(L-R) MSGT Brown was joined on the field by Teri Kappler, SEFCU, his son Troy, wife Kim, Syracuse alumnus and NFL Hall of Famer Floyd Little, and Dr. Mike Haynie, Vice Chancellor of Veteran and Military Affairs.
Master SergeantMichael J. Brown (Air National Guard) and his family were in attendance at Syracuse University’s football game against ACC opponent Wake Forest University on Saturday, Sept. 12. At every home game, the Syracuse University Athletics Department and the Office for Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) honor a “Hometown Hero” and their family, recognizing their service and sacrifice to our nation and the Central New York community.
MSGT Brown entered the United States Navy in 1994 as a Fireman Recruit. He subsequently went on to serve as a SEABEE in the Naval Reserves and now serves as a Heavy Equipment Operator at the 174th Attack Wing, Air National Guard Hancock Field, Syracuse, N.Y. During his various enlistments, MSGT Brown served in four combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.
MSGT Brown was recognized by his unit for his admirable actions during a 2011 deployment to Afghanistan. During the deployment, MSGT Brown led a team of three airmen who extinguished a massive fire on Bagram Air Base and ultimately prevented the evacuation of 8,000 personnel to include the base hospital. For his heroic efforts, he was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal with VALOR.
In his civilian life, MSGT Brown is employed by the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier in North Syracuse, and he is a volunteer fireman holding positions of lieutenant, captain, and secretary with the Moyers Corners Volunteer Fire Department.
MSGT Brown was joined on the field by his wife, Kim, and son, Troy.
In 2013, I voluntarily separated from the Navy after six years on active duty as a rescue swimmer and helicopter crew chief. After leaving the Navy, I returned home to Syracuse, New York, to attend Syracuse University for my bachelor’s degree. From the beginning of my Naval service, I planned to get out after my first enlistment and use the GI Bill to earn my degree. After being accepted to SU, I got a couple of part time jobs to earn money and fill my time while I waited for school to start. As a non-traditional student, I focused all of my energy and time to finishing school as quickly as possible, but did not place any emphasis on future opportunities. In January of my second year at SU, I attended the 2015 Student Veterans of America National Conference. It turned out to be a life-changing experience. Attending the SVA Conference gave me the opportunity I was looking for to continue to serve and make a difference in my school.
So, you may ask, what exactly is the SVA? The Student Veterans of America (SVA) is a fairly new organization – established in 2008 – born from the lack of support in higher education for student veterans following their return from service. Since 2008, they have provided programs to help student veterans, advocated for veterans nationally, invested in research for student veterans and connected alumni. One of the most important missions of the SVA is to support the nearly 1,300 chapters registered around the country by offering guidance on establishing a successful chapter, holding leadership summits for chapter leaders, and providing financial support to chapters in need through grants and scholarships.
My first year of college, I studied hard and focused all my efforts on my academics. At the start of my second year, I considered joining Syracuse’s student veteran organization. Luckily for me, a spot opened from Syracuse to attend the SVA National Conference. From the beginning of the 2015 SVA National Conference, I felt welcomed but curious to see where this new path would lead me. The National Conference is a gathering of SVA chapters from all over the country to learn how to improve their chapter in the future, network with other veterans and organizations, and hear speakers who support veterans. This year was particularly exciting because the keynote speakers included United States Vice President and Syracuse Alum, Joseph Biden, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Robert McDonald, and Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, recipient of the Medal of Honor. The opportunity to see one of these individuals speak would have been a privilege, but to see all of them speak and share their experiences was truly inspiring.
After attending this exciting event, my goal of getting involved came to fruition in the spring of 2015 when I was elected to be the Vice President of the Syracuse University Student Veterans Organization. Alongside the President of our organization, Jordan Robinson, the work from our predecessors has continued and we are excited for what the future holds. However, as an organization, we cannot be successful without participation from the student veterans on campus. One of the major learning points from the SVA conference was that veterans have a foundation of skills they can use to be successful. The SVA, as well as student veteran organizations at each university or college, provides a unique environment for student vets to come together and help each other work through problems, like sharing advice on adjusting to college life, how to spend the weekends and even how to prepare for life after college.
