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Students Who are Enlisted or Veterans
A sizable number of students at Ohio State are currently enlisted in the military, military reserves, ROTC, or are veterans of war. On campus, there is a large ROTC program representing all of the military branches (see appendix). The Human Resources Office at Ohio State houses Veterans Affairs, which is responsible for administering the GI Bill and benefits to veterans, as well as sponsoring a Veterans Lunch Series (see appendix). As of 2007, approximately 1200 veterans are attending Ohio State.
Instructors may face logistical issues specific to their military students. Students deployed for service usually will need to withdraw from their courses because they may be required to serve up to two years during a tour of duty. However, depending on the amount of coursework completed; the point in the quarter that the student is deployed; and the workload of the class, case-by-case judgment can be used as to whether the student can complete a course. It is the responsibility of the student to contact their academic advisors and military supervisors to complete the appropriate paperwork for withdrawal or partial withdrawal from courses. It is the instructor's responsibility to coordinate with the student how coursework will be completed successfully. For further information, please see the Ohio State Registrar's website regarding call to duty.
Be mindful of other social, psychological, or academic issues the military student or veteran may face. Veterans who attend classes may be older than their counterparts, and often have experienced the trauma of witnessed or direct combat. Even if veteran students are the same chronological age as their classmates, they have garnered experience not typical for the traditional age college student. In classes where political issues or military issues are broached, veterans may feel alienated when fellow students discuss the military or foreign policy in disparaging terms. It is normal for a veteran or a military-involved student to feel anger or resentment when their classroom peers speak about these issues. Despite these feelings, it is important for instructors not to "single out" or forcefully elicit opinions from their military students when related issues are discussed. If a veteran or military-involved student shares their insights in the classroom, it is crucial for the instructor to honor and value a point of view informed by lived experience.
It is quite common for veterans of any war to experience emotional or psychological distress upon returning home. A 2005 Defense Department study of combat troops returning from Iraq found that one in six Marines and soldiers experienced signs of PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and severe depression. Sixty percent of these same veterans were unlikely to seek help for fear of stigma from their commanders and fellow soldiers (Epstein & Miller, 2005). If a veteran student approaches you regarding distress they may be experiencing, you can refer them to Ohio State's Counseling and Consultation Service (CCS).
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