Veterans

Veterans Page



This page is dedicated to the student veterans who have served our country through the military. We will post articles, profiles, and information specific to veterans here. Please check this page regularly for the latest info to help veterans succeed at City. We encourage you to provide feedback about articles in the comment box at the bottom. Your comments will be posted within 24 hours, and we look forward to reading your opinions. Also feel free to tell us what you'd like to see on this page. Thanks for your service to our country.

VETERANS SERVICE CENTER

San Diego City College proudly announces the opening of our NEW Veterans Service Center on Monday, April 9^th, 2012! The official grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony took  place on Sept. 27th, 2012. 

VSC Mission Statement: The mission of the Veterans Service Center (VSC) is to provide a welcoming environment for all veterans.   The VSC is designed to serve both men and women, from military transition to the completion of their academic goals.  The Veterans Service Center provides services in three primary areas: academics, community and wellness
Services include:
•       Learning space/computer access
•       Peer support/mentoring
•       Referrals to both on and off-campus resources
•       Meetings relating to Veterans
•       Speakers

Veterans are encouraged to utilize their unique skills as active participants in the greater campus community.

L-106

 Fall 2018 Hours: 
M-Th 8am-6pm, Fri 8am-3pm

(619) 388-3698

　

"If you are having occasional or current suicidal thoughts,

TAKE THE NEXT STEP.

Call the referral number listed below and press option #1 when prompted.  You will be directed to a live, CONFIDENTIAL, compassionate veteran service provider. 

 This veteran hotline is available 24-hours a day. 

Let someone help!  1(800) 273-TALK (8255) (press 1)

 

If you are a female who served in ANY capacity in the Armed Forces,

 "Women Vets on Point"

is an additional point of contact for resources and support.

For more information, visit: www.womenvetsonpoint.org

You may also connect with their live team via chat (M-F 0800-1700),

 
email WVOP@usvetsinc.org or
(213) 335-5432

10 Military Benefits You May Not Know About: Free tax prep, long-term care, life insurance, etc. This information appeared on militarybenefits.info

https://militarybenefits.info/10-veterans-benefits-you-may-not-know-about/
 

This is an issue that deserves attention: Veterans Organization Places 5,520 Flags to Raise Awareness of Veteran and Military Suicide This Year appeared on ABC News.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

What's the best thing that can happen to an 8-year-old at school? How about a surprise visit from his father?

Surprised Son Can't Let Go As Military Dad Comes Home appeared on MSN Video.

Marine Dog with Cancer Gets Tear-Filled Farewell appeared in MSN News.

"The intent is to really beat Amazon at their game because we have locations literally on the installations." -- Army and Air Force Exchange Service CEO, Tom Shull.

Honorably Discharged Veterans Will Soon Get to Shop Tax-Free appeared on ABC News.

https://www.aafes.com/about-exchange/

“We believe that all veterans who have honorably served this nation have earned education assistance as partial compensation for the sacrifices they have made. Unfortunately, many who have served in uniform are currently left behind.” -- Charles E. Schmidt, American Legion National Commander.

5 Things to Know About the Forever GI Bill appeared in The San Diego Union Tribune on July 13, 2017.

Meet Merrick, a service dog, that is helping McLean Raybon deal with his PTSD. This People.com article appeared on MSN News.

https://www.k9sforwarriors.org/

"I appreciate the time we have together because I know how important it is to live." -- Jonathon Stone, who lost his wife to cancer.

Dad Keeps His 'Team' Strong appeared in the San Diego Union Tribune on June 18, 2017.

"Evidence has been mounting that segregation negatively impacts both performance by and attitudes about women in the Marines. Even male Marines have begun to speak out in favor of integrated boot camp."

Marine Corps Is Dragging Its Feet On Integrating Boot Camp. Why? was published in the San Diego Union Tribune on May 20, 2017.

“There’s a huge quality-of-life component to being able to stand, to be at eye level with your friends and family and people in the community.” -- VA Physical Therapist John Colaneri

Paralyzed Vet Gets First Robotic Legs from San Diego VA appeared in the San Diego Union Tribune on April 20, 2017.

Stuart Hunt is a veteran of WWII and the Korean War, so he knows better than most people about the costs of war. In this video, he reminds us all about the consequences of going to war. The video is brought to you by the San Diego Union Tribune.

Kenneth Varnes paid his respects to a fallen soldier by pulling off the road and saluting the funeral procession in the rain. He felt a duty because of the military brotherhood. The video appeared on MSN.  

You often read stories of people winning the Lotto. Not many involve a 94-year-old World War II veteran. The following quote tells me he isn't going to blow it all in a casino: “I’m pretty frugal. I always shop sales and take care of my money and that won’t change. The only thing that will change is I won’t have as much stress in my life worrying about money." -- Ervin Smolinski, on winning $300,000 on his 94th birthday.

World War II Veteran Gets $300,000 Winning Lottery Ticket For His 94th Birthday appeared on MSN News.

Animals have demonstrated bravery in military duty and there's a way to recognize them: The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals has an award for these courageous heroes. Above and Beyond -- The Bravest Military Animals Remembered appeared in MSN News.

"It had basically become my only coping mechanism" — on becoming addicted to painkillers, Camp Pendleton Marine, Jeremy Thomas.

