1. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Education for Veterans:
An Analysis of Veterans’ Services at Chemeketa Community College
For
Julie Huckestein
President
Chemeketa Community College
Salem, Oregon
By
Timothy McDonald
Writing 227 Student
March 23, 2015

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Timothy McDonald
7882 St Charles St NE
Keizer, OR 97303
Chemeketa Community College
P. O. Box 14007
Salem, OR 97309-7070
Dear Julie Huckestein, President and former Chief Financial Officer:
I have been a full-time student here at Chemeketa for two years, and I will transfer to
Portland State University for Fall 2015. During my time at Chemeketa, I have met many
amazing people! I work part-time as a Work Study student for Veterans’ Services, and my
duties include supervising the Veterans’ Lounge at the Salem Campus.
As more veterans return home from deployment overseas, PTSD is a growing problem
for many of our veteran students. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs offers extensive
resources for disabled veterans such as the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program.
However, I have heard a lot of negative feedback about this program from both students and
staff.
Although Chemeketa offers counseling and disability services to all students, I believe
there is more the school can do to create an environment of success and encouragement for
veterans. PTSD is a serious problem that does more than negatively impact a student’s ability to

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succeed with their education. Without proper support it can also cause the student to potentially
become a danger both to himself or herself and to other people.
I have interviewed veteran students here at Chemeketa Community College to find out
what the school can do to create a more positive environment for veterans. I hope that you will
consider the recommendations in this report. Thank you for your time and attention to this
matter. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Timothy McDonald
Formerly CPL / USMC

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Table of Contents
Letter of Transmittal ...…………………………………………………………………………... 2
Abstract ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………… 6
Collected Data ...…………………………………………………………………………………. 8
Veteran Enrollment…………………………………………………………………..……8
Interviews…………………………………………………………………………….……9
Veterans’ Lounge Patrons………………….…………………………………..……...…10
Memorial Day Photo…………………………………..…………………………………16
Conclusion .…………………………………………………………………………………..… 14
Recommendations …………………………………………………………………………...…. 17
Works Cited ………………………………………………………………………………….… 18

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Abstract
As more veterans return home from deployment overseas, PTSD is a growing problem
for many of our veteran students. Without a strong support network, students who suffer from
injuries like PTSD will struggle to succeed with their educational goals. Because many veterans
would rather suffer in silence than be labeled with some type of psychological disorder, suicide
rates for veterans are higher than they have ever been.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs offers extensive resources for disabled veterans
such as the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program (Department of Veterans’
Affairs). There are also various local resources available in the community such as the Salem Vet
Center.
Although Chemeketa offers counseling and disability services to all students, I believe
there is more the school can do to create an environment of success and encouragement for
veterans.

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Introduction
According to the Encyclopedia of Middle East Wars, “Various characterizations have
been used to describe combat trauma over the years, including shell shock, war neurosis, and
battle fatigue…Symptoms associated with combat-induced trauma can include involuntary
trembling, outbursts of uncontrollable anger, nightmares, flashbacks, restlessness, depression,
alcoholism, drug addiction or dependency, and an inability to focus. Such conditions may last for
days, months, or even a lifetime. It was not until the 1980s that the U.S. government recognized
psychic injury due to combat as a legitimate service-related disability. At the same time, such
medical diagnoses became popularly known as PTSD” (Howlett 986).
Posttraumatic stress disorder will develop in 10% of the women and 5% of the men in
this country. Many of these people suffering from PTSD are active duty or discharged veterans
of the United States military. There are a variety of treatments offered for this disability such as
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and various medications. However, in many cases it is more
complicated to diagnose and treat this disorder because of the symptoms associated with it.
Some people suffering from PTSD, particularly veterans, may believe that the world is
completely dangerous, and no one can be trusted (Department of Veterans’ Affairs). Those
suffering from PTSD are more likely to drink, use drugs, or smoke too much. They are also
more likely to struggle with anger, irritability, guilt, shame, sadness, depression, fear, and
anxiety. Posttraumatic stress disorder can cause one to lose interest in things you used to enjoy,
make you want to be alone all the time, and cause you to feel tired, empty, and numb.
According to the Encyclopedia of Trauma, “Social support—the relationship between
individuals that promotes the belief that one is loved, accepted, and a valued part of a larger