My message is simple: student veteran organizations need their student veterans! If you are a Syracuse University student, I strongly urge you to step outside your bubble and come join us. Every person brings valuable knowledge, skills and new ideas to the table. If you are a student at a different college or university – get involved with your veteran’s organization. And if you do not have a veteran’s organization then this could be an amazing opportunity to lead the student veterans on your campus by starting a veteran’s organization. There are many resources available to help accomplish this, either by reaching out to the SVA or student organizations on other campuses. Student veterans have so much to offer their schools, communities and each other. Now is the time to step up and lead this generation of student veterans.
Dan is an intern with the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, and Vice President of the SU Student Veterans Organization. After serving six years in the U.S. Navy as a Rescue Swimmer, he returned to his hometown of Syracuse to continue his college education. He is currently a senior year at Syracuse University studying Health and Exercise Science. In his free time he enjoys living an active lifestyle by participating in and coaching CrossFit and spending quality time with his wife.
Major General Anthony L. Punaro is on the Advisory Board of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and also a military veteran. You should know his story because it’s a Syracuse University story—one that speaks to your past, our present, and our future.
Punaro was born and raised in Macon, Georgia, a city in central Georgia. Punaro left Georgia for his undergraduate degree, attending Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, where he received a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in English. Soon after graduation, Punaro entered the United States Marine Corps; his first deployment was to Vietnam, where he served as an Infantry Platoon Commander. While in Vietnam, he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
After his return to the US, Punaro went to Capitol Hill, working for Senator Sam Nunn (D-GA) on National Security matters. Punaro has 24 years of experience in national security legislation and policy, having served as Sen. Nunn’s Director of National Security Affairs, the Staff Director of the Armed Services Committee, and the Staff Director for the Minority. Throughout his time in the Senate chambers, Punaro has been involved in the formulation of all major military and intelligence legislation, in addition to being involved with the review of all major defense and intelligence activities.
In 1993, Punaro was mobilized for a second time, being assigned to Yugoslavia as Commander of Joint Task Force Provide Promise (Forward), which was a humanitarian relief effort (Operation Provide Promise) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. After his tour, Punaro returned to Capitol Hill, where he remained until 1997. Starting in 1997, Punaro worked at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) as a sector manager. Punaro was able to showcase his leadership skills and managerial expertise from his experience in the Marine Corps while at SAIC, which helped him gain new appointments as the Deputy President of the Federal Business Segment and then lead the SAIC’s Corporate Business Development organization. While at SAIC, he was in charge of all SAIC’s government affairs, worldwide communications, and their Small and Disadvantaged Business Office.
Punaro left SAIC in 2010 to found his own company, The Punaro Group, LLC, a Washington-based firm that specializes in government budget and market analysis, among many other activities. As CEO of the company, Punaro has been very active in Washington, both building his firm and also participating in Department of Defense activities. For example, Punaro was appointed as the Chairman of the Reserve Forces Advisory Board, which reports to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, the Defense Business Board, and the Chairman of the Statutory Commission on the National Guard and Reserves in 2005, just to name a few. Punaro has experienced a multitude of successes, having been selected by Defense News as one of the 100 most influential people in US Defense in 2012 and 2013.
Punaro still serves as the CEO of The Punaro Group, in addition to his role as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the National Defense Industrial Association. He also serves on a number of non-profit boards, including the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs’ Advisory Board, the Georgia Institute of Technology Sam Nunn School of International Affairs’ Board, and the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs Board of Visitors.
Anthony L. Punaro is an alumnus of Syracuse University and a veteran of the U.S. military. You should know his story.
Dan Piston, vice president Syracuse University’s Student Veteran Organization was recently recognized by Syracuse’s Honors Program as an exceptional student in the program. The full article can be viewed here:
Honors student Dan Piston (’16 ED) can tell you, it’s hard to find your niche in the civilian world when you leave the military. A supportive community is key to a successful transition. Dan served in the Navy from 2007 to 2013 as a helicopter crew chief. He served three deployments in Bahrain and was part of Operation Unified Response, which assisted Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.
One big question for veterans is how their skills will translate to the civilian sector. SU has helped Dan meet and network with other veterans in the same situation, and he has taken advantage of the many services offered on campus…
Driving home one night last week, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. It was a good day.
It was a good day, because it ended with an event at Syracuse University’s Schine Student Center, to welcome SU’s newest class of student veterans to campus.
It was a good day, because at that event resource providers from all over campus and the community – from student services, the library, the bookstore, career services, the health center, and even our local VA – came out to welcome the newest members of class of student veterans.
