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Written by Dave Gaulin

I enrolled in the Master of Social Science program in 2004. As a young C-17 Globemaster III pilot, I was looking for a program that was challenging yet flexible.  My schedule was extremely unpredictable—it was not uncommon for me to travel overseas for two-to-three weeks at a time with only a day’s notice.  This did not lend itself to advanced degree programs that required scheduled online classes, hard deadlines, or frequent postings to online discussion groups—things that make up the core of many online and distance learning programs.  Whether I was on the ground in Afghanistan, flying at 35,000 feet between Japan and Hawaii, or anywhere in between, I was able to learn and complete coursework.

This is not to say there is no interaction with the MSSc.  The required residencies provide time to dive deep into issues and focus on learning alongside students from a variety of professions.  As someone who spent a large amount of time flying in Iraq, Afghanistan, and several other places around the world, it was refreshing to spend two weeks with high school teachers, elected officials, journalists, bankers, and engineers. No matter what your career or profession is, those two weeks are a fantastic academic break.

The faculty are devoted to teaching and supporting students. Each professor has been with the program for several years; many are founding members of the MSSc and are now in their fourth decade with the program. They interact with students not only during the residency but throughout the year.  Whether one has multiple graduate degrees or has not written a research paper in several decades, they can all expect to be critiqued, challenged, and made to be better writers and thinkers.

As an officer who spend the vast majority of their career rapidly moving around the world, I benefited from the global perspective that the MSSc provided.  Profs Bennett and Webb’s War and Society courses and Prof Barkun’s International Law course both complimented and challenged my knowledge and experience. Prof Pellow’s Africa course and her insightful lectures were in my mind a few years ago when I found myself in the middle of Africa, working with Chadian and French troops.  With the mentorship and guidance of Prof Bennett, I was able to explore the influence of political partisanship on civil-military relations, an issue as old as the republic yet continues to challenge our elected leadership, senior officers, and society as a whole.   

The MSSc is the most military friendly distance learning, limited residency program I have ever known.  It is designed with flexibility in mind and the understanding that coursework may need to take a back seat to real world issues now and then.  Unlike some of my peers, I never had to worry about failing a course due to a missed deadline (which can happen with last minute deployments) and did not need to fight a bureaucracy of administrators, registrars, and bursars (especially when tuition assistance or VA payments were held up).  I knew my professors and they knew me, they cared about my learning, and were genuinely concerned about my progression and success.

 

Dave Gaulin (A&S 2002, MSSc, 2007) served on active duty for 13 years, flying the C-17 Globemaster III. He is now a Major and pilot in the Air National Guard and works in the telecommunications industry.  Follow him @davegaulin 

Written by Steve Medeiros

Anchored by program flexibility, intellectual exploration and academic excellence, the Master of Social Science Program (MSSc) has been instrumental in my development to think critically within established social science fields and current societal challenges. As an officer of the Marines for twenty-eight years (retiring as a Colonel), my degree has afforded me an opportunity to frame, analyze and solve problem sets outside of a non-traditional framework. This is especially poignant in regions where I have served, the Pacific Rim and Central and South America.

The program’s flexibility is especially relevant to service members where duty station assignments are both various (CONUS and OCONUS) and multi-durational. I hold the academic leadership of the Maxwell School in high regard as they are the best in their field and inspire rigorous intellectual exploration in their students to achieve academic excellence. To this day, thirteen years after graduation, I still find myself recalling their teaching and counsel.

Steve Medeiros is a 2002 Graduate of the MSSc Program and served 28 years in the United States Marine Corps, retiring as a Colonel in 2013. Steve served in a variety of operational and staff assignments and his final assignment was the Commander, Marine Depot Maintenance Command (Albany, GA/Barstow, CA). He is currently the Lead Logistics Engineer for Wyle Laboratories in Stafford, VA.

Written by Meghavaty Suresh

‘Transition’ is an important term for every veteran and military connected individual. Transition is also applicable when a veteran in school takes that next big step – civilian employment. During the career networking luncheon for student veterans sponsored by EY, Macy’s, IBM and GE held on campus at Syracuse University, executives from prestigious multi-national firms, many of whom veterans themselves, spoke to the military and veteran community here at Syracuse about the nuts and bolts of making that transition from education to employment.

Here are four pieces of advice that every student veteran looking at entering careers outside of military service should hear:

 

Know Your Value

“Veterans bring a distinct character and a set of experiences and credentials that they need to know that they bring because it’s a difficult transition from the military to civilian life. So, if they are able to say that here’s the characteristics, values, experiences, and leadership that I bring to the organization then there’s value no matter what.” – Larry Iwanski, Executive Director, EY.

EY has a dedicated careers resource page for military and veterans.

