As the country observes Veterans Day, the Austin Community College District would like to express its gratitude to veterans and active duty service members. The college is dedicated to helping veterans reach their goals, providing assistance with benefits, degree and career planning, and counseling services.

“We want to honor veterans and thank them for their service, so we have a commitment to going the extra mile for our students who have served in the military,” says Mervin Jones, a counselor at ACC’s Riverside Campus who works closely with the Veterans Affairs office.

ACC has experienced a rise in veteran enrollments due to recent changes to the GI Bill. To better serve them, the college has streamlined many processes and enhanced its outreach programs.

“From re-acclimating to civilian life to possibly dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, veterans face unique challenges at this stage in their lives,” says Jones. “They deserve our full support.”

Jones is a veteran himself, having served more than 22 years in the Army. ACC’s Veterans Affairs manager, Mark Harden, is a 25-year Army veteran.

“I have great empathy for our veterans, especially the ones who have been in combat, which is nearly all of them these days,” says Harden, who served in Mogadishu, Somalia – the conflict portrayed in “Black Hawk Down.” “I know what it’s like to get off a plane from a combat zone and a few weeks later be sitting in a classroom.”

For ACC veterans, that’s a reminder that they’re not alone.

“It makes the transition so much easier when you are working with someone who really understands what you’ve gone through,” says Brent Bell, a freshman nursing major who served six years in the Navy. “It’s a connection. You feel more comfortable.”

Bell is now giving other veterans that same sense of connection – he is a work-study student in ACC’s Veterans Affairs office.

“I love helping other veterans,” says Bell. “There can be some anxiety in making the transition to college student, and they are more relaxed when they find out that I’m a veteran, too.”

ACC’s VA staff helps students navigate the GI Bill and understand what to expect. That’s a complicated process right now, with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs experiencing delays in distributing the financial aid allotted by the bill. VA officials say the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, which went into effect August 1, has resulted in an unprecedented amount of new applications. The VA says it is doing everything in its power to minimize delays.

In the meantime, ACC is taking steps to help its veterans. Those still waiting for their benefits will not be dropped for non-payment of tuition.

ACC’s VA staff has offices at the Northridge and Riverside campuses, and the Veterans Affairs website at austincc.edu/support/veterans provides links to essential support services veterans may access. The American Council on Education also created a site to help veterans understand their GI Bill benefits.

“Our office tries to provide the very best service to our veterans each day,” says Harden. “We want to give them every opportunity to succeed and let them know how valued they are. I consider it an honor to have this job.”

Warren Heatwole, a professor in ACC’s Building Construction Technology Department, will honor veterans on Tuesday, November 10 (the anniversary of the Marine Corps’ founding in 1775) and Wednesday, November 11 (Veterans Day) with breakfast at Riverside Campus. A Vietnam veteran, Heatwole will serve breakfast tacos from 7:30-9 a.m., on the south end of the campus. Heatwole and Warren Donworth, an ACC welding professor, will play the national anthem and service songs at the campus flagpole.

ACC staff members are also paying tribute to active duty service members. The Classified Employees Association is holding a “Supplies for Soldiers” drive through November 20, taking donations of items for Fort Hood troops who are returning from their tours of duty and will be living in the post’s barracks. The drive is being organized by Bernie Hinterlong, a laboratory technician in ACC’s Biology Department, whose son is currently serving in Iraq. His unit will return to Fort Hood in January, and this drive will help ensure they have enough basic supplies such as pillows, towels, and twin bed-sized linens. For more information on the drive, see this flier or contact Hinterlong at [email protected].

“We want our troops to know that we remember them and are very grateful for their service,” says Hinterlong. “They have done so much for us – it’s the least we can do to make sure they are comfortable and cared for when they return stateside.”

Jones, the Riverside counselor who works with ACC veterans, is planning the second annual Veterans Appreciation and Open House for May 2010. The event helps current and prospective veteran students find out about the services and aid offered at ACC.

“This is one small way to say thank you to those who put their lives on the line for this country,” says Jones. “We need to remember to show our gratitude every day – not just on Veterans Day.”