Published Nov. 11, 2009
By Kristi Pihl, Tri-City Herald staff writer
Amy Henderson wants to become an electrical engineer.
BetsyAnn Pittman plans to be a psychologist.
Brad Bradley is working on a computer science degree.
All three are part of a growing number of local veterans using GI benefits to pay for college.
Henderson and Bradley take classes at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, while Pittman attends Washington State University Tri-Cities. Both schools staged ceremonies Tuesday honoring veterans.
The number of people coming to the WSU Tri-Cities Office of Veterans Affairs to ask questions and apply for benefits has grown, said Pittman, a junior who works in the office. Already 75 veterans are enrolled at the branch campus in Richland.
Pittman served in the Air Force from 2006 to May 2009. She was stationed at Royal Air Force Lakenheath in England, and deployed to Iraq for 6 1/2 months.
She joined the military because she felt it was her duty as a citizen, as well as wanting to expand her experiences and earn benefits including helping pay for her education.
CBC also has seen an increase veterans. The college has about 300 students who served in the military.
To help those students feel more welcome, the college formed the Columbia Basin College Veterans Alliance, a group of staff and students, said Peggy Buchmiller, CBC assistant dean for student services.
In addition to on-campus programs, veterans also can look to the Columbia Basin Veterans Coalition, a local organization that provides consolidated assistance for veterans, including counseling, mentoring and help with Veterans Affairs benefits.
The coalition helps all veterans, whether they served in Iraq, Afghanistan or World War II, said Skip Novakovich, coalition chairman and retired Army lieutenant colonel.
They want to help veterans adjust to civilian life and receive the services they need, he said.
The coalition has helped about 1,200 veterans in the last 1 1/2 years, he said.
Bobby Dale Albers, coalition director of veterans community aid, who served three tours in Vietnam in the Army, said the difficult part is reaching out to area veterans and finding those who need help.
At Tuesday’s event, Henderson said she hoped to discover what resources the coalition offers.
For her 22 months of service, Henderson will receive 22 months of college covered by the government. She broke her hip at the end of training and received a medical discharge in March 2005. She entered the military for the job security and benefits.
Henderson has two more classes to finish at CBC before transferring to WSU, where she plans to finish an electrical engineering degree.
Bradley, who served in the Army for a year, said he decided to attend the CBC event to find out more about available services.
He received a medical discharge in September 2001 after breaking both hips during training.
Overall, he said the college does a good job working with veterans. He is using his vocational rehabilitation benefits to pay for school.
Pittman encourages people to show veterans and their families appreciation for their service and sacrifices.
The Columbia Basin Veterans Coalition can be reached at 545-6558 or by going to www.veterancoalition-cb.org.
Additional news stories can be accessed online at the Tri-City Herald.