of HIV positive veterans who are homeless with those who are not homeless, the psychological test performances of patients referred to the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Houston, Texas were examined. Investigators analyzed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)…

The Former Prisoners of War Act (1981) mandated complete health examinations for all interested prisoners of war (POWs). This paper reports on examinations of more than two-thirds of the POWs in the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Medical Center catchment area under the established POW protocol and special psychiatric examinations. The…

This exploratory case study focuses on a returning Hispanic combat veteran and his perceptions and experiences regarding transition from a military setting to a higher education setting. Focus is placed on a cohort-based transition educational program of studies designed to provide coping skills that foster resiliency so as to minimize…