The Reality of Readjustment

[unhappycamper]

Sophomore Sheena Cooper guarded a base camp while in Iraq. With permission from the Oracle.

Iraq veterans return to civilian life as students at University of South Florida, but find their combat days influencing their college experience


The Reality of Readjustment
Military.com | Christine Gibson, | January 25, 2008


Chaddrick Faison can't watch the news. Watching the news reminds the veteran of his 2004 deployment in Iraq.

"I don't want to see stories of soldiers dying," he said.

Faison, along with 776 other students at USF, attends college using Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, as the Montgomery GI Bill gives veterans grants for their education. Faison, along with other soldiers who have returned from combat abroad, faces challenges adjusting to civilian life, especially life as a college student, and USF offers various services to help them adjust.

Faison, a junior, was deployed to Tikrit, Iraq for 12 months in 2004. Since he is still a member of the National Guard, he has to report to Tallahassee one weekend per month.

While in Tikrit, Faison was assigned to perimeter security, which meant guarding the entrance of an Army Aviation Battalion. Faison said his deployment in Iraq afforded him time to think.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,160767,00.html



uhc comment: Our veterans face a daunting challenge getting their acts together. I highly recommend this article.