Post 80 in Downers Grove worked alongside Dr. James Kulich, professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science & Information Systems at Elmhurst University Graduate School, to develop the AI tool, https://post80.ai/.
As with many posts in The American Legion, recruiting new members is a challenge. Serving active-duty servicemembers and new veterans is something Alexander Bradley Burns Post 80 of Downers Grove, Ill., already saw as a focus of future activities. But determining what veterans want and needed was a void that had to be filled. So Post 80 formed a marketing committee over a year ago, and just as industry asks their customers what they needed, the post did the same: they asked the veterans.
Reaching out for assistance, they found that nearby Elmhurst University had a very active program for new veterans at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. A graduate student, Army Sgt. Eugene Lee, was enlisted to help define the current challenges for that community. Working with the post, Lee identified through existing articles and research that finance, mental health and education were among the top issues. The next step was to do a multi-thousand email survey among this defined military and post-military audience as to their priorities. It was no surprise that mental health was a hot topic – the issue and access to helpful sources was being well covered by VA and The American Legion in detail. What was surprising was that education was slightly higher in importance to those surveyed. Also determined was that finding educational institutions, as well as access to financial aid from both government and private sources, was a huge challenge. The huge amount of online and printed information from hundreds of sources was just too difficult to manage.
The Post 80 Marketing Committee – comprising seasoned business executives and veterans – saw that the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) was coming and could serve as a solution to sifting through all the data. A hunt for a partner source was initiated by the committee. As it happened, the Elmhurst University Graduate School was setting up its own lab for the use of AI. Dr. James Kulich, professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science & Information Systems, was contacted, and he and his graduate students jumped at the opportunity to take on the project of using the technology to sift through the thousands of both printed and online educational data available to veterans. The team evaluated AI systems, developed the necessary content and established a self-updating functionality to keep the information current. After months of work and counsel from private industry using AI systems, a working program was built.
This free, innovative tool was designed to simplify the search for education benefits and financial assistance for veterans and their families. It provides automatic AI searches of both government and private benefits, presenting information in a clear and easy-to-understand manner in English and Spanish. Developed over the course of a year, Post80.AI aims to address the overwhelming amount of information available regarding veteran education benefits. Each member of the Marketing Committee emphasized the importance of education for veterans' futures, aligning with military organizations (like the Legion) that recognize education as a key motivator in recruitment efforts.
According to post commander Howard Parker, “Our team created the Post 80 AI system to aid active military personnel and veterans in identifying and filtering programs and institutions that offer educational and financial assistance. As one of the oldest (founded Aug. 7, 1919) posts in the Legion, we found it appropriate to adopt the latest technology to make a significant contribution to veterans and a unique way for us to serve them.”
Team leader Patrick Yanahan brought years of senior management experience in building corporate customer-service systems for industrial clients, leveraging this expertise to develop the concept and necessary technology for the new system.
Kulich expressed his enthusiasm: “I am excited and honored that Elmhurst University can contribute to the service of our military and veterans in this way. This project aligns perfectly with our AI and Advanced Analytics Innovation Lab’s mission to engage students and faculty in private-sector projects that use AI to tackle meaningful problems.” Kulich, with nearly 40 years in higher education and a decade focused on machine learning and artificial intelligence, provided invaluable leadership to the initiative.
Personalized Guidance for Veterans Post80.AI employs advanced algorithms to analyze colleges, universities and trade schools, providing tailored suggestions based on individual queries. This tool empowers active-duty military and veterans to make informed decisions regarding their educational paths and to apply for various financial aid options, including scholarships, grants and earned military education benefits. Parker summarized the hopes of the post: “Our goal is to guide veterans through the labyrinth of available educational opportunities, ensuring they maximize their available financial resources and achieve their individual educational aspirations.”
Alexander Bradley Burns Post 80 is dedicated to serving veterans and their families through advocacy, support and community engagement. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life for veterans by providing resources and opportunities that help them succeed after their service.
- Education