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An initiative to support student veterans, military & their families

Program adopted from the UNC-Chapel Hill Green Zone Training

For more information or to schedule a Green Zone training, contact:

Nicole Jones, MSW

Military & Family Transitions Coordinator

jonesn@unm.edu or 505.277.1536

Updated June 2014

Today’s Agenda

•Welcome & Introduction

•Terminology: Commonly Used Terms

•Facts & Data: UNM Student Veteran Population

•Veterans Resource Center (VRC) Overview

•Introduction to the Green Zone Training Program: What it is, why it matters and how it

benefits you

•How to schedule a Green Zone Training for your department/office

•Questions

TerminologyCommonly Used Terms

Military Servicemember

◦ Generic term which encompasses Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserves personnel

Veteran

◦ Any individual who served in the U.S. military

Dependents (AKA—Military Family Member)

◦ Child or Spouse of a Military Servicemember

Facts & Data Veteran Enrollment, Fall 2014

UNM has over 1340 identified veteran &

military students enrolled for Fall, 2014

Note: This number only includes veterans

who utilize GI Education Benefits and

therefore are under the VETCODE

Facts & DataEnrollment & Chapter Benefits

In Fall of 2013, 939 students used

military education benefits:

• 38% were female• Average age was 26 years, and 48% were veterans or

active duty

• 62% were male• Average age was 30 years, and 84% were veterans or

active duty

Facts & DataTop 8 Majors, Fall 2013

◦ Business Administration

◦ Psychology

◦ Criminology

◦ Engineering

◦ Biology

◦ Nursing

◦ Liberal Arts

◦ Political Science

Facts & DataCohort Analysis: Graduation & Retention

Of the 164 students in the Fall 2009 cohort,

◦ 29.3% have graduated

◦ 23.2% have dropped

◦ 47.6% are still attending

◦ In total, a 76.8% retention rate

Welcome To the VRC!Student Union Building, Suite 2002

VRC Mission

The Veterans Resource Center is dedicated to providing the highest quality, comprehensive

support to student veterans & their families, in an atmosphere that demonstrates commitment,

respect, and academic excellence.

VRC Goals

Meet the Team…

SERVICE OVERVIEW

GI Benefits Certification

• Student benefits education and processing assistance

• Certification of benefits for tuition and basic housing allowance

VetSucess on Campus (VSOC)

• Assists student with successful transition to college life, degree completion and career acquisition

Academic Success Program

• Student outreach, scholarship education, recruitment and guidance, veteran specific orientation, and advocacy

Military & Family Transitional Support Program

• Conducts basic assessment of individual and/or family needs and provides resource education and referrals to campus and community service providers

• Vet-2-Vet Peer Mentoring Program

Community Education & Training

• Workshop delivery

• Green Zone Training Program

www.http://vrc.unm.edu

Introduction to Green Zone

Does anyone here know what the Green

Zone signifies in the military?

Background & Origin

The Green Zone Training Program was originally created and launched by

the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Modeled after the Safe Zone

Program, Green Zone volunteers receive training specific to issues

potentially facing the student veteran community.

(UNC Office of the Dean of Students, 2014)

The

Green Zone

Goal

Prepare university faculty and staff to better understand the

experience of veterans, military service members

and their families at UNM

Empower faculty and staff to provide support and information

about resources available to student veteran community

To develop a Veteran Liaison Network at UNM

Green Zone Curriculum

Terminology

Demographics

Identity, diversity & culture

The military experience

Transitions to campus

Disabilities on a college campus

VRC services

Educational benefits

Being an ally

Scenarios & Discussion

Learning Objectives

By the end of this training participants will be able too…

Use the correct terminology related to veterans and active-duty military.

Describe the demographics and diversity of UNM veteran and military students.

Identify and explain VRC services for veteran and military students.

Identify the types of military educational benefits and how schedule changes can incur a student debt.

Summarize the unique strengths of veteran and military students.

Discuss the military experience, including the emotional cycle of deployment, the challenges of transitions from and back to civilian life, and the experience of military family members.

Explain how Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can affect the student’s experience, and suggest services for support.

Determine what to say and what not to say to veterans to be most supportive.

Identify the support veteran and military students want from staff and faculty.

Appraise what to do in difficult scenarios when working with veterans and military students.

Volunteer to be a member of the UNM Veteran Liaison Network.

Who is a Green Zone Ally?

Someone who is…

◦ aware about the issues and concerns faced by student veterans, servicemembers & families

◦ available to assist the military student

◦ able to make the best possible referral for problem resolution

They are not…

◦ expected to be experts on the experience of student veterans

◦ expected to “solve” our students’ problems

Veteran Liaison Network

The Veteran Liaison Network (VLN) is a program designed to strengthen veteran specific support efforts through the identification of dedicated points of contact or liaisons in each department at UNM.

Liaisons are…

◦ Volunteers

◦ Green Zone trained

◦ Included in the VLN resource guide

◦ Willing to engage in continuing student veteran related education and/or participate in the Veteran Taskforce

Why Green Zone?

http://youtu.be/9NAkAvvA-iM

Student Voices: What students want campus staff and faculty to know

“We are having normal reactions to an abnormal experience.”

“No two veterans are alike.”

“Each of us has had different experiences.”

“Do Not assume that you know my politics or beliefs just because I was in the military.”

“I may or may not be ready to talk about my experiences.”

“Trust can be an issue for me.”

“Being friendly and listening can go a long way toward building trust.”

“Do Not be afraid of me.”

“We are accustomed to being successful and may be too proud to ask for help.”

(Pfeffer, 2010)

Transition Strengths

Veterans bring a unique perspective:

◦ Military training

◦ Life experience

◦ Established identity

◦ A more worldly view

Skills taught in the military:

◦ Leadership

◦ Motivation

◦ Time Management

◦ Work Ethic

Transition Difficulties

Translating their military skills into a new profession

Military skills & training may not translate into college credits

Universities may have difficulty deciphering transfer credits for those who have attended multiple institutions

Accessing disability resources for accommodations

Understanding the GI Bill

Difference in demographics and life experiences from other students

VETERANS FACE A 4-FOLD TRANSITION

Returning to civilian life

For some, having seen combat duty

Some are living with visible &

invisible disabilities

Becoming a college student

Adapted from Trina Zahller, 3-Fold Transition Model

Student Veterans’ Nontraditional Composition

HOW TO SCHEDULE A GREEN ZONE TRAINING

Contact Nicole Jones, MSW

Military & Family Transition Coordinator, Public Ally

Email: jonesn@unm.edu

Phone: 505.277-1536 or 505.277.3181

Or Sign Up Today!

QUESTIONS?

References

Office of the Dean of Students (2014). Green Zone Training .Retrieved October 10, 2014 from University of North Carolina,Chapel Hill , Web site:https://deanofstudents.unc.edu/student-support/veterans-resources/green-zone-training

Veterans Resource Center (n.d. ). Meet The Staff . RetrievedOctober 10, 2014 from University of New Mexico , Web site: http://vrc.unm.edu/facultystaff/meet-the-staff.html

Veterans Resource Center (n.d. ). Mission & Goals . RetrievedOctober 10, 2014 from University of New Mexico , Web site: http://vrc.unm.edu/index.html

Virginia Commonwealth University, USS RAMS (n.d.). UniversitySupport Services for Returning and Active Military Students.Retrieved October 12, 2014 from Virginia Commonwealth University ,Aurora Foundation Web site: aurora4vets.org/s/Green-Zone-training.ppt