We first introduced Bryan Adams to the CollegeResponse community in our September E-news (From Combat to College). A veteran and a college student, Adams has worked to bring attention and action to veterans’ issues on campuses across the country. Because of his persistence at Rutgers University, the school has now established a Veterans Center and provides a veteran-specific orientation.
“Veteran services coordinators work at each of the three campuses at Rutgers. They introduce themselves to the veterans, walk veterans through the registration process, help them with their class schedule and get them situated,” says Bryan Adams. “[Veterans] are the future leaders of America and there are a lot of us in college. We have a lot to contribute to our nation.”
Adams is now working to connect more veterans with the Service Members Opportunity College. The program grants college credits for military service and is currently in use at two Rutgers’ campuses. Adams is hoping to expand the program nationwide and incorporate veterans into more positions on campus.
In 2004, Adams served a year-long deployment as an Army sniper in Tikrit, Iraq. While deployed, he was shot in the left leg and left hand and was awarded a Purple Heart. Adams was 21 years old when he returned from the war and was eventually diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The 26-year old is now studying marketing at Rutgers University and plans to attend graduate school for law or business.
This November, in observance of Veterans Day, College Response encourages you to send an i-salute greeting card to active duty soldiers, veterans and military families in honor of their service and sacrifice, while providing access to a variety of online health services including anonymous mental health self-assessments. To send an i-Salute, you can visit www.i-salute.org/ and choose a custom greeting and write your own personal message.