The Green Zone Initiative: Combining Virtual and Face-to-Face Training to Support Veterans in Higher Education

Abstract

The purpose of the Green Zone Initiative is to address the needs of the nearly 700 student Veterans at a state comprehensive university who are enrolled either on campus or online. The number of service members reintegrating into civilian life is higher than at any time in history since the Vietnam War. As Traumatic Brain Injury is the signature wound of this war, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, as well as the civilian-military divide are all having a monumental impact on our veteran population across America. Student Veterans re-entering civilian life and adjusting to college are under additional pressures which place them in a category of students who may need additional resources and supports to be successful. The purpose of the Green Zone Initiative is to educate and equip faculty and staff to identify those needs and provide support and direction to those resources.

Keywords

• student veterans, higher education, reintegration, ptsd, tbi