The Student Veteran’s Organization, established in 2009, is a group of dedicated veterans focused on helping each other adjust to civilianstudent life after getting out of the military. They provide resources at the VeteranResource Center located in the Student Services Building. The SVO is a place for veterans to acquire in-depth information that could help relieve some ofthe stresses that come with transitioning to campus life.
The SVO is committed to support the veteran population, they strive to be an organization that lets their members relate to one another.Most of their club member are integrated with non-veteran organizations and it enables access to greater resources.
“We have to be there to support each other, it’s a battlebuddy system, however utilizing our training to the university settings,” said John Savarez, president of the Student veteran’s organization.
The university has been working with them, helping them by obtaining a certification for veteran benefits, taking more conscious efforts to support our ever-growing veteran population. There are 60registered veterans as of now and 30 of them are active. But this is only a small percentage of veterans currently attending the University of Guam.
The SVO enables them to better reach out to veterans, withtheir own area of operations they help veterans with different social situations and teach coping skills that work differently for everyone. Issues come to light easier as they get the nostalgic feeling of camaraderie and protection that is provided.
Difficulty adapting is a major issue, having the SVO is a godsend, as it provides a safe space to vent frustration and accessibility to talk with someone who can relate relieves stress that can encumber their education.
“The VRC provides a familiar mission focus environment,”said Amy Jackson, SVO treasurer. “You take your training and execute, it helps keep yourself and others in check.”.
The VRC lets student veterans pull their resources together,they tutor and proof read each other, there a computer and printer available for veterans as well as snacks and beverages. If a veteran needs a ride, they provide it for them.
They even go as far as providing shelter if needed. “
Instead of veterans hiding in their cars, we offer them a safe space to decompress in a USO-like stronghold,” said Dara Zuniga, student veteran.
The Student Veteran Organization ramped up their activities since 2015. With events such as “Veteran Cemetery” clean ups, honor memorial ribbon boards, and end of the month barbeques and their special veteran vendor event where veterans with small businesses can come a sell their wares at the student rotunda.
These events help other students understand student veterans as well.
“Our organization is still a work in progress, a lot of our veterans are in other university clubs, and busy with their civilian responsibilities but we are here for each other one way or another,” Savarez said.
The Student Veteran organization teaches easier ways to adjust to campus life, in a way to help veterans look forward to going and finishing school.
Jackson even changed her education major to social work striving to accommodate veterans as a career.