Chara Vincelette-Perocchi has joined CCV in a newly created position, Student Resources Advisor for Veterans. She will support the veterans’ advisors currently at each of the 12 academic centers, but a special focus of this part-time position is to help Vermont veterans navigate the complicated system of agencies and resources statewide.
Q. What do you think is the greatest challenge veterans face when they return to school?
A. For soldiers returning to school, the greatest challenge is often the adjustment to a different pace-they were running at 110 percent all the time, and now life is physically slower. But things are more challenging mentally – they are juggling family, job, and transitioning into a classroom setting.
Q. What do you think returning Vets need most right now?
A. Returning veterans are worried about jobs. Nationally, unemployment is higher among veterans, and in Vermont it’s estimated that 30 percent of the soldiers returning from Iraq or Afghanistan come home to no job. They need to be confident that there are resources available if they have issues, to know where to go for help when they worry about supporting themselves or their family, or how to get help with the complicated paperwork involved in transitioning. I can help with these things. If I don’t know the answer, I know where to go to get answers.
Q. Do you think things are harder now for returning veterans?
A. Yes. I’ve been gone before for long stretches, but it was different coming back this time. For a lot of us coming home there are no jobs waiting. It’s coming back to “What’s next?” For some soldiers, those who are unable to find a job, the veterans’ benefits package might make education a good path to pursue right now.