Research shows that faculty, staff, and administrators at institutions of higher learning have a fundamental responsibility to create a safe and effective learning environment for returning military combat veterans. Studies of student veterans have shown that combat veterans have both unique strengths and barriers that must be taken into account if they are to complete an advanced degree. This study contributes to the literature on educational barriers faced by student veterans and their educators. Knowles' andragogy theory provided the theoretical framework for this transcendental-phenomenological research study. Ten randomly chosen student military veterans from Tacoma Community College in Tacoma, Washington, participated in guided 60-minute interviews to discuss pedagogical tools and administrative actions found to be helpful or hindering to students' academic success. Interviews were recorded and transcribed for analysis, and participants' accounts of their experiences produced the textural and structural descriptions that led to identification of salient themes. The findings of this study revealed the Veterans' needs to feel respected and treated as competent adults. They needed community colleges to scaffold their cognitive, communal, and emotional needs; they also needed flexibility on attendance and assigned seating, faculty polices, and pedagogical offerings. Serious social problems can emerge if the educational needs of this at-risk student population are unaddressed. Social change will come as a result of scaffolding student veterans through a successful journey toward their desired goals. This process will enrich the lives of this population by opening the door to better jobs, higher pay, and a higher quality of life for both the student and his or her family.

Sexual violence is sometimes considered a taboo topic for discussion, but it gained widespread attention in the media in late 2017 due to the social movements addressing the sexual assault of women. However, sexual violence perpetrated against men lacks publicity in America, and highlights a similar situation in the Armed Forces. A discussion of sexually violent acts committed against men is sometimes impeded by cultural norms. This discrepancy associated with civilian and military communities inspired this exploratory study. A convenience sample of 520 former American military professionals completed an anonymous online survey to describe their attitudes and beliefs regarding rape myths. The survey included basic demographics followed by 20 questions with dichotomous responses addressing male and female rape myths, empathy, belief in a just world and gender attitudes. Responses to each question were analyzed, followed by composite scoring for rape myths, empathy and gender attitude questions. Bivariate correlation analysis was performed to examine significant relationships. Ordinal and bivariate logistic regressions were completed to predict adherence to male rape myths. The exploratory nature of the survey provided a glimpse of veterans' views and indicated the majority, 317 (61.1%) of veterans did not adhere to any of the listed male rape myths, and 311 (59.6%) of veterans did not agree with the female rape myths. The ordinal logistic regression model predicted that empathy for male survivors and disagreement with some patriarchal gender attitudes were significantly associated with decreased acceptance of male rape myths in the sample of veterans. Significant predictors of male rape myths in the bivariate logistic regression model included increased empathy (Exp(B) = 6.373, CI [2.740, 14.822]), agreement with patriarchal gender attitudes (Exp(B) = 5.598, CI [2.059, 15.219]), and adherence to female rape myths (Exp(B) = 1.969, CI [.993, 3.904]). These results emphasized popular misinformation, and the need for education and awareness surrounding rape myths. Strategic suggestions for the military community were aimed at prevention, education, and policy changes. Despite the challenging environment, the topic of sexual violence perpetrated against males is a relevant issue affecting humanity.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University

No description available.

The purpose of this study is to learn from test results of veterans of World War II and from a background of their education prior to service whether there is any correlation between these test results and the number of years spent in school.

The purpose of this study was to provide a clear conceptualization of how Vietnam veterans who have previously been diagnosed with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) respond and cope with the emotional and psychological effects presented by the present war in Iraq.

There is currently a crisis in military veteran mental health care. At 5-30% of veterans receive a PTSD diagnosis. Veterans face a large gap that exists in accessing and receiving high quality care. One intervention that is becoming more popular is equine assisted counseling (EAC). The purpose of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of Relational Equine-Partnered Counseling (REPC) in reducing symptoms of PTSD in military veterans. I also examined specific PTSD symptom clusters including intrusion, avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity. The present study utilized a single-case design consisting of a baseline phase, intervention phase, and post-intervention phase. Participants included four military veterans presenting for war zone-related PTSD: four males and one female, aged 32-67 years, two White/European non-Hispanic, one African American non-Hispanic, and one mixed ethnicity. Symptoms were assessed weekly using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale and the PTSD Checklist (PCL-5). The data were analyzed by visual analysis and statistical effect size. The results were mixed across the participants. All participants experienced decreased means between the baseline and intervention phases. However, interpretation of the results indicated that the intervention was effective in some areas for some of the participants. All participants reported that the intervention was beneficial in targeting specific symptoms. Overall, the results indicated that REPC may have some benefit in reducing distress related to PTSD. More research is needed to further explore the effectiveness of REPC on the reduction of PTSD-related distress.

From the colonial period to the present, Americans have debated the role of the military and its place in American society. One important part of this debate is the issue of compulsory military service and whether it is consistent with the ideals of a democratic state. Although Americans have generally accepted compulsory service in times of national emergency, they have often expressed great reservations to it in times of peace. In their view, compulsory military service raises fundamental questions about the responsibilities of citizens to the state.Following World War II, proponents of compulsory military service campaigned for implementation of Universal Military Training (UMT) as a method of insuring manpower for a potential national emergency. By stressing the universal aspect of the program, supporters hoped to demonstrate the democratic qualities of UMT and its compatibility with traditional American ideals. Ultimately, however, they were unable to convince Congress and the general public of the program's merits. Some opposed the program because of its questionable military value in the atomic age. Many others voiced their disapproval of UMT largely because of a longstanding American sentiment against peacetime compulsory service. As a result, UMT was never implemented.This thesis will explore a neglected aspect of the UMT debate and examine the opposition of veterans to UMT. Veterans generally, and veterans organizations in particular, have traditionally advocated military preparedness. Not surprisingly, the American Legion was the primary nongovernmental organization to spearhead the effort to adopt UMT. Yet significant opposition to UMT existed even within the Legion's ranks. Similarly, the American Veterans Committee (AVC), a newly formed organization comprised of World War II veterans, announced its opposition to military training. With uncertain support from a segment of American society that would normally be expected to back preparedness programs, the government's plan for military training had little chance for adoption. With the resumption of selective service in 1948, the importance of UMT to U.S. military policy greatly diminished, and UMT virtually disappeared from the political forefront.Through the use of archival sources at the American Legion National Headquarters, the records of the American Veterans Committee, congressional testimony by representatives of both organizations, and various secondary sources, this thesis demonstrates that some veterans, like many Americans, viewed peacetime compulsory military service with great ambivalence and not an obligation of citizenship in a democratic state. / Department of History

No description available.

No description available.