Lancer Veterans: A Salute to Our Soldiers

The Longwood Student Veterans (LSV) program is nearing the end of its third academic school year, but as they reflect on how they have grown, the programs members believe they have made significant leaps and bounds.

"This semester we focused on family members of guys that are deployed," said LSV President and Longwood senior Sgt. Greg Serwo, 29, of the U.S. Marine Corps. "We set up a resource network because there isn't a base around here, so we were kind of a satellite resource for family members."

LSV started working with a new organization to help its own Lancer student veterans and family members if needed. "We began to work with the Virginia Wounded Warrior program this semester. They help with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. We worked with George Mason and William & Mary to have a statewide network. They have larger veteran populations there so we can learn from their Student Veterans programs as well," said Serwo.

In the past, LSV has sent care packages that were "unit specific," but tried to focus more this year on helping the ten current LSV members. "We don't hang out all the time. The main goal is to be a network of resources and help our members with any issues that arise," said Serwo.

Ian Triplett, 25, is a corporal in the Virginia Air National guard and LSV member. Triplett came to Longwood in the fall after four years of working in the military at Kaneohe Bay, HI. "I liked the small class size and I wanted to remain in-state," said Triplett, originally from Leesburg, Va. "This program has helped my transition from the active duty to a student greatly."

The new G.I. Bill passed in August 2009, and along with the new bill came some confusion. "There were some kinks in the new program, so the transition with our Adviser Susan Stinson was very helpful . . . The new bill is a government, post-9/11 G.I. Bill. It nearly doubles the benefits of the old Montgomery G.I. Bill,"

Serwo founded the LSV in August 2008 and set out with some initial goals when starting the program. "Starting LSV, I felt like I was getting back in the fight. I wanted to make sure that guys who spent more time deployed than I did, or got hit by more IEDs, took more mortar rounds, or ended up in the hospital had access to a established foothold at whatever school they wanted to attend," said Serwo. "Transitioning from active duty was easier for me in that I wasn't coming right off of a deployment. I had some time in the states before heading to Longwood, however, the transition from the military lifestyle to student lifestyle was exciting but it would have been a lot smoother had an organization like Longwood Student Veterans existed. That was part of my motivation for starting the group."

Longwood alumnus Steven Young served four years in the Marines and four years in the National Guard. "I took part in over 200 combat missions. I have been in multiple firefights and have been in many IED attacks," said Young. "After serving overseas in the military, I have gained a greater appreciation for not only the opportunity to be educated, but for how easy life as a college student is. LSV has helped make the transition from military to college a smooth one in all ways."

Young remembers what he liked about LSV events when at Longwood. "We put on a 'town hall' type of meeting in which campus veterans interacted with students and faculty to give awareness to certain issues veterans face," said Young.

Longwood alumnus James M. Packett remembered the events he enjoyed that LSV hosted. "I liked how we did fundraisers for deployed military members and wounded hospital military members," said Packett, a corporal in the Army National Guard who was deployed to Iraq from fall 2004 to December 2006. "The LSV helped by providing a network to answer and investigate any military or school inquiries I had," said Young.

Serwo had immediate goals when beginning the program, but wanted a main focus for the transitioning students. "LSV has helped student veterans, spouses, girlfriends, family members and friends of veterans. I'm sure there is [are] a large percentage of folks on campus who know someone who is serving or has served in the military," said Serwo. "The resources that LSV has access to can help anyone, but I'd say the most emphasis is placed on those who are transitioning out of the military and the National Guard/Reserve guys who have to leave school to go on deployment and then make the transition back to the classroom. As a campus, I believe that we could have an amazing impact on veterans simply by spreading the word and letting them know these resources exist."

After its third year, Serwo is happy with the steps the program has taken. "I'm pleased with our outreach and awareness initiatives. We've started talking with veterans from George Mason, Lynchburg College, William & Mary, and Central Virginia Community College. I share our website with anyone I know who is still in the military or attending a school in another state. I want to get the word out to every student veteran whether you were deployed or not, were active duty, Guard, or the Reserves, because at some point you're going to have a question and LSV will either have the answer or know where to get it," said Serwo.