Previously known as the Veteran Society, the Student Veterans of America joins UH to encourage veterans to participate in volunteering and networking opportunities, including the Lone Star Assocation toy drive. | Courtesy of SVA
Veterans on campus are gathering to create a chapter of the Student Veterans of America.
Formerly the Veteran Society, the SVA is a national organization that began in 2008. Since then, numerous chapters were created across the United States neighboring chapters within the Houston area include UH-Clear Lake and UH-Downtown.
Human resource development senior and SVA president Blake Washington said the change occurred in January.
“We felt the SVA would get more participation because it’s a national organization benefiting the veteran,” Washington said. “Ultimately, our vision for the SVA is for the veterans to utilize to help out down the road.”
However, there are many veterans who don’t know about the organization or the veteran services on campus.
“I would like to see the SVA be one of the bigger faces on campus,” Washington said. “Houston has one of the largest veteran populations. I want people to say, ‘University of Houston. They have a great SVA.’ ”
Washington adds that one of the benefits of joining the SVA is getting to know other veterans and information within the veteran community.
“Our goal for every semester is to have more veterans graduate and to put them in the job in the major they graduated with,” said political science junior and SVA vice president Robert Martinez. “When I was a medic, and I wrote my resume, I couldn’t translate that into civilian life.”
He also said as the membership grows, so will the objectives, such as veteran resume workshops.
“I like to do my best and vice versa,” said biology junior and SVA member Christina Klein. “I like to have them help me, too, so I can graduate with great grades.”
Another benefit for the UH veteran is a common background, which can make it easier for the newly transitioning veteran to make friends.
“We have the same mentality,” Martinez said. “In the way we speak, our body language and how we want our requirements. In every branch, our life is always about the military. It’s a good thing.”
Klein said she joined for the camaraderie.
“People understand you and can help you,” Klein said. “This is a lot better. It’s got good people, and everybody’s minds are in the right spot.”
Washington and Martinez agreed the veteran community is a tight-knit family.
“We’ve all been in those types of situations where we needed a friend to talk to, to go out and have a beer, to decompress, finding work and donate a TV,” Martinez said. “The more we help out in the community, it becomes a cycle. It’s a continuous cycle that will never end within our community.”
Many confuse the office with the organization. While the two do aid veterans, there is a difference.
“The SVA is a group exclusively for the student veterans who take part in activities and raise money as well as build camaraderie,” Washington said.
Martinez said the veterans service office aids student veterans in transitioning from military life into civilian life as well as assisting with the GI Bill and Hazlewood Act.
“The veterans service office is the first step of transitioning in administration work,” Martinez said. “We answer any questions they have and help them transition into school. The office also informs the veterans of the veterans’ assistance services and the health care.”
Meetings are held at 6 p.m. on Mondays at the University Center North, Room 202.
For more information about the SVA, visit the organization’s Get Involved website.
