Page 8 Women in Higher Education (www.wihe.com) / December 2014 By Arian Adducchio M any men and women join the military for the educational opportunities that come from enlistment Students seek to utilize the tuition assistance, housing stipends and other resources earned during service, as a means to fulfill their aca- demic and professional goals after their military career Women make up an even more specific group contribut- ing to roughly a quarter of enrolled service member and veteran students (Hamrick, Florence A, Corey B Rumann, and Associates, Eds, Called to Serve: A Handbook on Stu- dent Veterans and Higher Education, Jossey-Bass, 2013) It is important for those in higher education to recognize this specific population’s needs and perspectives in order to best facilitate their success What makes women veterans different? Women experience a series of transitions because they adopt so many identities: First they are resocialized in the mil- itary for maximum effectiveness, then must reacclimate upon return to civilian life, and as they enter college, and they will then have to assume the additional persona of college student A woman’s identity is challenged: “when women vet- erans re-enter civilian life, they are often unsure of how to fulfill not only their specific role as a student but also their role as a woman” (Ackerman, Robert and David DiRamio, Eds, Creating a Veteran-Friendly Campus: Strategies for Tran- sition and Success, Jossey-Bass 2009; p 40) Women will typically have more success when they are able to make connections and communicate with their peers, but they are also the least likely to initiate those positive relationships (DiRamio, David and Katheryn Jarvis, Veterans in Higher Education: When Johnny and Jane Come Marching to Campus) It is important to consider this perspective when attempting to connect with and assist these students as an intrinsic component of their academic success Recognizing the many mental and physical conditions that impact women in the military greatly benefits their transition to civilian and student life Female veterans can experience issues pertaining to “mental health, sexual assault and gender identity, [which] may influence how women veterans make the transition into the higher educa- tion environment” (Ackerman and DiRamio 2009, p 36) Women must augment and change their behavior, appearance, and even how they mentally identify them- selves in an attempt to better blend with their new environ- ment and companions in the military It is critical to understand that not all difficulties stem from horrific experiences and/or specific moments of trauma Even among women who are in other ways con- sidered unscathed, issues regarding how they perceive their identity can have a huge impact on their behavior and success in the classroom What women veterans bring with them Upon coming to college, these students are well-equipped for many of the demands they’ll find in the classroom due to their training: deadlines, leadership, and public speaking, among other things They will find academic success if they are able to capitalize on these strengths while being given the opportunity to share with their peers Some women will prefer to not draw unnecessary scru- tiny in the classroom, and many will prefer to socialize only with those students’ having the same military traumas and experiences (DiRamio 2009 p 75) If we can provide these students with resources and opportunities to connect and be involved of their own accord, they will be better equipped to transition and ulti- mately be more successful in acclimating to college life How can faculty and staff help? If faculty and staff can become more aware of the militaris- tic socialization and experiences these students have under- gone, they will be able to have a more informed and compre- hensive assessment of the students’ capabilities in and out of the classroom, for this conditioning begins immediately upon entering the military, and has long-lasting impacts By using these recommendations, institutions can help stu- dents in this transition For women specifically, when faculty and staff recognize and appreciate their unique perspectives, they can better address women’s needs While they would not want to be isolated or marginalized as a special population from their peers, accommodations can still be made for them to connect with other female service members and veteran stu- dents Creating a forum and “safe space” for them to interact and engage will promote their success both academically and in readjustment to civilian life All service members specifically benefit from systems with clear lines of communication and organization, and so will women veterans In an environment that is both understanding and accepting, these students will be more receptive to self-identifying and utilizing the help and resources that exist on campus In turn, the students will be able to help their fellow service members’ transition Further research and study needs to be done to gain more information on how we can better equip our cam- puses to better assist this special population Also, we need to examine the current practices and identify opportuni- ties for growth and make these students a priority Such changes would significantly assist not only women but all service members Colleges need to create opportunities for service mem- bers to be proactive and in charge of their transition Through understanding and perspective, we can help them acclimate to college, and they in turn can help their peers making the same transition Arian Adducchio is an academic advisor and the coordinator for prior learning assessment and individualized programs at Sinclair Community College She is also the member manager for the Ohio Academic Advising Association She have been researching best practices for veteran and service member students institutionally and at the state level for more than a year and is excited to see the recent surge in focus and resources for these students Adducchio can be reached at arianadducchio@sinclairedu IN HER OWN WORDS Woman, Civilian, Veteran, Student: The Multifaceted Identity of Female Service Members