The veteran misconception: New org at Cedarville seeks to support students transitioning from the  military

By Madison Dyer 

Veteran students face a unique challenge when coming to college, even such a welcoming one as Cedarville University. 

People who serve in the military have the option to go to college on a scholarship after they complete their service. It is near impossible to recognize veteran students, nobody ever mentions them in passing and most students are too busy to dedicate more than a second of consideration to their veteran peers’ situation. 

Dr. Jason Grimm, the CU Military Association advisor, shared his experience coming to school from the Air Force. He explained how being an older student than those around him made connection difficult and a bit awkward, and how significantly differing life experiences affected the way he interacted with his classmates.

“Even though you’re only a couple years older, you may have had a world of experience. And so, there’s usually different stressors, different challenges that a [veteran] student might be facing,” Grimm said. “It can be kind of a culture shock.” 

His account illustrates the common experience of many veteran students, who experience that same culture shock. A shock akin to someone coming from another country. In those situations, support is crucial.

This is why veteran and military-associated students greatly benefit from a support group of people like them, who share their struggles and understand their needs. This year, Grimm and senior Isabel Rahn are resurrecting such a group. 

The Military Association Organization on campus has never been very formal, but it does not need to be. Historically, events were as simple as hopping off campus and sharing a home-cooked meal, just a little something to bring people out of hiding and into a group where they can find support and comradery. 

All students fight the temptation to self-isolate, community being the most effective weapon. But how can someone become part of a community when their peers always elevate them to an undesirable status? 

Isabel Rahn, the student president of the Military Association Org, is an active member of the National Guard. She mentioned that sharing military-related experiences with an average student can feel prideful or showy. Plus, reactions often all contain the same over-elevating exclamations of praise which subconsciously place an invisible distance between students. 

“It seems prideful,” Rahn said. “Whenever we talk about our military experience…[it] seems like we’re bragging on ourselves. But we’re not bragging; we’re just trying to share what we’ve been through, and I feel like a lot of people put us on a pedestal.”

But then, this begs the question of whether non-military students can help in any way. Are they doomed to simply avoid conversation with their military peers? No, the most important, most effective mode of action is awareness. Admittedly, it sounds like something those activist political groups would say, but in this case it has substance. Being aware of veteran student struggles can prevent the cliche responses which they dread hearing for the thousandth time. It can promote deeper connection, relationship, and unity. It brings a sect of students who feel left out and uncomfortable into the bonds of fellowship, something most, if not all, people yearn for when they arrive on campus for the first time.

Madison Dyer is a Freshman Professional Writing and Information Design student, who grew up in the nearby city of Xenia but now lives with her family just within the Cedarville Township limit! In between various seasonal obsessions, she enjoys drawing fictional characters, playing guitar, and engaging in general shenanigans.