 

Don’t Undersell Yourself

“If you want to work for a financial firm, you don’t have to have majored in finance. What you have to do is know a little about the industry and do your research about the firm and what is happening in the market before your interview. Don’t undersell yourself. You don’t have to blend in, you want to stand out. Every company looks for the same things – are you curious, personable, and intellectual and are you ambitious?” – Derek Meitzer, Sales and Analytics, Bloomberg.

Bloomberg places emphasis on military and veteran hiring and it is an integral part of the Bloomberg culture. Here’s their dedicated military and veteran page.

 

Remember Your Unique Advantage

“The value veterans bring to a job in a non-military organization is based on skills and experiences that aren’t taught anywhere else. It’s absorbed during their time in the military. That should always be remembered.” – James Noonan, Program Manager, IBM.

IBM constantly partners with the military and has a wide number of opportunities within their global eco-system for veterans.

 

Leverage Your Relationships

“It’s about figuring out what your abilities are and aligning your skillsets to the job and career path that you’re looking to head in. Leverage your relationships when you’re trying to get your foot into the door. That’s always an advantage.” – Tricia Moody, Director Talent Acquisition, First Data.

First Data actively hires veterans and military connected individuals including military spouses and are looking to double their veteran recruiting efforts this year.

 

Meghavaty Suresh is a Graduate Assistant at IVMF currently pursuing a Master of Science in New Media Management from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. She holds a Master’s in Management and Bachelor’s in Commerce from Mumbai University.

Written by Colonel Erik K. Rundquist

As a proud alumnus of the Syracuse University Maxwell School’s Master of Social Science (MSSc) program, I had the pleasure of studying under a faculty that was highly engaged, diverse in thought, and extremely responsive to my needs. While these are characteristics that exemplify most academic programs, I am no ordinary student. Syracuse University professors have stayed joined at my hip while on combat deployments throughout the world. I was deployed several times to the Balkans and Iraq as a squadron commander (leading 300 people) and to Afghanistan as a Group Commander (leading 2,500 people). In all environments, I had extremely narrow windows of opportunity where I could access my computer, engage with a Syracuse instructor or staff member, and then proceed with my paper-writing and research. In fact, Professor Stephen Webb and Ms. Lydia Wasylenko were literally helping me conduct academic research as my base in Afghanistan was getting rocketed by insurgents! The responsiveness and flexibility of the staff is absolutely second to none.

 

The Maxwell School has both personally and professionally prepared me to operate in extremely high levels of government service. For instance, I was on the Secretary of Defense staff as a senior military antiterrorism officer where I regularly engaged with the Department of State, ambassador staffs, Congressional liaisons, and senior officers. In addition, I was selected as a National Defense Fellow to Boston University where I researched and published articles on the Russian military, plus I was recently published a chapter in a book centered on defending airfields in a counterinsurgency environment. In all cases, I directly attribute the positive academic feedback I received from Professors Deborah Pellow and David Bennett on how to structure arguments, conduct effective research, and present information at the postgraduate level to my success.

 

Finally, when one examines Maxwell’s MSSc program – it truly attracts members of the Departments of Defense, State, Justice, and Homeland Security, not to mention a wide array of international students, non-governmental employees, educators, and businessmen. These were my colleagues and fellow students and we all shared a bond of being fully engaged in socially vital areas, while learning together through Maxwell’s program. I am absolutely convinced this program has been critical to my personal success, and the dedication and example set by both Syracuse University and its instructors have instilled a desire for me to teach after my active military service has come to an end. I am proud to be associated with this important academic program!

 

The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Government, the Department of Defense, or the Department of the Air Force.

 

Colonel Erik K. Rundquist is Chief of Security Forces, Headquarters, Air Combat Command. In this position, he is responsible for security, law enforcement, antiterrorism, force protection and integrated defense across the Major Command. Colonel Rundquist was born at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri and received a regular commission upon graduation from the United States Air Force Academy in May 1991. He has served in various duty positions to include group commander, squadron commander, MAJCOM division chief, joint staff officer, operations officer, and ground combat instructor. He has deployed on several contingencies to include supporting the United Nations Protection Force in the Balkans, Operations ALLIED FORCE and SHINING HOPE in Albania and Kosovo, DETERMINED RESPONSE (USS Cole) in Yemen, ENDURING FREEDOM in Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan, and IRAQI FREEDOM where he conducted an operational combat jump into Bashur, Iraq with the 173rd Airborne Brigade. He commanded security forces at Tallil, Iraq, was the J7 for the Combined Joint Special Operations Air Component Command at Balad, Iraq, and commanded the 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group and Joint Task Force 1/455 at Bagram and Parwan Province, Afghanistan.

Written by Ryan Rabac

In recent years the Department of Veterans Affairs has seen dramatic growth in the need for social workers to care for returning veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Complex issues like traumatic brain injuries, physical disabilities, and Post-Traumatic Stress make for meaningful careers for social workers specializing in care for veterans.

