“Veterans are accustomed to relying on one another and supporting each other,” says Dr. Christine Leche, who will teach the classes. “This provides the same atmosphere.”
Veterans will find it easy to relate to Leche. She spent nearly 20 years teaching U.S. military men and women on bases around the world, including Afghanistan, Bosnia, Spain, Kosovo, and Honduras.
“There is a sense of trust with an instructor who’s been there as well,” says Leche. “I’m really pleased to teach these courses.”
While in Afghanistan, Leche lived on Forward Operating Bases, sleeping in barracks, eating alongside soldiers in the mess hall, and teaching everything from grammar to fiction and poetry.
“Re-creating that sense of camaraderie will give veterans a sense of belonging and allow them to open up in ways they may not in different settings,” says Leche.
The classes will be held at ACC’s Northridge Campus. Enrollment in the English Composition I class is restricted to veterans, while the creative writing class is open to veterans, active duty military, family members, and supporters. The composition class is full, but there is still space available in the creative writing class.
Mark Harden, manager of veteran affairs for the college, believes the classes will be cathartic for students.
“It provides an outlet,” says Harden. “It will allow the veterans to truly understand they’re not alone.”
Leche hopes other schools will replicate the veteran-focused classes.
“I really believe there is a necessity for these kinds of courses,” she says. “After all the members of our military have done for us, it is the least we can do to support them and help them make a smooth transition as they return home.”
For information about registration, please contact (512) 223.INFO (4636).Veterans in need of assistance with benefits, advising, and counseling should contact ACC’s Veterans Affairs office ([email protected]).
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By Aaron August 17, 2010 - 11:44 am
This is excellent why isn’t there one at least comp class per campus reserved for veterans? I am taking comp II this semester and expect to be as basic and boring as comp I. I also recently completed a short story based on my 2003 wartime deployment. So instead of saddling me with a perfunctory course, I could have been in one where I might have learned something and been able to develop. After all a good amount of ACC’s income is now from veterans like myself on the GI Bill.
By Infantry August 17, 2010 - 5:00 pm
Because you lived in the Barracks at a FOB and hung around with people that live on a base doesnt give you the slightest idea of what it means to be in combat. People who have actually been in combat the last thing that they want to do is a creative writing class where then discuss those experiences.
By Brian August 18, 2010 - 1:10 pm
I must say this may help Veterans to be able to put their experiences on paper However for some of us who were combat veterans who experienced some very horrible things it is very hard to open up and speak of them or to even write about them. I agree that being on a FOB does not really put you into direct combat, That is like saying that an FSB support soldier has the same experience in combat as a Tank or Gun Truck Gunner. We also need to look at it from the perspective that this instructor has been to these places and that she has experienced the life on a FOB as we who were all deployed have. Their are still inherent dangers of living behind the wire as their are going outside of it. I have lots of pictures of where Rockets and mortars have splashed right outside of my living area in Iraq. I am sure if she spent any time in these areas she has experienced having to put all your gear on and run for the scud bunkers in the middle of the night or the embarrassment of running half naked from the showers in your body armor to the bunkers during a mortar or rocket attack. She probably has had her own experiences of her students at these places having one of their own not come back because of an ambush outside the wire or even an IED attack. I had the experiences inside and outside the wire and what I am saying is that she has experienced what everyone experiences inside the wire and what goes on outside affects everyone inside as well and that is what she can relate to. Its hard to find common ground sometimes but for the sake of taking the course and to at least try to form our experiences into words is at least a step forward for many of us. I won’t be able to take the course since I have had all of my writing courses out of the way for some time now. I send congrats to Mark Hardin he has gone out of his way to help us vets out, and congrats to Dr. Leche for instructing this course for us Veterans. I am a Disabled Combat Veteran thanks to PTSD and all the wonderful memories and warm fuzzy nightmares that inhabit my daily existence. I had to spend some time in a VA medical center for it and it never truly goes away. I am sure many of you are right their with me. If you can get somthing out of this that will help you then by all means take the course and be as objective as possible for yourselves and respect the instructor for helping us out.
By Army Brat August 18, 2010 - 1:51 pm
Following up Infantry’s comment—understood the sentiment behind the remarks.
I followed my dad around his service, moving 21 times in 18 years of life. But I know full well I can’t relate to the exact experiences he had. Nor can he relate to mine as a 11 year old getting evacuated from math class for bomb threats and trying to learn pre-algebra in a bowling alley on base, etc.
Non-combatants serving the military have their own stories to tell; we respect and love those who serve and protected us ignorant civis from the brunt of it.
Yeah, I laughed at your statement. I can’t imagine too many recent combat vets wanting to write about the experience either.
However, those who do want a class and have the talent like Tim O’Brien (Vietnam–“The Things They Carried”), deserve a good group to get the thoughts out on the page.
How else will non-combatants ever understand their loved ones serving? How else will vets who can’t find the words, but have the thoughts, find some ease in reading a well-put story from those who have been in that crucible?
There’s a lot of sitting around in combat; a lot of time spent waiting and then quick fights erasing everything else. In the trenches in WWI, many soldiers wrote incredible poems left in testament that just because you fight, doesn’t mean you don’t write.
I read a lot of war history, and laughed at story of a WWII vet returning to College as a freshman. As one of the “Battered Bastards of Bastogne,” he stood up in Freshman Orientation and announced to the Sophomore Class President “I’ll be g**-d***ed if I wear one of those *!!%@#% beanies!” (That college required all freshman to wear hats to show their underclassman status).
Vets deserve recognition.
Aaron’s comment seemed right on: now ACC’s got a Comp. class that’ll be more relevant for those who fought and are getting the education they put on hold to do service for their country.
Maybe ACC can get Tim O’Brien to come too along with Dr. Leche. H***, I’d sign up for that course and I teach comp. at ACC.
By Medic August 18, 2010 - 4:34 pm
speak for yourself, not others.
By Aaron August 18, 2010 - 11:53 pm
No where did it say in the post that Leche understands combat because she taught on a FOB. It says that she understands the camaraderie that often occurs between service members while deployed. Neither is there any suggestion that these classes are designed for people to write about their combat experiences. However I am sure if it was appropriate to write about a combat experience for an assignment and the student felt so inclined, then it would be much better to do it in this type of class. Especially the comp I class which I am sure will stillbe about improving one’s reading comprehension.
By JB August 25, 2010 - 12:31 pm
Let’s just celebrate the fact that local schools and organizations are trying to find ways to help us make our way back into some semblance of normal civilian life. I’m a twice wounded combat vet and fully support any effort of civilians to help us transition into rewarding and fulfilling lives. I’ve already satisfied all of my English credits but think this may be a great opportunity to anyone open to taking it….