Veterans at CSU discuss experiences,

resources
Veterans Day is a day to honor all those who have served and those who continue to
serve, but at Colorado State University, resources are available to those individuals yearround.
CSU ranked 13th nationally on the annual Military Timess Best for Vets list, the
highest-ranked Colorado school. Programs on campus such as Adult Learner and Veteran
Services, the New Start for Student Veterans Program and the Veteran Educational
Benefits Office are just a few places that contribute to veterans success at CSU.
CSU is participating in the National Roll Call event Wednesday. The event will
occur in the Lory Student Center Sculpture Garden near the LSC Theater between 7 a.m.
and 7 p.m. A moment of silence will take place at 12 p.m.
For many returning veterans, finding their role in civilian life may be difficult. Jason
Sydoriak, president of the Associated Students of Colorado State University, served in
the Marine Corps between 2006 and 2012.
We had such an immense purpose in the military, Sydoriak said. Then, we enter the
civilian world and we sort of have to find our own purpose. Even (if we do), it doesnt
seem as immense as it was in the military.
While many organizations provide resources to veterans, others offer opportunities that
allow veterans to apply military skills and knowledge to such things as disaster relief,
said Sydoriak, who volunteered with flood relief efforts in Longmont and Lyons in
Colorado.
Steven Baldwin is a veteran success coach at the Adult Learner and Veteran Services
center. He said many veterans are continuing to serve their country and communities
upon their return.
Local national guardsmen and reservists around here go to fires, they go to floods, they
help domestically and they fight wars, Baldwin said. When I came back from Iraq, I
went to Hurricane Katrina and Rita and helped families there. And that, in itself, was
pretty traumatic.
But not every story is the same. Baldwin is working on his doctorate degree at CSU, and
his dissertation is focused on veterans in higher education and their barriers to success.

The reason why I do this job at ALVS is because Ive been in similar situations as
most of these students, Baldwin said. I see myself, maybe, as a role model. If I can do
it, they can do it.
Baldwin has served in the military for the past 19 years and spent his time fighting
outside of security lines.
I cant speak to other peoples experiences only mine, Baldwin said. If youre in
combat arms with military occupational skill, like the infantry your experiences are far
more different from a support role. Youre still in combat, and you might receive mortar
fire but youre not fighting daily.
His experience fighting beyond security lines came with its own set of challenges.
When youre in combat, theres always this imminent danger, Baldwin said. Living
with this psychological fear for a year or more takes a toll, he said.
Regardless of what role a veteran played or continues to play, building a sense of community is important.
CSU is one of the finest veteran-friendly campuses that I have experienced, Baldwin said. And thats
coming from (someone who has attended) two graduate schools, both of which have had veteran
programs, but nothing like CSU.
Collegian Reporter Eleonora Yurkevich can be reached at news@collegian.com.