Veterans find that their transition from combat to college can be difficult

bruno

bruno

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Interesting article in todays Washington Post. Up front I think that there are some definite challenges to anyone who is deferring going to college, just because of the age difference between them and their classmates.To then add to that the abrupt change from deployed service member in a combat zone to full time student at a typical college must be a huge mental hurdle.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...be-difficult/2011/10/20/gIQAugW54N_story.html

...“It’s lonely,” said Walter Sweeney, a 25-year-old freshman whose introduction to George Mason was orientation with 18-year-olds who didn’t know quite what to make of him. “I’ve been to war, and it’s a very maturing thing to go through,” Sweeney said, adding that trying to explain his six years in the Marines hunting pirates off the coast of Somalia and surviving heavy combat in Afghanistan is “like trying to describe sex to a virgin.”...
Click to expand...
 
There have been a number of Cadets who were mobilized and deployed from VMI - I have been rather amazed that they have gone back and completed their Cadetships afterwards. It really has to be hard to go back into that environment after a year (or in the case of a couple of them 2 and even 3 deployments) in Iraq or Afghanistan.

These guys bring a lot to the campus- but they definitely have their own challenges. I salute them.
 
What's amazing is how vets kind of find each other. My class last night, to my right, a USMC vet. Behind me, a USN vet. Not saying they stick to each other, but there are definitely some common ground that you don't have with kids straight out of undergrad.
 
I think the age differnce and the life experiance means a lot. We do tend to find each other.
 
I really like how this article brings to light the difficulties these veterans are facing. In my opinion, adaptation must take place in this situation.
 
Grew it out when I had the chance. Blend in to the local environment and avoid the confrontation.:thumb: Field Jacket during winter used to give me away.
 
Maybe it would be better if adjustments will come from both vet and the school or club/groups for vet within the school, so they may support each other and something like vet/undergrad buddy system
 
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