Four student veterans spoke to faculty about their transition from military to student life. They found it difficult to adjust to the lack of structure and camaraderie of the military. Student veterans miss having clear tasks and appreciate accommodations from faculty for their unique needs, such as from training conflicts or PTSD triggers like alarms. The presentation provided information on PTSD, its symptoms, and supports available through the Vet Center.

1. “Voices of
Student-Veterans:
Transitioning from Soldier
to Student"
August 1, 2013
NYC campus
Event summary by Bernadette Mirro

2. Student Veteran Speakers
O Four student Veterans spoke to the faculty
on what the transition from military life to
student life has been like for them.
O Overwhelming grateful for the assistance
provided to them in understanding their GI
benefits and having specific Veteran
Resources available to them on campus
O Several speakers did not have this available
at other institutions and this contributed to
their unease and lack of success

3. Student Veteran Speakers
O The most difficult part of transitioning is
waking up with nowhere to report and no
set tasks to accomplish since this is the
opposite of the life they’ve known for
years.
O Overall Student Veterans miss the
structure of the military and the
camaraderie shared with other soldiers.
O They acknowledge they often find it hard
to concentrate in an academic setting.

4. Student Veteran Speakers
O They find it hard to connect with students who
have mundane issues that they allow to
interfere with their schoolwork
O Group work is particularly challenging.
O They do not like to be “forced” to partner with
students or work in teams b/c they find it difficult
to connect with traditional students.

5. Student Veteran Speakers
O To best support them they ask that Faculty be
considerate of how they differ from other students
and make accommodations – within reason –
when necessary.
O They want to be clear that they do not want
special treatment because they are a capable
workforce but on occasion circumstances may
arise that are out of their control.
O For example: training that may conflict with
classroom time or weekend training that makes
timely assignment completion difficult

6. Triggers
O There was a lot of discussion on “triggers” for
Veteran students and how to make sure they can
be at ease when in the classroom
O Do not use laser pointers – this often triggers
memories of combat
O Alarms can cause stress
O Allow Veteran students to pick their seat – often
they feel most comfortable in a position with views
of the entrance and exit points

7. Suggested Reading
Ten Things You Should Know About Today’s
Veteran by Alison Lighthall
10. Student veterans are a highly
diverse group – as diverse as
America itself.
5. Female veterans suffer deeply,
and almost always in silence.
9. Veterans do not see
themselves as victims. Ever.
4. They often want to go back to
the war zone.
8.They can feel very alone on
campus.
3. Combat trauma is an injury,
not a mental illness.
7.They are often unaware of their
own mild traumatic brain injuries.
2. To succeed, veterans need
your understanding, compassion
and respect.
6. There are 3 things you should
never say to a student veteran
(but they still hear them
everyday).
1. Student veterans are one of
America’s greatest untapped
human resources.

8. From Soldier to Student:
Understanding PTSD
Presented by
Jane Hammerslough, LMFT
Brooklyn Vet Center
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

9. What is PTSD?
• PTSD, or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, can
occur after someone experiences, sees, or hears
about one or more highly disturbing events.
• According to the American Psychiatric
Association, between 50-60% of people
experience some form of trauma during their
lifetime.
• Most people have stress-related reactions to
trauma. When these responses continue and
interfere with daily life, they may be PTSD.

10. PTSD Facts and Figures
• At some point, about 8% of Americans will suffer
from PTSD
• About 30% of U.S. citizens who have PTSD were
in combat
• According to the New England Journal of
Medicine, the rate of PTSD is more than 6%
among OEF (Afghanistan) veterans and more
than 12% among OIF (Iraq) veterans

11. Common Responses to Trauma
Common responses to trauma may include
feeling…
• Tense, anxious, agitated or jumpy
• Sadness, a sense of loss or alienation, not
enjoying the things you once enjoyed, wanting
to be alone
• Guilt and shame, feeling responsible for what
happened

