USA Deployment Statistics

2. USA Deployment Statistics • 490,000 U.S. Service Personnel are deployed around the world • 168,000 in Iraq alone • 24,000 in Afghanistan • 115,000 at sea

3. California Statistics • 2.2 million veterans in California • More Californians on active duty than any other state in the nation • 1 in 9 serving in the military are from California • 175,000 active duty military are stationed in California

4. The Governor’s Initiative • Provide Educational Opportunities and Assistance to Active Duty Service Members and Veterans • Targeted increased instructional opportunities to men and women on active duty, especially targeting the National Guard & the Reserves • Chancellor’s Office identified 255 veterans or dependents receiving benefits at Delta College in 2007 MIS data.

5. Troops to College May 2009

6. Mission Statement Troops to College Program provides active and former members of the armed services a support team that increases the likelihood of achievement of educational goals by addressing their specialized needs in a College setting. This Program provides information, resources, and support services to "advantage" the active and former members of the armed services in any way possible from the time of admission through graduation or transfer.

7. Delta College • November 2007 to May 2008 • 719 Identified Active or Former Members or Dependents who applied to Delta College: • 58 Active Military • 117 Dependents of Active Military • 53 Veterans discharged within the last year • 491 Veterans discharged more than a year ago

8. Fine Tuning our Information • February 2008: Decided to look at who are active and former armed forces population are: • 257 Identified as: • 19 Active Military • 44 Reservists • 194 Veterans

9. Organizational Structure

10. Advisory Committee • Anthony Bugarin, Board Member, San Joaquin Delta College • Tino Adame, American Legion Representative • Thomas Sullivan, WWII Veteran, SICL Member • John Hood, Veterans of Foreign Wars Representative • Patrick Hall, Disabled American Veterans Representative • Dave Siebold, County Veterans Office Representative • Brandon Biegert, Veteran Student Alliance Representative • Mary Chisholm, For Goodness Sake Representative • Others to be added

11. Veteran Service Team

12. Veteran Student Alliance • The VSA is the student-based affiliate of the Troops to College Program at San Joaquin Delta College. We provide an opportunity for students who are active military, reservists, veterans and veteran dependents (hereafter referred to as “veteran students”) to come together to support one another, as well as to advocate for policy change, both at Delta College and in Washington D.C. • Through the VSA, veteran students can pool their knowledge of working with the VA so that everyone can benefit The old adage says, "Two heads are better than one." At Delta College we have hundreds of veteran students, all with their own information and experience dealing with the Veterans Administration. • In conjunction with Troops to College, we will be hosting workshops on topics varying from maximizing your educational benefits to PTSD awareness. These events are important because they provide opportunities to gain information from the experts. • By joining the VSA you strengthen the position of veteran students both on-campus and nationwide. We have a great opportunity, through Troops to College, to simplify navigation through a system that can be both complex and confusing.  Together, we can change that.

13. Activities • Weekly Meetings (Friday, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.) • Monthly Movie Night • Community Partnerships • Liaison Membership in: • American Legion • Veterans of Foreign Wars • Disabled American Veterans • Legislative Advocacy • Roundtable Meetings with Congressman McNerney • Roundtable Meetings with Congressman Cardoza • Community Service: • Participation in the Moving Wall Project • Stand Down for Veterans • Welcome Home Heroes Event • 4th of July Parade • Education – Speakers • PTSD – How to recognize it and how to work with those who have it? • ABI – What causes it and how is it treated? • Veteran Benefits – What is available and how do you get it? • Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans Association • Fundraising for Scholarships and Advocacy

14. For Goodness Sake Mission: We, the members of For Goodness Sake, are proud Americans who gather together to find and fill needs, show support, and share love and gratitude for our Active Military, Reservists, and Veterans and others in need. Meetings: First Thursday of Every Month Activities: Recognition of Veterans at Annual Commencement; the Moving Wall; Stand Down for Veterans; the Blanket Brigade; Fisher House; Cards & Letters to Soldiers; Scholarships; etc.

15. What’s Next • Complete membership for Advisory Committee • Establish College Partnerships (Chancellor’s Office; Sierra College, Foothill College) • Legislative Advocacy (Roundtable Participation with Congressional Representatives) • Education (Staff Development Activities to Raise Level of Awareness) • Newsletter (Connection for members and community affiliates) • Bulletin Board (Fast and Easy Way to Get Information) • Veteran Concierge Services (Vet to Vet Student Follow Up) • Website (Continual update and added information) • Scholarships (Establish Boots to Books Scholarship Fund)