Welcome to the new website of the Student Veterans Association at USF. You do not have to be a veteran to join this club. All USF students are welcome to become members and any nonUSF persons are welcome to attend our events.
Our meetings are every Tuesday at 5pm in SOC 132 at the USF Tampa Campus.
This site is still under construction. Please be patient!
We are seeking to change current legislation that deals with veterans residency status at FL universities. The petition is being created to allow all veterans in the state of FL to get in-state tuition costs regardless of their residency status. The GI Bill only covers up to the highest in-state tuition cost and that leaves a large amount unpaid for if a veteran is from out of state. USF is the only state university in FL that has the Yellow Ribbon program which should take care of this problem, however, this is not always the case. Each academic department can name its price for the VA to match and this amount may not be enough to cover the rest of the out-of-state tuition cost. There are also a limited number of spots available for this program and a veteran must have 100% of the post 9/11 GI Bill to qualify for a spot. We are teaming up with USF Student Government, other Student Veterans of America chapters in FL, and other veterans organizations in FL to get this bill passed in Tallehassee, and hopefully will start something nation-wide as well.
We the Student Veterans Association (SVA) at the University of South Florida are petitioning for a change in the current Florida legislation that requires all applicants at Florida higher education facilities to be a resident of the state for at least one year, prior to being accepted as a resident applicant. Our goal is to create a petition and have legislation passed that will allow all veterans who apply, and are accepted by a Florida higher education facility, to be treated as a resident if they have been other than a dishonorably discharged.
If you have any comments or suggestions please contact the committee members below.
Scholarship Committee Members:
Doug Jordan (douglas.jordan@us.army.mil)
Will Boland (wboland@mail.usf.edu)
Rodrick Colbert (rcolbert@mail.usf.edu)
Mike Johnson (majohns6@mail.usf.edu).
Secretary Shinseki Announces Ability to Sign Up for Emergency Education Benefit Payments on VA Web-Site Friday, Oct. 2
Van Transportation to Help Veteran-Students
WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki today announced further outreach to Veteran-students eligible for a special emergency payment of their education benefits. Veterans can now apply online beginning Oct. 2. Veteran-students can also request courtesy transportation to VA regional benefits offices.
“Our Veterans went the extra mile for their country,” Shinseki said. “One of our top priorities in transforming VA is to be, first and foremost, the advocate for Veterans.”
Last week Shinseki announced that on Friday, Oct. 2, VA’s 57 regional benefits offices will begin providing on-the-spot emergency payments up to $3,000 to students who have applied for their education benefits but who have not yet received a government payment.
Citing the distance many Veterans would have to travel to apply in person at a VA benefits office, Shinseki announced Veterans can also apply online at www.va.gov, starting Oct. 2. The online application will guide Veterans through the process to supply needed information. Shinseki noted that online applicants will receive their emergency payments through the mail after processing.
“VA is adapting to meet the financial needs of our Veteran-students who are on campus,” Shinseki said. “They should be focusing on their studies, not worrying about financial difficulties.”
Students without their own transportation can also request free van service, provided by volunteers, to carry them to the nearest benefits office. To obtain this service, Veterans would have to call their nearest VA medical center and ask for the “Volunteer Transportation Coordinator.” Transportation will be on a first-come, first-served, space-available basis. Veterans can find a map and list of medical centers at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=1.
Whether traveling by personal vehicle or volunteer van, VA officials suggest students check their mail boxes and banking accounts before leaving home, since some Veterans will find their checks have already arrived. VA would like to recognize the volunteers and Veterans Service Organizations for partnering with the Department to ensure that Veterans’ needs are met.
The emergency checks are an advance on each student’s education benefits, and the amount will be deducted from future benefits payments. Checks will be written at the regional offices for Veterans who bring a photo ID and evidence of their enrollment. VA officials emphasize that $3,000 is the maximum payment, with many Veterans receiving smaller payments based upon their likely monthly education benefits.
A map and list of the participating VA regional benefits offices is available on the Internet at http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=3. The most updated information regarding VA issuing emergency checks will be available at VA’s web site www.va.gov starting Oct. 1.
Applications from approximately 25,000 Veterans are currently being processed for Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefit payments to students or schools.
Title: 2nd Annual Veterans Memorial Road Race
Location: USF Sundome
Link out: Click here
Description: $20 per person
8am – 10K begins
9am – 5K begins
10am – The 1 mile Fun Run begins
All proceeds go to benefits the Fisher House, Haley’s Cove, and the VA Athletic Programs.
Start Time: 08:00
Date: 2009-11-08
Title: Tenoroc Shooting Range
Location: 3755 Tenoroc Mine Rd. Lakeland, 33805
Link out: Click here
Description: On 12 September SVA will be hosting a Historic Weapons Familiarization and BBQ at Tenoroc Range. (www.tenoroc.us), near Lakeland FL.
Be there at 0800. Start firing rifles at 0900. Start firing pistols at 1100.
Cost $5/person for range access. $20/person for ammo.
The weapons that we will be familiarizing with are:
Rifles-
M1 Garand 2 clips (16 rounds) US
M1 Carbine 1 mag (15 rounds) US
AK 74 (15 rounds) Soviet
AK 47 (15 rounds) Soviet
Mauser (5 shots) German
Lee Enfield (5 shots) English
Springfield (5 shots) US
Pistols-
M1911 (1 Mag) US
Tokorev (8 shots) Soviet
Makarov (10 shots) Soviet
Additionally there will be 2-.22 pistols and 2-.22 rifles that people can shoot all they want we were given 5000 rounds. As a special option for an additional $5 participants will be able to shoot.
There will be safety instruction before firing, and a few safety officers observing the firing. So if you are a beginner or have never shot before dont worry. There will also be hotdogs, hamburgers, and drinks for sale at the range.
Be advised: Our maximum capacity is 50ppl for this event. So if you plan to bring friends/family make sure you RSVP prior to the event.
Start Time: 08:00
Date: 2009-09-12
Welcome to the Student Veterans Association website at USF.