But more than all that, it was a good day because I had the opportunity to meet and learn about Syracuse University’s newest class of student veterans – an impressive, diverse, and motivated group of men and women, who will undoubtedly excel as students and members of our campus community.
But they will do more than just distinguish themselves…it wasn’t or isn’t just about them.
I often talk about how and why I believe that integrating veterans into our campus community will pay dividends for all our students. The foundation for this argument is a folder that I keep in my desk. In that folder are letters that I’ve accumulated over the past few years, from alumni who were students at Syracuse University in the 1950s and early 1960s. This correspondence shares in common a particular theme, which can be summarized by well by the following passage from just one of those letters:
“I came to SU in 1954 as an 18 year-old freshmen, and found myself living and studying with veterans of the WWII generation. They were mature, motivated, and worldly in a way that I was not. I am grateful to this day for that experience. It changed me for the better, and informed the person I’d become.”
Why was I driving home with a smile on my face?
Because my mind went right to this folder of letters, after talking last night to one of Syracuse University’s newest student veterans.
This particular student veteran is probably about 25 years old, and up until just a few weeks ago, he was a Sergeant and Squad Leader in the U.S. Army’s 1-32 Infantry Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, at Fort Drum, NY. He’s was a Distinguished Honor Graduate of the Army’s prestigious Warrior Leader Course, and has deployed all over the world – including to Afghanistan.
However at Syracuse University, this young man is all those things, and at the same time something different – he’s a freshman. He’s a freshman student, living in a freshman dorm, and living with a freshman (18 year-old) roommate.
When he told me he was living in a freshman dorm, he also shared that a few weeks ago someone from the student housing office called him, apologized for putting him in a freshman dorm, and offered him the opportunity to move to graduate student housing on South Campus. He said thanks, but declined the offer.
I asked him why? His response is why I went home smiling, and why I couldn’t wipe that smile off my face.
He said to me, ‘I’ve been leading 18 year-olds for as long as I’ve been in the Army. I figured I can do it here too.’
(L-R) OVMA Executive Director Ron Novack, Syracuse alumnus and NFL Hall of Famer Floyd Little, Staff Sergeant Gilliam Decker, his son Landon, wife Brenda, daughter Kaylee and Ramon Morales, SEFCU.
Staff Sergeant Gilliam K. Decker (U.S. Army) and his family were in attendance at Syracuse University’s Sept. 4th football home opener against Rhode Island. At every home game, the Syracuse University Athletics Department and the Office for Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) honor a “Hometown Hero” and their family, recognizing their service and sacrifice to our nation and the Central New York community.
SSG Decker entered the Unites States Army in 2004 as a 19 Delta, Cavalry Scout. He proudly served with the 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division for his first six years in the Army. SSG Decker has deployed to Iraq in support of four campaigns: Iraqi Governance, National Resolution, Iraqi Surge, and Iraqi Sovereignty.
The military accomplishment SSG Decker is most proud of was being selected over senior personnel within his unit to command an up-armored, gun truck, which he was responsible for driving over 200 military convoys across IED riddled roads in Iraq. For his combat performance, he was awarded the Combat Action Badge. In 2010, after Staff Sergeant Decker’s last deployment to Iraq, he became a U.S. Army Recruiter serving at Recruiting Command units in Wisconsin and Arkansas. He currently serves in the Syracuse Recruiting Battalion and resides in Baldwinsville, N.Y.
Syracuse University Army ROTC hosts Change of Authority ceremony
Photo: LTC Jason Warner (left), incoming SU Army ROTC PMS, passes the unit guidon to SFC Jensen, thus signifying the completion of the Change of Authority ceremony today. Looking on are Vice Chancellor Dr. Mike Haynie (center) and LTC Mike Bianchi (far right).
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (9/8/15) — The Syracuse University Army ROTC Program hosted a Change of Authority ceremony on Friday, September 4, to facilitate the change of leadership for the position of Professor of Military Science (PMS). The ceremony, which took place in the Hall of Languages, featured a presentation of flowers, a passing of the guidon to incoming PMS Lieutenant Colonel Jason Warner, and a retirement ceremony in recognition of outgoing PMS Lieutenant Colonel Michael A. Bianchi. It is customary during a change of authority ceremony to pass the guidon, a flag representative of the unit, from the outgoing leader to the incoming leader. This symbolic act is one of the oldest traditions of the profession of arms and continues to signify an exchange of command authority.