The Bachelor of Science in Social Work and the Master of Social Work program at the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics train students to respond to medical crises, substance abuse, domestic violence, homelessness, and many other areas of the human experience that trouble our nation’s veterans. The school’s proximity to a VA Medical Center consistently top-five in patient satisfaction and to Fort Drum, Northern New York’s largest employer, make it easy for the Falk College to integrate its program with veteran and military care.

The Syracuse VA Medical Center employs 70 social workers and many of them are Syracuse University alumni. This connecting between the campus and the VA allows for several internship placements every year for those interested in serving those who have served.

Military families face challenges as well when loved ones are away on deployments, or when they return home and must readjust to civilian life. The field of social work allows for the provision of care for a multitude of the physical and behavioral struggles of human life.

Veterans are not just found at the VA. A social work education that has a component of understanding the military experience is likely to help a social worker prepare for many career paths.

The Bachelor of Science program combines social work studies with liberal arts and social, behavioral, and natural sciences. The Master of Social Work program is two-years and 60 credits, but students who hold a Bachelors degree in Social Work can enroll in an accelerated curriculum. There is also a three-year combined program to earn both a Master of Social Work and Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy. Learn more about admissions at the Falk College here.

Veterans looking to continue their education should consider all of the undergraduate and graduate programs offered by a school committed for over 70 years to serve those who have served. To learn more about what makes Syracuse University is the best college for veterans, visit www.veterans.syracuse.edu.

 

Ryan Rabac is an Executive Assistant at the Syracuse University Office of Veterans and Military Affairs currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree at the Maxwell School. He holds a B.S. in Political Science and Social Science (May 2014) from Florida State University.

Written by Meghavaty Suresh

 

Meet Lee Buttolph.

Lee is currently a grad student pursuing a Master’s in Entrepreneurship at the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University. He served in the Marine Corps and spent many months out of the country in Iraq. When he returned home he decided to step into his family business, ultimately becoming an entrepreneur when he bought the firm from his father. In 2014, Lee decided it was the right time to sell the business. He made up his mind to come back to school and explore the unexplored.

 

If you’ve ever wondered how a day in the life of a student veteran goes by, here is an inside look:

6:00 am – Lee says he tries to look at his time at grad school like he is working a normal job. He comes into school early, between six and seven in the morning, and starts getting his work done. He compares it to when people head into their office early to get a head start when all is quiet around the office. If there is any reading or any assignments to be completed, that is his time to tackle it without the usual buzz around school. In a couple of hours the place will burst into a flurry of student activity and it is rush hour from then on.

 

8:00 am – The first of Lee’s classes starts at 8 sharp. From then until 2 there is a constant drone of feet on the various floors of school of students running from one class to another and Lee is one of them. He usually has about four classes that go on for about an hour and a half each. A typical class at the management school is comprised of interactive discussions, real life case studies and examples, and a lot of student feedback. Lee says his class in particular is a tight-knit one and they often sit down and talk about different topics. Everyone learns from each other and according to Lee all of his classmates have great ideas and unique perspectives.

 

2:00 pm – After morning classes are done, Lee gets a breather from about 2 to 6:30. Even though it is technically free time, he uses it to meet with his different project groups, work on assignments and occasionally meet with professors. Somewhere in between he tries to sneak in some dinner.

 

6:30 pm – Lee’s three-hour-long class starts now. Lee says that the dynamic in his class is great. Being a student veteran and a little older than the average age in class, the learning is different on many levels. While a lot of the students are learning concepts for the first time, Lee pretty much knows the basics since he has served in the military and run a business. Now he says he gets more time to think about the foundation of concepts and dive into the details of what is being presented in class which is eye-opening on many levels.

 

The end of the day brings with it a sense of achievement that is unique to graduate school. It is a lot of learning and thinking, but also the exchange of experiences and the application of concepts to real world scenarios.

 

Lee is a student veteran at the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University pursuing a Master’s in Entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship at the Whitman School of Management is highly ranked nationally. The Master of Science in Entrepreneurship (MSE) degree prepares students to become leaders of one of 2.4 million veteran-owned businesses employing 5.8 million people, with four focus areas: Social, Corporate, Family Business, and New Ventures. The deadline for applying to the program is April 19. | Download informational handout

 

Veterans looking to continue their education should consider Syracuse University’s graduate management degrees designed with veterans in mind as well as all of the undergraduate and graduate programs offered by a school committed for over 70 years to serve those who have served.

 

Meghavaty Suresh is a Graduate Assistant at IVMF currently pursuing a Master of Science in New Media Management from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. She holds a Master’s in Management and Bachelor’s in Commerce from Mumbai University.