Operation College Promise (OCP) arrived in Oklahoma City on a mission. Its objective—to
provide a current and practical overview of the skills and best practices
required of college administrators and veteran coordinators in order for Post-9/11
vets to get the most out of the Montgomery GI Bill and find success in their post-secondary
advancement.
Billed as one of the most important pieces of legislation in
the United States’ history by Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, Todd Lamb, who provided
the opening remarks for the 2 ½ day program, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides veterans
with the often difficult to find funding needed to meet the ever-rising cost of
higher education. In a state like Oklahoma, where there is an increasing need
for skilled and educated labor, the GI Bill is fulfilling that demand, not only
for veterans transitioning back to civilian life and seeking career
advancement, but providing the state and its burgeoning economy with
individuals able to meet the challenges of an increasingly sophisticated and
evolving industry.
The Certificate for Veteran’s Service Providers (CVSP) program is a rigorous 2 ½ day
training seminar in which administrators and service providers receive a
crash-course on military immersion, veteran entitlements and resources that aid
in a more efficient allocation of the service providers’ energies by clarifying
and unifying best practices amongst professionals in the field. Additionally,
for the experienced and newbie administrator alike, it provides a unique
opportunity to network with like-minded professionals from across the country
in sharing best-practices, information, and resources for the good of veterans finding
their way onto college campuses and universities.
The program is designed to shed light on the myriad of
obstacles veterans face in their transition from soldier to civilian life.
Realizing that a veteran’s health is tantamount to their success in college,
this CVSP program had a large focus on care for both the physical and
nonphysical scars of war facing our returning warriors.
The CVSP program
featured multiple panels on topics ranging from military culture and immersion,
American Council on Education initiatives, Veterans Affairs’ representatives,
and Department of Defense speakers, all with the common goal of making the
transition for veterans to civilian life more fruitful for themselves and the
country by improving the expertise of the professional community that serves
them here at home.
For information on bringing a CVSP program
to your area contact Wendy Lang at walang@njascu.org
