Posted by Dr. James Bender on November 18, 2010
Doc Bender on top of the Ziggurat of Ur in Southern Iraq, in February 2009.
Dr. James Bender recently returned from Iraq after spending 12 months as the brigade psychologist for the 4-1 CAV out of Ft Hood. He served for four and a half years in the Army. During his deployment, he traveled through Southern Iraq, from Basra to Baghdad and many spots in between. He writes a monthly post for the DCoE Blog on mental health issues related to deployment and being in the military.
A few months ago, I was involved in a TV production entitled “The Cost of Freedom” at Montgomery College in Maryland. It was primarily about the experiences of vets from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, how the wars have affected them and their families, and what happens once they return home. For some vets, that means attending college.
In the past, many colleges weren’t prepared to handle some of the challenges that military students face – the adjustment to civilian life. Thankfully, this is changing. Many colleges now are in a far better position to deal with the unique needs of military students. They have special assistance to help with everything from making sense of GI Bill paperwork to getting connected with social and sports clubs.