CSULB's Vet Net Ally spreads nationwide to help colleges meet veteran students' needs

In the early to mid-2000s, Marshall Thomas '00, '06, '10 noticed that there wasn't a formalized support network for military veterans at Cal State Long Beach. A former Marine, he was serving as associate director of The Learning Center at the time.

He was also pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership, and for his dissertation, he proposed a detailed program to help student vets. He developed the Vet Net Ally Awareness Program in 2009 and turned it into a reality at CSULB in spring 2010.

Now, his concept is being implemented at colleges and universities throughout the state and across the country. About 70 campuses across the U.S. have adopted his Vet Net Ally program, including seven CSUs, some 35 community colleges, and the University of Michigan - Flint, Arizona Western College and SUNY Binghamton.

"Transitioning back to the civilian world can be a challenge for some folks, just to get used to the civilian and college culture," said Thomas, who now serves as director of Veterans Affairs for the CSU Chancellor's Office. "I think people recognize that there are student veterans on their campus, and they want to serve them well. They want to make sure they're doing it correctly."

The Vet Net Ally program is a four-hour seminar that provides information and background on the various branches of the military, terminology, data on active military personnel, traumatic experiences and GI educational benefits.

It's designed to educate members of the collegiate community, foster a supportive campus atmosphere and establish a network of visible allies for veterans. Vet Net was modeled after other support networks, such as LGBTQ+ Ally and UndocuAlly.

Insights covered during the program include the strict academic requirements of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, resources and the difficulty in rescheduling VA appointments.

"People forget that the military is a culture," said Lynisha McDuel, CSULB's director of Veterans Services. "And that transition out of it is like any of us leaving home and having to go to a brand-new place where they speak a different language and the structures are completely different. So, I think it helps people see that. There are assumptions that are made by a lot of people about a lot of different cultures, and I think veterans are no different."

McDuel estimated the veteran population at The Beach to be about 500, but there are also others affiliated with veterans, such as spouses, children and friends.

After attendees - primarily faculty and staff - complete the seminar, they receive a Vet Net Ally decal, which they can display at their workplace or office.

Liem Nguyen, a U.S. Navy veteran and an assistant director of learning technologies at CSULB's Academic Technology Services, attended the most recent Vet Net Ally seminar on campus on Oct. 31.

"This session gave me some tools that I could use to further help veteran students," Nguyen said. "It gave me more information that I wasn't aware of before."

Chris Campbell, a U.S. Army veteran and assistant professor of nursing, said, "It's just good to be reminded what that transition to civilian life is like." She noted she typically has at least one student vet in each of her classes. "This made me aware of the different challenges that students might be going through, that I don't think about sometimes."

Chad Keller, a Navy veteran who is public relations and communications specialist for Parking and Operations, was deployed twice, to Afghanistan and Iraq. He said he felt equipped to interact with more recent veterans after the seminar.

"Especially to hear some of the things described in detail as far as the post-traumatic stress and the best way to approach those things. Because even though I was in combat areas, I didn't have a traumatic combat experience. But now I have a deeper empathy with somebody who has."

Dan Montoya, vice president of University Relations and Development and a Navy veteran, said the campus resources are among the many ways The Beach can thank veterans for their service.

"Because of our veterans, we get to live, work and dream freely," he said. "The lives we lead today are possible because others were willing to stand watch, to serve and to sacrifice. On this Veterans Day, I'm deeply grateful to all who have served, and to those standing the watch right now, ensuring that our freedoms remain secure."