The Veteran Community at UConn is an open, welcoming, supportive community of people who have sacrificed in service to our great nation. The Veteran Community encompasses nearly 1,500 students, staff and faculty who are:
• Current Active Duty military and members of any of the uniformed services
• Current members of the Air or Army National Guard
• Current active or inactive Reservists of any of the armed services
• Those who have previously served in any capacity in the uniformed services
• Spouses, children, and any other dependents of any current or prior member of the uniformed services

The University of Connecticut waives the application fees for veterans and those currently serving in the military, for both the undergraduate application and the graduate school application. Please refer to the website for Undergraduate Admissions or the Graduate School for more information.

Click Here to view the Husky Vet Gazette In particular we want to highlight the following articles:

• Vets Rock November 2nd @ Mohegan Sun
• Cigna info Session @ Storrs Oasis
• Beginning of the seasonal care package drive
• Hartford Campus Veterans Day activities
• Vocational Rehab. Counselors at Hartford - Sept. 25th
• And much more . . . .

If you would like to be added to the email distribution list when each issue of the Husky Vet Gazette is posted, register your email here (visitors welcome).

Important Updates: National Guard & State Veterans Tuition Waiver and NEW FORM D, AMENDED FORM D, and STATE VETERANS TUITION WAIVER FORMS

Since May Term 2017, both the National Guard tuition waiver and the State Veterans tuition waiver can be used for ALL academic terms (including summer and winter sessions). Also, they can both be used for all approved degree and certificate programs. More information about eligibility requirements and how to apply for these tuition waivers can be found under “Benefits” and the “National Guard & State Veterans Tuition Waiver”

The Office of Veterans Affairs & Military Programs at UConn is pleased to honor Benjamin Buchanan as our Veteran of the Month for November 2018.  Benjamin Buchanan served two years in the Navy, mostly on the USS Wasp (LHD-1) as a firefighter, or as the picture shows, a member of "Crash.”

While attending UConn, Benjamin is also currently serving as a mentor for the section of First Year Experience (FYE) Class that is specifically for student Veterans at UConn.  As a FYE mentor Ben is able to share his own experiences as a student and give tips and guidance to fellow student Veterans.  When Ben got out of the Navy he knew he wanted to do something that would allow him to help others.  He felt that studying Computer Science could allow him to create something he could share worldwide. His own transition to UConn was tough.  Being older than many of the other students, and even some of the TA’s or professors on-campus, Ben felt a little out of place.  On top of that, Ben found the material in college was a lot tougher to learn then the typical Navy “memorize and regurgitate” tests.  Once he started going to the Veterans Oasis regularly and participated in some of the events, Ben learned that he could find the same camaraderie from the Service at UConn.

Ben shares that what he enjoys most about UConn is the ability to make the experience his own and having the support on-campus he needs.  He hated being bound by countless rules when he served in the Navy.  Thus, Ben really appreciates having the freedom at UConn to make his experience his own.  Ben says the support he get from UConn comes in two ways: The resources in the Office of Veterans Affairs & Military Programs (VAMP) and the support from other Veterans at UConn.  The staff in VAMP gave Ben the information about Chapter 31 VA Benefits, in addition to providing space for studying and relaxing.  VAMP also helped Ben learn about other VA Benefits, not related to the educational benefits.  Most importantly, Ben shares the support from other Veterans is simply amazing.  “I found that often times other vets have gone through the same classes I am, or have similar life situations . . . . The openness and willingness to help is something very rare.”

If you would like to nominate a student, faculty, or staff member for “Veteran of the Month,” please contact Nikki Eberly at Nikki.eberly@uconn.edu with the name of the person and reasons for your nomination.