Overprescribed: Veterans and the Painkiller Problem was published in the San Diego Union Tribune on March 2, 2017. 

"All of the community providers in San Diego were on their own systems and silos and unable to communicate with each other outside of phone calls and emails. Now, they are on a common system where they can connect the dots and send to each other simultaneously." -- San Diego United co-founder, Justice Taylor.
New Computer Network to Better Serve Veterans was published in the San Diego Union Tribune on Feb. 6, 2017.
https://sandiegounited.org/

“She’s not a criminal. That’s where I’m at. I just feel that she’s definitely not in that category, and I think we got it wrong.” -- Lt. Col. Marie Pauley.

Grandmother, 'Backbone' of Veteran's Family, Sent Back to Mexico appeared in the San Diego Union Tribune on March 4, 2017.

"The cost involved is high, but if we can house and help 50 veterans, it would be worth (it)." --
Councilman Keith Blackburn.

Housing for Homeless Vets Approved in Carlsbad was published in the San Diego Union Tribune on Feb. 17, 2017.

"I was in such a bad place. I remember thinking, 'How am I going to get out of this?' And then I saw that face, and I just felt something. And when you don't usually feel much and you finally feel something, you kind of have to act on that." -- Army veteran, Karolyn Smith, on seeing her cat, Sophia, for the first time on San Diego Humane Society's Facebook page.

How An Amputee Cat Helped A San Diego Veteran Heal Herself appeared in the San Diego Union Tribune on January 14, 2017.

UCLA Operation Mend helped Karolyn Smith deal with the trauma from her past.



"I worry about master sergeant. But master sergeant goes out of his way to make sure that I'm still getting up in the morning. And I check to see that even if he's at the lowest point in his life, he can wake up in the morning, too." -- Staff Sgt. Danielle Pothoof.

Spirit of Service Guides Marines Dealing with Physical, Mental Wounds was published in the San Diego Union Tribune on December 24, 2016.



Happy Reunion! Are a soldier and his dog happy to see each other after 6 months apart? Check out this video and see. This video is from MSN.

"Thomas loved flying. He had his first flying lesson at the age of 6 and then he was hooked. Our dad -- well, 'Santa Claus' -- got him the flight lesson for Christmas. He went up in one of those planes and he said, 'I'm going to be a pilot.'" -- Rachel Heitmann-Christensen, sister of Thomas Heitmann.

Dream to Help Alma Mater Lives On After Marine's Death in Helicopter Crash was published in the San Diego Union Tribune  on Nov. 23, 2016.

Veterans: 5 Ways to Maximize Your GI Bill Benefits was published in the Associated Press on Nov. 10, 2016.

This is a touching story of friendship between a veteran and the little boy who lived next door.

"I discovered that what created the circumstances in my life were the choices I was making every day. I still had the ability to choose differently." -- Chad Robichaux

Can Faith Help Cure PTSD? was published in the San Diego Union Tribune on Oct. 12, 2016.

"I owe it to the men who did not come home. (It's) a memory of all heroism of our men who are fighting in wars." -- Bob Baker, San Diego County Car dealer who donated $250,000 to help construct a bell tower at Miramar National Cemetery.

Bell Tower Coming for Miramar Vets Cemetery appeared in the San Diego Union Tribune on Sept. 11, 2016.

Shelter to Soldier connects stray and abandoned dogs with veterans. Shelter to Soldier Gets 15K Grant from Petco was published in the San Diego Union Tribune on Sept. 9, 2016.

 

"I can't even explain the amount of independence I feel here already, and I don't even live here yet," -- Retired Marine Sgt. Toran Gaal. 

Wounded Marine Gets New Valley Center House was published in the San Diego Union Tribune on July 24, 2016.

Homes For Our Troops




"I've had a lot of counseling. But my children don't talk to me, because nobody understands. They don't want to know what happened over there." -- Tracey Johnson

Supporters Rally Around Homeless Veterans in San Diego was published in the San Diego Union Tribune on July 23, 2016.

Pic by  Eric Garcetti

"We look forward to continuing to work with centers to empower U.S. service members, military spouses and all eras of veterans in growing small businesses." -- Barbara Carson with the Office of Veterans Business Development.

Center to Help Vets Starts Businesses was published in the San Diego Union Tribune on June 9, 2016.



"For some of these folks, this is the only time they get out of the house all week and you're handing them something that will sustain their existence for another month."  -- Albert Pfeltz, Silver Star awardee and Board member for Angel's Depot.

War Veteran Giving His All to Feed Seniors in Need was published in the San Diego Union Tribune on June 7, 2016.

http://theangelsdepot.org/


This project is dedicated to helping the children of military families: http://projectcombat.rwjms.rutgers.edu/ 

Resources:

• Military culture and life
• Understanding the deployment cycle
• Resilience-building strategies
• Practical strategies to help military families and children in schools

 

What can be done to prevent veteran suicides? Read the stories of veterans who committed suicide in San Diego County and how we can stop these tragedies in the future. Special Report: What Might Have Saved These Veterans? was published in the San Diego Union Tribune on Feb. 5, 2016.

Nick Kimmel walks on two prosthetic legs and he lost one of his arms because he served his country as a Marine. The Gary Sinise Foundation made sure he had a home. Vet Gets Gift of Independence was published in the San Diego Union-Tribune on January 6, 2016.