An office to support student veterans and those interested in commissioning programs — including the Reserve Officer Training Corps and the Platoon Leaders Class — opened last week in room 317 of J. Walter Wilson. The Office of Student Veterans and Commissioning Programs, which occupies a vacant room in the Office of the Registrar, will aim to promote awareness and discussion about veterans and the military.
The formation of the office was approved by the Corporation, the University's highest governing body, at its meeting last October, in accordance with recommendations from President Ruth Simmons.
The office's opening was quiet, but a more publicized opening will occur later in the spring, said Ricky Gresh, project manager and general coordinator for the office and senior director for student engagement. Though the office is already open to students, its staff is currently focused on building a base of contacts and information about various commissioning programs to better offer guidance to interested students. Gresh emphasized that programs besides ROTC offer students paths to military careers and said the office hopes to increase awareness about such programs.
So far, the office has established contact with various recruiters for programs including the Judge Advocate General's Corps — a law-focused program within the military — and a medical school program through the Navy. It has also scheduled an upcoming meeting about the Navy ROTC program.
Support for interested students will consist of general mentoring and advising, as well as presentations about the various military options, Gresh said. The office will also be vital in promoting advocacy for student veterans and students interested or involved in commissioning programs. The increased advocacy and visibility may come in the form of a larger presence at activity fairs and Center for Careers and Life after Brown events, in addition to active dissemination of information through an office website and other media, said John Gayton '12, one of two student coordinators in charge of commissioning programs.
David Salsone '12.5, the other student coordinator, is a resumed undergraduate student veteran who served in the Navy for six years prior to coming to Brown. He said he believes the office will be vital in helping student veterans transition from military to student culture. Salsone added that the office is currently discussing the idea of a student veteran mentoring program geared specifically toward that goal.
The office will also serve as a forum for the challenges faced by student veterans and will look to recruit qualified veterans looking to resume their education, Salsone said.
The office will be open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
A previous version of this article incorrectly reported that the office has planned a meeting with the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. In fact, the upcoming meeting is with the Navy ROTC. The Herald regrets the error.