12. Iraq Combat Experience
• Most soldiers serving in combat in Iraq have
experienced or witnessed a large number of
traumatic events. These include…
• More than 93% have been shot at
• More than 89% have been attacked or
ambushed
• More than 77% shot or directed fire

13. Iraq Combat Experience, cont.
• Nearly half report being responsible for the
death of an enemy combatant or have seen a
corpse or human remains
• More than 86% have known someone killed
in action or seriously injured
• More than two-thirds of those serving in Iraq
reported seeing ill or injured civilians that
they were unable to help

14. Common Responses to Trauma
• Anger and irritability, having less
patience, lashing out, over-reacting to other
people or situations
• Behavior changes, such as neglecting
health, avoiding certain people or
situations, drinking or using drugs
• These are temporary feelings or behaviors in
response to traumatic experiences

15. How PTSD is Different: Four Symptoms
• Re-living or re-experiencing the event
--Flashbacks: Vivid memories return, same
feelings of fear, horror
–Can be “triggered” by sounds, smells, seeing
something
--Can happen while awake or as a recurring
nightmare

16. PTSD Symptoms, cont.
• Avoiding situations, people, or places that
may be linked to traumatic events.
--Crowds, loud places, feeling “exposed” or
unable to escape
--Avoiding thinking or talking about the event,
or anything that might bring back feelings
associated with it

17. PTSD Symptoms, cont.
• Feeling Numb/Avoidance
--Difficulty remembering or talking about trauma
--Difficulty experiencing emotions, even positive
or loving feelings towards others
--Avoiding engaging with/having relationships
other people
--No interest in activities that used to be
enjoyable, like spending time with family and
friends

18. PTSD Symptoms, cont.
• Feeling Keyed Up (also called hyperarousal)
--Feeling jittery, or always on the alert and on
the lookout for danger (hypervigilance)
--Easily startled by noise
--Sudden, angry outbursts or irritability
--Desire to find exits, have your back to a wall in
a classroom, seek safety
--Insomnia, trouble concentrating

19. Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
• MST refers to traumatic events involving
experiences of sexual assault or
repeated, threatening acts of sexual
harassment that occur while a person is in
military training or serving on active military
duty.
• Affects about 20% of female and 1% of male
veterans; 30% of those who experience MST
develop PTSD symptoms

20. Other Issues Related to PTSD and MST
• Troubles beginning, focusing on and finishing
assignments
• Problems relating to or tolerating others
• Feelings of guilt, shame, despair, or
hopelessness
• Depression, anxiety, and alcohol or drug use
may occur at the same time as PTSD

21. PTSD and MST: Supporting Students
Upwards of 20% of returning Veterans may be
experiencing PTSD or MST. Support these
students and help them heal by….
• Understanding possible “triggers” (fire
alarms, laser pointers, experiences in large
groups)
• Respecting desire for seating and other
arrangements in classroom
• Accommodating issues related to working in
groups, with non-Vets, etc.

22. PTSD and MST: Supporting Students
• Being sensitive to/aware of possible sleep
deprivation (nightmares) and possible
concentration problems
• Understanding hierarchical/ideological/social
differences between military and college
experiences, and possible culture shock and
patience with adjustment to new setting

23. What does the Vet Center offer?
• A safe place to talk
• Confidentiality
• Diverse Staff – Veteran and Civilian
• Flexible hours
• Easily accessible community setting

24. Vet Center Services
A full range of services to combat veterans,
including….
• Individual Counseling
• Group Counseling
• Posttraumatic Stress Counseling (PTSD)
• Sexual Trauma Counseling (MST)
• Couples and Family Counseling
• Bereavement Counseling
• Drug and Alcohol Counseling

25. Vet Center Services, cont.
Liaison to VA and community resources for
combat and non-combat Vets to provide…
Benefits Assistance, incl. GI Bill benefits, service-
connected disability claims, housing and
homeless services, VA mortgages, Military
records, plus employment, legal, and many
other services