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social network—tends to play multiple roles in the prevention of posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) and in the recovery efforts of trauma survivors” (Barnes 542). Survivors of
PTSD will often struggle with trust, intimacy, and have difficulty maintaining social networks.
Failure to build strong, healthy support communities can lead to dangerous relapses which can
erode relationships and cause victims of this disease to lose self-control.

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Collected Data
Approximately 450 veterans, on average, enroll each term at Chemeketa Community
College. The following chart details the total number of veterans that have enrolled at
Chemeketa Community College each term for the past 7 years:
Figure 1: Veteran Enrollment
Source: Chemeketa Community College, Veterans’ Services
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
Winter2008
Spring2008
Summer2008
Fall2008
Winter2009
Spring2009
Summer2009
Fall2009
Winter2010
Spring2010
Summer2010
Fall2010
Winter2011
Spring2011
Summer2011
Fall2011
Winter2012
Spring2012
Summer2012
Fall2012
Winter2013
Spring2013
Summer2013
Fall2013
Winter2014
Spring2014
Summer2014
Fall2014
Winter2015
Veterans Enrolled at Chemeketa Community College
Veterans

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Chemeketa Community College’s Salem Campus has three full-time staff members to
meet the educational needs of these veterans. Bruce Irvin is the Veterans’ Services Certifying
Official, Lupe Reyna is the Veterans’ Services Coordinator, and Patrick Withers is the Veterans’
Services Representative.
According to Lupe Reyna, Veterans’ Services Coordinator, Chemeketa Community
College has been rated in the top 30% of schools nationwide for successfully serving veteran
students. Although Chemeketa does not offer any classes on Posttraumatic stress disorder,
students can be referred to Counseling and Disability Services for immediate assistance. Mr.
Reyna also commented that the administration would be willing to hire more staff to enhance
services for veterans, but funding is not available at this time (Reyna).
The Veterans’ Affairs Department has recently approved the hiring of four part-time
Work Study positions at Chemeketa’s Salem Campus to assist with Veterans’ Services. The
Work Studies help to supervise the Veterans’ Lounge and assist at the Veterans’ Services
window. The lounge is a place where veterans (current students, prospective students, and
community members) can network with other veterans, relax, work on homework, enjoy some
coffee, and find information for various resources and job opportunities at the school and in the
community.

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The following diagram details the number of veterans using the Veterans’ Lounge each
week at the Chemeketa Salem Campus:
Figure 2: Veterans’ Lounge Patrons
Source: Veterans’ Work Studies, Chemeketa Community College
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Veterans' Lounge Patrons at Chemeketa Salem Campus
Veterans

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Gilbert Beanes, formerly a First Sergeant in the United States Air Force, would like to
see Chemeketa offer classes to help veterans make a better transition from military to civilian
status. He is not aware of any classes offered for PTSD, but thinks it would be beneficial if
Chemeketa offered them to help veterans improve themselves. Mr. Beanes thinks it would be a
good idea for the college administration to visit the National Guard and Reserve bases in Oregon
to explain the services that Chemeketa offers to veterans and why it is the best choice for them to
attend. He would also like to see Chemeketa representatives attend veterans’ groups in the
community to network and exchange ideas. He believes this could improve the services offered
for veterans. He posed an interesting question. “Would it be possible to develop a more unique
website that shows how Chemeketa is better for veterans than other Oregon colleges” (Beanes)?
Alan Nies, formerly a Captain in the United States Air Force, would like to see
improvements in the Veterans’ Lounge at Chemeketa. He believes that the Lounge is far too
small to adequately provide for the needs of veterans at the school. He suggests that the college
consider donating one of its temporary buildings to veterans instead of demolishing it, i.e. The
old, original “Student Union” building or the original cafeteria building #111. He would also
like to see more connections to outside recovery groups such as Celebrate Recovery, Bethany
Baptist, Morning Star, First Nazarene, Grace Community, People’s Church, and Salem Alliance.
Mr. Nies also stated that Posttraumatic stress disorder is a heated issue, and veterans need to
know that someone cares (Nies).
A private first-class in the United States Army, who wished to remain anonymous,
suggested that the school could offer discounts to veterans. This individual was unaware of any
classes for PTSD offered at the school (Anonymous).

