How is it that as a society we are taught not to kill but praise it when it comes to war? How do veterans deal with the aftermath of killing? How do they live with it? How does one transition from a place of conflict to a relatively peaceful society? Particularly, how do veterans transition into higher education?
From the Armory to the Classroom explores veterans’ tradition in higher education. As you explore the website, you will be exposed to narratives involving dark themes like suicide and alcoholism. There will also be sections dedicated to student veteran history along with an “About” page that will provide more details about the methodology and author of the project.
To get you started, meet Kris Goldsmith, an Iraq army veteran. In this exhibit, he is the main speaker and you will listen to his story. Below is a short clip to get you started. As you progress through the subsequent chapters you will be introduced to two more narrators.
Kris’s military service wasn’t easy. He tried to commit suicide and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Kris’s story is but one of many veteran stories that echo the need for us to re-examine post-service transition.
Today about 1 in 4 veterans say that transitioning to civilian life is difficult.
For some, the transition goes awry as some find themselves at war with themselves and with those they care about. Some succumb to alcoholism and are unable to hold down a job, some suffer from recurring nightmares that prevent them from sleeping, while others conclude that they cannot continue living on this earth. In some cases, it is a combination of these three outcomes.
Yet, veterans’ transition to higher education presents its own unique set of challenges. Veterans enter an academic community that has its own set of rules and regulations that challenge them in numerous ways, both physically and mentally. For veterans going into colleges and universities, the differences in socialization and culture between academia and the military provide a challenge for student veteran success.
As veterans navigate a whole new bureaucracy, they also must begin to develop their identity outside the military sphere, all while striving for a degree. For student veterans, higher education institutions may be critical sites that foster new identities which raises the question of whether universities are well equipped to support that process and whether such institutions adequately understand the complex factors that shape veteran experience/identity.
Listening discretion is advised!
