Operation College Promise Newsletter

www.operationcollegepromise.com

Operation College Promise is funded in part through a grant from the American Council on Education & the Wal-Mart Foundation

Operation College Promise

A NJ Association of State Colleges & Universities Initiative

150 West State Street

Trenton, New Jersey 08608

609-989-1100

Director of Programs and Policy Analysis – Wendy Lang
Text Box: Dear Student Veterans and Supporters: Happy New Year! Operation College Promise (OCP) is gearing up for a very exciting 2010. Recently, the project was highlighted in the American Association of State Colleges & Universities (AASCU) magazine, Public Purpose. The article, entitled “From Combat to Campus, How Universities and Colleges are Helping Veterans Succeed,” outlined model efforts taking place nationwide to assist student veterans transition to a college campus. Congratulations to Stockton College and Montclair State University for their recognition in the article (see below). On December 18, 2009, I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in a refueling mission with the 108th Refueling Wing of the New Jersey National Guard. This was the experience of a lifetime, offering a spectacular vantage point for witnessing the excellent skills and talents of these men and women. A special thanks to Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Perron, the DMAVA and the NJANG for making this possible! Coming Events — The next OCP event will take place on February 5, 2010 at Montclair State University. “Into the Fire” is an exploration of our returning vets with disabilities and combat-related trauma and their stories as they integrate into their families, communities, educational institutions, and the workforce. Following the play, the actor/playwrights will facilitate an interactive discussion with the participants using their emotional reactions to the play as a springboard to examine the effects of war on their communities and ways to create meaningful opportunities for our returning veterans. A reception will follow the production. Register now. In 2010, OCP, in collaboration with the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC), will present a webinar on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other afflictions affecting our returning servicemembers. More information on this event will be available shortly at www.OperationCollegePromise.com. In the meantime, learn more about the great work being done by our partners at WRIISC in this month’s “ Partner Spotlight” section. Late Breaking News — OCP sends its thoughts and prayers to the citizens of Haiti and all those affected by this terrible tragedy. Thanks go out to the many thousands of servicemembers who are bringing relief to this battered nation.

Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Perron and Wendy Lang, Coordinator, Operation College Promise at a refueling mission with the 108th Refueling Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard.  See more photos of the mission, here.

National Issues

 

From Combat to Campus—How Universities and Colleges are Helping Veterans Succeed—AASCU Public Purpose—December 2009/January 2010

Vermont Guardsman Named to Olympic Biathlon Team—National Guard Bureau, January 14, 2010

From Battlefield to Ivy League, on the G.I. Bill—New York Times, January 9, 2010

GI Bill Backlog Climbs as New Semester Looms—Army Times, January 6, 2010

Advances for Women Veterans Move Forward—Veterans of Foreign War website, December 8, 2009

Friday Morning at the Pentagon—McClatchy Newspaper, November 27, 2009

 

State Issues

Aircrews Deliver Relief Supplies to Haiti—U.S. Air Force, January 15, 2010

Sweeney will Form Veterans Panel—Politicker NJ, January 7, 2010

GI’s Checks AWOL—Herald News, December 30, 2009

Veterans Reassured on GI Bill Payments—The Record, December 28, 2009

Legal Services of New Jersey Launches New Veterans Legal Assistance Project— Legal Services of New Jersey website, November 12, 2009

 
Text Box: American Legion’s Post 471’s Blue Star Family Support Group’s Valentine Cookie Project Will be sending home-baked cookies to our troops overseas! Learn more, here.

Our Mission—Serving Those Who’ve Served