Spring Break
Military veterans to speak about issues they face on return
Panelists discuss experience returning to college after war
Keri Wabrowetz
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: News
Whether leaving for or returning from deployment, military veterans must attempt to find their way back to a "normal" lifestyle at some point.
The difficulties experienced in trying to accomplish a sense of normalcy after military life will be the focus of a presentation today at 2:30 p.m. in Davies Theatre.
A panel of six student veterans will discuss concerns they experienced when returning to school to continue their education and reintegrating into the community in general.
"The purpose is to develop the awareness of issues military students might be facing when leaving the service and returning to campus," said Bonnie Isaacson, event organizer and UW-Eau Claire non-traditional student adviser.
Freshman Ryan Greendeer is a returning veteran who began school this semester and will be on the panel. Greendeer spent nine years serving in the U.S. Army and has experienced two deployments.
Greendeer said he would like to expand awareness of all veterans, not just student veterans. He is concerned many people do not understand the issues war veterans face in post-military life or when returning to or leaving from the country for deployment.
"People look at service members in terms of politics. This was, and still is, one of my main concerns upon returning to school," he said.
Veterans find it hard to find their way back to a pre-military lifestyle, Greendeer said.
"You don't wake up in the morning and worry about what to wear or what you're going to do that day," he said. "The military is a very demanding way of life, but they have it all planned out for you."
The presentation will also include two guest speakers, both of whom have dealt with the issues of anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and reintegration experienced by war veterans.
Daniel McCann, a clinical social worker for the Veterans Health Administration at the Chippewa Valley Veterans Affairs Clinic, will be one of the guest speakers. McCann also served in the U.S. Army and has a history of working on the Post-Traumatic Stress Recovery Team at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.
Maj. Cynthia Rasmussen, also a speaker, is a member of the U.S. Army Reserve Combat Operational Stress Control Program at Fort Snelling, Minn. Rasmussen is currently with the U.S. Army Reserve as a psychiatric nurse.
An increase in forces leads to an increase of veterans needing somewhere to reach out to when experiencing anxiety and reintegration issues, Greendeer said.
"With the amount of people needed for the war, there is a huge increase of veterans," he said. "There are not enough therapists or other resources to accommodate returning veterans."
Awareness of these issues faced by veterans will be presented to students, faculty and the community in general.
"The problems we as veterans face do not only affect us and our families," Greendeer said, "but the community, society, and nation as a whole."
The difficulties experienced in trying to accomplish a sense of normalcy after military life will be the focus of a presentation today at 2:30 p.m. in Davies Theatre.
A panel of six student veterans will discuss concerns they experienced when returning to school to continue their education and reintegrating into the community in general.
"The purpose is to develop the awareness of issues military students might be facing when leaving the service and returning to campus," said Bonnie Isaacson, event organizer and UW-Eau Claire non-traditional student adviser.
Freshman Ryan Greendeer is a returning veteran who began school this semester and will be on the panel. Greendeer spent nine years serving in the U.S. Army and has experienced two deployments.
Greendeer said he would like to expand awareness of all veterans, not just student veterans. He is concerned many people do not understand the issues war veterans face in post-military life or when returning to or leaving from the country for deployment.
"People look at service members in terms of politics. This was, and still is, one of my main concerns upon returning to school," he said.
Veterans find it hard to find their way back to a pre-military lifestyle, Greendeer said.
"You don't wake up in the morning and worry about what to wear or what you're going to do that day," he said. "The military is a very demanding way of life, but they have it all planned out for you."
The presentation will also include two guest speakers, both of whom have dealt with the issues of anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and reintegration experienced by war veterans.
Daniel McCann, a clinical social worker for the Veterans Health Administration at the Chippewa Valley Veterans Affairs Clinic, will be one of the guest speakers. McCann also served in the U.S. Army and has a history of working on the Post-Traumatic Stress Recovery Team at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center.
Maj. Cynthia Rasmussen, also a speaker, is a member of the U.S. Army Reserve Combat Operational Stress Control Program at Fort Snelling, Minn. Rasmussen is currently with the U.S. Army Reserve as a psychiatric nurse.
An increase in forces leads to an increase of veterans needing somewhere to reach out to when experiencing anxiety and reintegration issues, Greendeer said.
"With the amount of people needed for the war, there is a huge increase of veterans," he said. "There are not enough therapists or other resources to accommodate returning veterans."
Awareness of these issues faced by veterans will be presented to students, faculty and the community in general.
"The problems we as veterans face do not only affect us and our families," Greendeer said, "but the community, society, and nation as a whole."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Jerry
posted 4/17/08 @ 9:56 PM CST
I like the stated purpose of this symposium; it should help to heal and inform. You folks are very lucky to have Maj. Cynthia Rasmussen speak to you. She addressed an annual meeting last year in NY of our Military Order of the Purple Heart and was just stunning (although she does talk a mile a minute). (Continued…)
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