o Mike Gregoire and John Lee, director of the state Department of Veterans Affairs, have signed agreements establishing 17 veteran-friendly campuses in Washington.
Veterans enrolled at Washington State University Vancouver need to know about their educational benefits.
And if they have some educational challenges, they need to know about the help that’s available.
Those principles were formalized when Washington State University Vancouver was recognized Tuesday as a veteran-friendly campus.
In an afternoon ceremony, a memorandum of understanding was signed by Mike Gregoire, a veteran and the husband of Gov. Chris Gregoire; John Lee, director of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs; and Hal Dengerink, chancellor of WSU Vancouver.
The campus also was welcomed as a new partner by the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs. The agreement ensures that students get access to the state VA for reviews of their needs and assistance in obtaining benefits.
“There are 170 veterans on campus and you’d be surprised at the number who don’t know what benefits are available,” said Nick Ortiz, a WSU Vancouver student and a veterans’ advocate.
Ortiz was wearing an Army camouflage jacket at the event. But it’s not a souvenir of his three tours in Iraq. The 28-year-old education student is still serving; he’s a sergeant in the Washington Army National Guard, a member of the 303rd Cavalry based in Bremerton.
Ortiz also was on crutches, but the injury was not related to his service, which included commanding a truck equipped with a 3-ton roller. His mission: drive a mile or two ahead of the convoy and trigger any mines planted in the road.
He came out of that without setting off any explosives, but was injured coaching lacrosse at King’s Way Christian School.
Ortiz is the campus representative of the Veterans Corps, an offshoot of the AmeriCorps national service program.
Ortiz works with several partners, including Diane Binder, the campus Veterans Affairs representative. She helps veterans obtain benefits that — depending on years of service — can be as much as 100 percent of tuition, $1,000 a year for books and $1,199 a month for housing.
Another advocate is Christian Latham, president of the WSU Vancouver Veterans’ Education Interest Group. Latham, a Navy veteran who is majoring in biology, said the partnership will help people understand the position of veterans in college.
“Compared to the average student, they are less likely to be involved on campus socially and academically, and more likely to be juggling family, jobs and school,” Latham said.
Former soldiers also can bring individual needs to the classroom that deserve accommodations. One fairly common issue is a hearing problem. Whether it’s caused by artillery fire or roadside bombs, the damage can make it harder for a combat veteran to follow lectures.
“The solution can be as simple as sitting in the front row,” Latham said.
Mike Gregoire, who was a platoon leader during the Vietnam War, recalled how soldiers in that era didn’t get much support when they came home.
Lee, a 22-year Army veteran, said his experiences were “not dissimilar.”
“We’re not going to mess it up this time,” Lee said.
