Each year the nation observes November 11 as a day to honor and remember its veterans. At George Mason University, the dedication to honoring and supporting the men and women who serve the country is a year-round effort. Mason prides itself on its commitment to those who have and continue to wear the uniform.
The Office of Military Services (OMS) at George Mason University was created in 2009 and has worked to create a safe, supportive, and educational transitional environment for the veterans, servicemembers, guardsman, reservists of the Mason community and their families. One factor that distinguishes Mason’s program from others is the focus on career services. Overall, Mason is the recipient of multiple “prestigious designations” that showcase its excellence in supporting veterans education as well as the military-related student population.
The M-VETS Program at Mason Law
Around 3,400 of Mason’s student population are veterans, servicemembers, or family members of veterans. OMS offers several programs to aid in the transition to higher education and becoming career-ready. The Battle Buddies and Military Alliance programs are two such efforts.
The Battle Buddies program has two levels: academic and professional. At the academic level, students new to a major/minor are paired with an upperclassmen student in that area. At the professional level, students with particular career interests are paired with professionals or experts in the field. The Military Alliance Program offers training to Mason staff members to be more understanding and supportive of military students.
In addition to the offerings of the Office of Military Services, the Scalia Law School has been offering Mason veterans and service members free legal assistance through the Mason Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic (M-VETS). The program enables law students to represent servicemembers and veterans in a variety of litigation and non-litigation matters free of cost.
There are several ways you can get involved with military and veteran support at George Mason University. There are a number of veteran-focused scholarships that can be donated to through the foundation and OMS. Additionally, a new partnership between Mason’s offices of Advancement and Government Relations and Virginia Secretary for Veteran’s and Defense Affairs, Admiral John Harvey has the Mason’s Veterans Initiative underway. For more information on the Mason’s Veterans Initiative and how to get involved, email Brock Field (bfield4@gmu.edu).