The outgoing professor, Lieutenant Colonel Michael A. Bianchi, was well known throughout the community as the backbone of the program and as a pillar for the traditions of the university in keeping with the highest standards. Throughout his 21 years of service, LTC Bianchi served in various key leadership positions throughout the Army to include: Blackhawk Platoon Leader, 158th Aviation Regiment, Biebelstadt, Germany; Brigade Adjutant and Company Commander, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY; Recruiting and Operations Officer, Syracuse University Army ROTC, Syracuse, New York; Embedded Training Team Chief, Combined Security Assistance Command 203rd Corps Afghan National Army, Afghanistan; Executive Officer, Recruiting Battalion, Syracuse, New York; and Professor of Military Science; Saint Bonaventure Army ROTC, Allegany, New York. His leadership, guidance and support were nothing short of exemplary and set the standard for the future Professor of Military Science to follow.
The incoming Professor of Military Science is Lieutenant Colonel Jason Warner. LTC Warner has served in various key leadership positions throughout the Army to include: Mechanized Infantry Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, and Squadron Maintenance Officer, 11th Armored Calvary Regiment, Fort Irwin, California; Division Support Command Intelligence Officer, Battalion Intelligence Officer, Battalion Operations Officer, Company Commander, and Assistant Intelligence Officer, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, New York; Analyst and Collection Manager, US Central Command, Tampa, Florida; Brigade Operations Officer, Battalion Executive Officer, and Deputy Directory for the Theater Ground Intelligence Center, 513th Military Intelligence Brigade, Fort Gordon, Georgia. G35 Future Operations Deputy Directory, Eighth Army, Seoul, Korea.
Syracuse University Vice Chancellor for Veteran and Military Affairs Dr. Michael Haynie acted as the higher authority in the ceremony, and facilitated the exchange of leadership. Dr. Haynie also issued a Certificate of Appreciation to LTC Bianchi on behalf of the President of the United States. Along with the presentation of the Change of Authority, LTC Bianchi was also awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for exceptional meritorious service while serving as the Professor of Military Science. The event concluded with a retirement ceremony for LTC Bianchi, followed by the playing of the Army Song. A brief reception followed for the cadets and leadership of the Army ROTC.
The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is a college elective that develops Leadership Skills in students as they prepare for Military Service. Army ROTC offers a commission as a second lieutenant in either the active Army or Reserve Forces in a variety of career fields including Combat Arms (Aviation, Armor, Artillery, Infantry, or Engineers), Combat Support, and Combat Service Support branches. There are two-, three-, and four-year scholarship programs available. Some cadets choose to join the National Guard or the Army Reserve while in Army ROTC, thus qualifying them for the Montgomery GI Bill benefits, in-state tuition (VANG) and other exciting benefits. Training with Army ROTC is a new experience every week. Training covers a wide range of skills that are needed to be an Officer in the Army. It includes Situational Training Exercises to teach and practice the different types of offensive operations and tactics used on the battlefield. Rappelling to teach the proper use of knots and to build confidence in cadet’s abilities to rappel. Land Navigation to learn the ins and outs of map reading and navigating the land with just a map and a compass. Combat Water Survival Test to test one’s abilities in the water during stressful situations. Physical Fitness 3 days a week to make sure cadets are in top shape to pass the Army Physical Fitness Test. Skiing/Snowboard once a year to give the battalion a little extra cohesiveness. There is also a Military Ball and Dining In to bring everyone in the battalion together to have some fun and bond outside of training. For more information, visit http://armyrotc.syr.edu.
The Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) serves as Syracuse University’s single point of entry for all veteran and military related programs and initiatives. It collaborates and coordinates with all stakeholders to best serve veterans, military connected students, and military family members who are students or employees at Syracuse University. For more information about the Office of Veteran and Military Affairs, visit https://veterans.syracuse.edu.
Syracuse University is steeped in historical commitments that serve our nation’s veterans. In 2014, Chancellor and President Kent Syverud reaffirmed SU’s commitment to become the best place for veterans. The Office of Veterans and Military Affairs was formed to spearhead this mission.
Syracuse has been a leader in education for veterans ever since we helped champion the 1944 G.I. Bill. Yet, we are more committed than ever to our veterans on campus, looking to provide you with a smooth transition from service into the classroom with a dedicated community of support.
Looking to take courses part-time, enroll in one of our traditional degree programs, or are being assigned to one of our military programs? Syracuse University is proud to have you as part of our community – we are devoted to providing you the support systems you need here on campus to succeed as an SU student.