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Joseph Walters, formerly a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps, enjoys the
free printing and snacks offered in the Veterans’ Lounge. He would like to see more services
like these offered (Walters).
Matthew Wanner, one of the Veterans’ Services Work Studies and formerly a Specialist
in the United States Army, would like to see a greater support network for veterans at the school.
He feels that the administration should hire more staff to assist with Veterans’ Services and
provide more support for the Veterans’ Club. He would like to see a bigger Veterans’ Lounge
with handicap access. Mr. Wanner believes that a stronger framework would draw more
veterans to the school and enhance the services offered (Wanner).
James Rolen, formerly a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps, would like to see
Chemeketa offer more career technical training in “blue collar” fields such as mechanics. He
feels that instructors should be more patient and lenient towards veterans with their grades
(Rolen).
Caleb Hyde, a veteran (HM3) from the United States Navy, feels that veterans should be
indoctrinated into the school experience at Chemeketa with transitional classes. He doesn’t
believe that the school administration cares about veterans. Mr. Hyde stated that the school only
cares about money and has no real incentive to improve their Veterans’ Services. He would like
to see a better support network for veterans at the school (Hyde).
Richard Sossong, formerly a Sergeant in the United States Army, agreed with Mr. Rolen
regarding career training. He feels that more trade school courses should be offered which
would be appealing to veterans. Mr. Sossong did not feel that Chemeketa was a “veteran-
friendly” school. He does not think there is enough awareness of veterans’ issues (Sossong).

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Every veteran I interviewed agreed about the benefits of acquiring a bigger Veterans’
Lounge, including Jon Bella. Mr. Bella, formerly a Specialist in the United States Army, also
would like to see free parking offered to veterans. He feels that another positive step Chemeketa
can make to reach out to the veteran community is to grant free weight room access to veterans
(Bella).

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Conclusions
With a few minor policy changes, the school can create a more positive and rewarding
environment for veterans who suffer from Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Establishing
trust and helping veterans to feel welcome here are critical factors which will directly correlate to
their chances for success.
Discussing PTSD is a sensitive topic. Francisco Flores, formerly a Seaman in the United
States Navy, feels genuinely offended with the name “posttraumatic stress disorder.” He feels
that labeling someone with a “disorder” is an insult. Mr. Flores would prefer it to be called a
“syndrome.” He believes that veterans are far more capable of helping other veterans with their
issues than any so-called “professionals.” Furthermore, he would like to see greater support for
veterans at this school with special recognition made to prisoners of war (POWs) (Flores).
In an article by Dr. Ochberg, he shared an interesting fact: “After two tours in Iraq,
General Chiarelli grew alarmed by rising suicide rates in the Army. He reviewed every case, and
concluded that many service men and women hate the term "disorder," and suffer in silence
rather than endure that label. "For a soldier who sees the kinds of things soldiers see and
experience on the battlefield today, to tell them what they're experiencing is a disorder does a
tremendous disservice," he has said. "It's not a disorder. It's an injury."
There are many doctors, veteran supporters, and those who have been diagnosed with
PTSD who agree with Mr. Flores that the name should be changed to something less offensive.
In fact, many letters of appeal and endorsements from doctors in the field of psychology have
recently been sent to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) requesting the diagnosis of

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posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) be changed to posttraumatic stress injury (PTSI)
(Ochberg).
The school holds two main events per year in honor of veterans, usually with free food
offered for all students at Chemeketa. These are the Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day events.
Activities such as these are a good start to show veterans they are welcome here.
Chemeketa can help to foster a healthy support network for veterans. Enhancing
Veterans’ Services should be a priority for the school administration. Veterans can work
together to help prevent relapse and build strong and healthy communities. It is absolutely vital
that everyone, especially those suffering from PTSD, know that they are loved, accepted, and
valued.

