This Veterans Day, Create a Lasting Effort To Truly Support Our Deserving Veteran Community

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by Cory L. Baker

Members of National guards march at Veterans Day parade 2022.

lev radin/Shutterstock

“What is a veteran? A veteran – whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve – is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America for an amount up to and including his or her life.”

It is not clear who officially penned this passage, but the message is important, timeless, and merits consideration as the November Veterans Day holiday draws near. For those higher education institutions labeled military/veteran friendly, or otherwise, that will be committing resources to recognize veterans this holiday, thank you! That said, veterans are perceptive and may recognize when such messaging feels more promotional than purposeful, especially when it seems primarily aimed at securing tuition revenue rather than delivering meaningful support. Beyond traditional efforts to recognize and thank veterans this one day of the year, perhaps a grander gesture that makes a real impact for your organization and veterans could be considered.

Set a bold goal this year that exceeds your institution’s student veteran focus and enhance your workforce by employing veterans as part of your workforce. Moreover, aggressively seek out and recruit a veteran into an impactful role commensurate with his or her experience and education, including instructor roles. The unique and often international perspectives veterans bring to the table can add an important dynamic largely missing in the classroom no matter the subject or discipline.

Veterans, particularly those with senior-level executive experience, have extensive, adaptable, resilient leadership experience and can be dropped into most roles and succeed beyond expectation with a high degree of organizational loyalty. Also, schools interested in bolstering citizenship models or other military-related initiatives such as University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) as part of their mission could benefit from veterans’ perspectives.

Consider hiring a veteran to assist and offer informed guidance and counsel for your student veterans if you have not already. Last, hold your organization accountable by setting a timeline to assess progress by Veterans Day next year or sooner (a long suspense is a missed suspense). If you are still uncertain how to proceed, ask a veteran for assistance. The article links below highlight the rich enhancement a veteran can bring to an organization’s workforce. Whether you are in a position to facilitate the hiring of veterans or you are a veteran seeking to make an impact working in higher education, these articles can assist your efforts and goals.

Let’s make this November the start of a lasting effort to truly support and engage our deserving veteran community.