Each November, we celebrate National Veterans and Military Families Month, offering us an opportunity to reflect on the spirit of service demonstrated by our military personnel and their families. At East Tennessee State University, we strive to honor and give back to our veterans and military service members year-round. I have previously shared some of the work the institution has undertaken on this front, but it is worth revisiting as we continue to expand and improve our efforts. ETSU has a long and proud tradition of military service and excellence. Our university has produced 17 generals and flag officers — an astounding number for a non-military institution of this size. Nearly 1,000 military-affiliated students are currently enrolled, and our campus is home to the number one ROTC program in Tennessee and one of the premier battalions in the country.

For more than a decade, ETSU has annually received the prestigious "Military Friendly" designation, a badge of honor that signifies our continued efforts to provide the best possible education and resources to our military-affiliated students and their families. We also were recently recognized as a "Best for Vets" institution, an honor fewer than 10 percent of colleges and universities in the U.S. receive.

Through our Military and Veteran Services Center, we provide numerous resources to support active-duty service members, reservists and National Guard members, veterans, and their families. These include assistance navigating VA benefits, priority registration, scholarships and financial aid, academic coaching and mentoring, career services, and more. This summer, we launched the Green Zone Training program, an initiative to equip faculty and staff with the knowledge and skills needed to create a welcoming and supportive environment for student veterans and military-affiliated individuals. The inaugural session, held at the Academic Advisement Council meeting earlier this semester, trained 24 staff members, each earning a Green Zone Military Friendly Area of Operation decal for their offices. An additional training was held during the sixth annual Equity and Inclusion Conference in September, allowing for the training of 12 additional members of the ETSU community. 

ETSU's support for our military community extends beyond the campus grounds. Our Veterans Upward Bound program can help veterans prepare for and pursue various types of postsecondary education. The College of Business and Technology's STRIVE program offers free entrepreneurship training to help veterans, reservists, and National Guard members transition their skills into successful business ventures. The university also recently announced a new AmeriCorps program funded by a $75,000 grant from Volunteer Tennessee to support the veteran population in the surrounding seven-county area.

Through ETSU's close-knit partnership with the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, students, faculty, and staff work together to ensure we provide veterans with the highest quality health care. The Martin Center for the Arts, too, provides benefits for veterans. Since its opening day, the Martin Center has regularly donated tickets to Vet Tix, ensuring that veterans have the opportunity to partake in the enriching experiences of the performing arts.

In recognition of the contributions and sacrifices of veterans throughout our region, we will hold our annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday, November 15, at 3:45 p.m. Additionally, on that day, we invite all veterans to join us in the Dining Hall in the D.P. Culp Student Center for a free dinner as an expression of our immense gratitude. This invitation extends to all veterans, not just those enrolled at ETSU.

These efforts are undoubtedly insufficient to repay the debt we owe our military service members and their families. We offer them, however, out of heartfelt gratitude for those who have given so much to our country. I encourage each member of our campus community to reflect on ways you can give back to a cause greater than yourself. In doing so, we will not only strengthen our community but also uphold the values for which our veterans have served.

Thank you to our veterans and military families. Your courage, commitment, and sacrifice represent the very best of our nation.

- Brian Noland, President

 

East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.

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