Nearly 50 SVA Conference attendees answer questions, and hear explanations, from groups including The American Legion.
How much do student veterans know about veteran service organizations, other than Student Veterans of America? Forty-nine SVA National Conference attendees took part in an app-based game Friday morning in Colorado Springs to test their knowledge and learn more.
They heard from panelists representing The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Wounded Warrior Project and Blue Star Families.
By playing the game, the students discovered history, marquee programs, assistance services, eligibility requirements, scholarships and more. They also learned that the VSOs in Washington are more often than not to work as allies on behalf of the veterans they serve.
“Obviously, we’re all friends,” said Julie Howell, associate legislative director for Paralyzed Veterans of America. “We all work hand in hand with one another. You are never going to achieve anything independently when it comes to big change. The name of the game is community. We’re all veterans. We’re all here to do this together.”
After the audience placed their answers on the Vevox app, organization representatives elaborated. In Jeopardy! fashion, students typically heard the answers first and had to name the organization. Answers regarding The American Legion included:
- “This organization’s past national commander was known as the architect of the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, the original GI Bill, and his name was later attached to the 2017 makeover of the benefit, known at the Forever GI Bill.”
Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation Health Policy Analyst Andrew Petrie of The American Legion explained to the group that, “when it comes to education benefits, we have a division specifically within our DC office that handles all of our education and employment. Additionally, we have our VA&R Division, Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation. We deal with any and all claims on that floor, and health policy. And within that, the GI Bill is also included – anything from Chapter 31 to 35. And we’re proud to have the namesake (Harry W. Colmery) behind the Forever GI Bill.”
- “This organization created a framework for the VA Buddy Check in 2019 and still performs this vital function throughout the year.”
Petrie told the students why, as “a grassroots effort through local posts, we started the Buddy Check program in 2019. A post commander, someone in leadership, or just a regular post member, reach out to other members in the post and veterans who aren’t in The American Legion that are in the local area. That’s why we have partnered with VA, and VA has (moved) the program forward. We just want to check to make sure that our veterans are transitioning well into civilian life, or through those obstacles we may face through life. We have a support system behind us.”
- In March of 1919, this organization was founded by veterans returning from World War I in Paris, France, meeting stateside in May to complete its constitution and adopt its official name.
Petrie explained: “About 1,000 servicemembers met in France for our original meeting, and with that, we discussed creating a service organization that would be able to encapsulate everything from benefits for veterans coming back to supporting the veterans … throughout the rest of their lives. With that, when they got back in 1919 in May, The American Legion was officially named at the first conference, which was in St. Louis. A pretty cool history.”
The group’s average score was 11.1 out of 21, and there was a tie for first between two who were correct on 16 responses.
In addition to Petrie and Howell, the panel consisted of:
- Kaitlynne Yancy, director of membership programs for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
- Naomi Mathis, assistant legislative director for Disabled American Veterans
- Dr. Kirsten Walsh, government affairs associate with Wounded Warrior Project
- Joe Grassi, associate director of grassroots advocacy in the VFW Legislative Service
- Jenny Akin, vice president of strategic alliances for Blue Star Families
- Veterans Benefits