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Figure 3: Memorial Day 2013
Students are standing at attention for the National Anthem at the Chemeketa Community
College Salem Campus during a Memorial Day Event on May 30, 2013.
Source: Brad Bakke, Chemeketa Courier photographer,veteran,former president of the Chemeketa Community
College Veterans Club,and student

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Recommendations
Here are some ways Chemeketa Community College can support, encourage, and create
an environment of success for veterans:
1. Acquire a larger Veterans’ Lounge with handicap access, more computers, fax/copy
machine, improved amenities, and educational resources.
2. Hire more staff to work in Veterans Services.
3. Train Veteran Work Studies to assist veterans in various capacities such as: personal
life coaches, counselors, sponsors, and tutors.
4. Hire event planners and public relations staff to assist the Chemeketa Courier and
other public media outlets raise awareness of veterans’ issues and plan events to raise
morale.
5. Offer classes for PTSD / PTSI and establish support groups at Chemeketa for
veterans.
6. Provide internships for veterans at Chemeketa.
7. Grant free weight-room access to veterans.
8. Offer discounts for veterans in the bookstore and the food court.
9. Give veterans special tuition rates.
10. Provide free or discounted bus passes to veterans.
11. Provide free or discounted parking permits to veterans.
12. Analyze classes offered to determine if adequate “blue-collar” trade skills are
available for veterans to learn at Chemeketa.

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Works Cited
Anonymous PFC, USA. Personal Interview. 3 Feb. 2015.
Bakke, Brad. “Memorial Day 2013.” Chemeketa Community College. Memorial Day. Salem,
2013. Photograph.
Barnes, Michael. "Relapse Prevention and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder." Encyclopedia of
Trauma: An Interdisciplinary Guide. Ed. Charles R Figley. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE
Reference, 2012: 540-542. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 9 Feb. 2015.
Beanes, Gilbert 1stSgt, USAF. Personal Interview. 4 Feb. 2015.
Bella, Jon SPC, USA. Personal Interview. 10 Feb. 2015.
Chemeketa Community College. "Veteran Enrollment." Ed. Timothy McDonald. Veterans
Services, 2015. Feb. 2015.
Department of Veterans’ Affairs. "Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program."
Luxart Communications. Oct. 2008. Brochure.
---. Aug. 2013. “National Center for PTSD.” Web. 31 Jan. 2015.
Flores, Francisco SN, USN. Personal Interview. 12 Feb. 2015.
Howlett, Charles F. "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder." The Encyclopedia of Middle East
Wars: The United States in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq Conflicts. Ed.
Spencer C. Tucker. Vol. 3. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2010. 986-987. Gale Virtual
Reference Library. Web. 12 Feb. 2015.
Hyde, Caleb HM3, USN. Personal Interview. 12 Feb. 2015.
Nies, Alan CAPT, USAF. Personal Interview. 7 Feb. 2015.
Ochberg, Frank. "An Injury, Not a Disorder." Military Review Mar.-Apr. 2013: 96+.

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Psychology Collection. Web. 19 Feb. 2015.
Reyna, Lupe Veterans Services Coordinator, Chemeketa Community College. Personal
Interview. 30 Jan. 2015.
Rolen, James CPL, USMC. Personal Interview. 11 Feb. 2015.
Sossong, Richard SGT, USA. Personal Interview. 11 Feb. 2015.
Veterans Services. "Veterans’ Lounge Patrons." Ed. Timothy McDonald. Work Studies, Feb.
2015.
Walters, Joseph LCPL, USMC. Personal Interview. 10 Feb. 2015.
Wanner, Matthew SPC, USA. Personal Interview. 12 Feb. 2015.