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The History of the Student Veteran Association at PSU The Student Veteran Association at PSU was originally formed as Operation Veteran Freedom during the winter term of 2006. However our first meeting did not take place until April 6 or the beginning of spring term 06. The group was formed by a handful of young veterans with the purpose to bring former members of the military together on campus and give them a voice in the student population. This group was also formed as a response to our times. Today we see a whole new generation of combat veterans being formed, as well as the generation of the all-volunteer military in our country, where military service is looked upon more like a job then like a duty to your country. In the present situation, since such a minority of our population serves, it often feels like the veteran does not have a voice and this can be especially true at an institution of higher learning where military experience is not all that valued and the veteran can often be viewed as a political tool or social issue rather than a living, breathing human being. That is where this group comes in. It exists to bring those who have served and have common experiences together. It exists to help all the young men and women who exit the military today and find themselves on college campuses around people their own age but not their own experience level. It exists to promote awareness about veteran’s issues in the community, to bridge an ever increasing gap between civilian and military, to advocate for veterans on issues where they might be under represented and to serve as a helpful transition tool for vets. The first meeting of this group had around 15 people, contrast that to around the 50 that were on our mailing list at the time. To date the group has expanded to around a 100 veterans. We have already been involved in such activities as raising around 600 dollars for the Oregon Army National Guard Family Support Program, which helps put on activates for families of deployed soldiers. We also were instrumental in getting a Veteran’s Services table set up at New Student Orientation. We also serve as a good informational tool by putting out new information periodically on our e-mail list. Forming the S.V.A has been a learning experience for all of us. But it has also been very beneficial for those involved. The S.V.A is growing fast and steady. We look forward to continued growth and expansion and hopefully being able to give today’s veteran a voice amongst their peers. So please, take the time to check it out. Past Activities/Events
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Copyright © 2006 Student Veterans Association |
