Written by: Dan Piston, IVMF Student Intern
In 2013, I voluntarily separated from the Navy after six years on active duty as a rescue swimmer and helicopter crew chief. After leaving the Navy, I returned home to Syracuse, New York, to attend Syracuse University for my bachelor’s degree. From the beginning of my Naval service, I planned to get out after my first enlistment and use the GI Bill to earn my degree. After being accepted to SU, I got a couple of part time jobs to earn money and fill my time while I waited for school to start. As a non-traditional student, I focused all of my energy and time to finishing school as quickly as possible, but did not place any emphasis on future opportunities. In January of my second year at SU, I attended the 2015 Student Veterans of America National Conference. It turned out to be a life-changing experience. Attending the SVA Conference gave me the opportunity I was looking for to continue to serve and make a difference in my school.
So, you may ask, what exactly is the SVA? The Student Veterans of America (SVA) is a fairly new organization – established in 2008 – born from the lack of support in higher education for student veterans following their return from service. Since 2008, they have provided programs to help student veterans, advocated for veterans nationally, invested in research for student veterans and connected alumni. One of the most important missions of the SVA is to support the nearly 1,300 chapters registered around the country by offering guidance on establishing a successful chapter, holding leadership summits for chapter leaders, and providing financial support to chapters in need through grants and scholarships.
My first year of college, I studied hard and focused all my efforts on my academics. At the start of my second year, I considered joining Syracuse’s student veteran organization. Luckily for me, a spot opened from Syracuse to attend the SVA National Conference. From the beginning of the 2015 SVA National Conference, I felt welcomed but curious to see where this new path would lead me. The National Conference is a gathering of SVA chapters from all over the country to learn how to improve their chapter in the future, network with other veterans and organizations, and hear speakers who support veterans. This year was particularly exciting because the keynote speakers included United States Vice President and Syracuse Alum, Joseph Biden, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Robert McDonald, and Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, recipient of the Medal of Honor. The opportunity to see one of these individuals speak would have been a privilege, but to see all of them speak and share their experiences was truly inspiring.
After attending this exciting event, my goal of getting involved came to fruition in the spring of 2015 when I was elected to be the Vice President of the Syracuse University Student Veterans Organization. Alongside the President of our organization, Jordan Robinson, the work from our predecessors has continued and we are excited for what the future holds. However, as an organization, we cannot be successful without participation from the student veterans on campus. One of the major learning points from the SVA conference was that veterans have a foundation of skills they can use to be successful. The SVA, as well as student veteran organizations at each university or college, provides a unique environment for student vets to come together and help each other work through problems, like sharing advice on adjusting to college life, how to spend the weekends and even how to prepare for life after college.
My message is simple: student veteran organizations need their student veterans! If you are a Syracuse University student, I strongly urge you to step outside your bubble and come join us. Every person brings valuable knowledge, skills and new ideas to the table. If you are a student at a different college or university – get involved with your veteran’s organization. And if you do not have a veteran’s organization then this could be an amazing opportunity to lead the student veterans on your campus by starting a veteran’s organization. There are many resources available to help accomplish this, either by reaching out to the SVA or student organizations on other campuses. Student veterans have so much to offer their schools, communities and each other. Now is the time to step up and lead this generation of student veterans.
Dan is an intern with the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, and Vice President of the SU Student Veterans Organization. After serving six years in the U.S. Navy as a Rescue Swimmer, he returned to his hometown of Syracuse to continue his college education. He is currently a senior year at Syracuse University studying Health and Exercise Science. In his free time he enjoys living an active lifestyle by participating in and coaching CrossFit and spending quality time with his wife.