Join KPBS in a conversation with experts, veterans, and families impacted by the Afghanistan War. KPBS Military Reporter Steve Walsh moderates. Panelists include:
Quil Lawrence | NPR Veterans Correspondent
Gretchen Catherwood | Gold Star Parent
James Seddon | Afghanistan War Veteran, US Navy
Farhat Popal | Immigrant Affairs Manager, City of San Diego; Immigrant Advocate
This event is sponsored by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a major funder of the American Homefront Project. American Homefront is a collaboration between NPR and seven public radio stations that looks at veterans and the military.
THE MODERATOR
Steve Walsh is the military and veterans reporter for KPBS. He spent a large portion of his career as a print reporter for the Times of Northwest Indiana and the Post-Tribune in Gary, Indiana. At the Post-Tribune, he was embedded in Iraq twice. As KPBS’ military and veterans reporter, he contributes to the American Homefront Project, a collaboration of public radio stations that looks at veterans and the military.
Dear AU Military-Connected Community and Afghan friends
Please join for this timely event featuring our an AU-SOC Professor & filmmaker, Bill Gentile.
Stories From the Heart of Afghanistan and America’s Longest War
Sunday, August 29th at 2:00 pm ET
This panel discussion brings together the untold stories of Afghan families torn apart by decades of conflict, and two journalists who covered the wars that left Afghanistan in pieces. This panel discussion is about the human cost of war.
Panelists Include: Bill Gentile, journalist and professor; Bob Nickelsberg, photojournalist; Rohila, displaced Afghan citizen; Rahman Nawroz, displaced Afghan citizen
Section 3, Calendar & Spotlight: Deadlines, events, and a warm welcome to the newest member of the American University Military-Connected Club Team, Kai Suherwan
Did you already submit your Request for Certification to the American University Veterans Services Office? If so, then you are on track to receive your VA education benefits in a timely manner. Please be advised that certifications will not be processed until after the add/drop deadline. This is to account for any changes in enrollment that could impact your benefit payment rate.
Are you seeing an amount due on your student account?
Don’t Panic! If you submitted your Request for Certification for Chapter 33 (Post-9/11) or Chapter 31 (VR&E) benefits, your VA education benefits are pending approval and will be dispersed in a timely manner. Please be advised that certifications will not be processed until after the add/drop deadline. This is to account for any changes in enrollment that could impact your VA benefits eligibility. It also means that you should expect to receive your first payment around the 6th and 8th week of the semester. The VA payment will either be sent to you directly or to your student account, depending on VA education benefit type. For more information on VA education benefits, check out these helpful FAQs about different types of Veterans education benefits.
If you are already covered under a health insurance plan and are attending American University as a full-time student, you can login to the Academic Health Plans student portal to waive American University’s mandatory health insurance fee. The deadline to submit a waiver for the 2021-2022 academic year is September 17, 2021. Visit here to obtain proof of insurance under Tricare in order to submit a Health Insurance Waiver. If you are receiving Chapter 33 – Post 9/11 GI Bill® Benefits, you can also request to use your education benefits to cover the cost of the health insurance fee. Please note, this amount will be deducted from your GI Bill cap. Please email veterans@american.edu to include your health insurance charge in the tuition and fees amount requested from the VA.
While the American University Veterans Services team has expanded our office hours by adding a virtual component for your convenience, we recognize that Zoom meetings can be exhausting and less personal. That is why we will be resuming in-person office hours this Fall! Be advised that in-person meetings will be limited to Tuesdays and Fridays for the Fall semester. An appointment is required. We are still hoping to resume our Virtual Office hours as well, facilitated by our wonderful student work-study team. For more information on office hours dates and times, follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
Did you miss the Veterans’ Lounge?
Well, we have good news for you! The Veterans Lounge will reopen this Fall 2021 semester. The Veterans’ Lounge is located next to AU Central – Veteran Services office in 201 Asbury building. The Veterans’ Lounge is designated for all military-affiliated students. If you have completed a Request for Certification For Fall 2021 and/or are part of our Military-Connected Club, you have been given access to the Veterans Lounge. If you still need access, please email veterans@american.edu from your AU email. Access to the Veterans’ Lounge is typically granted in 24 hours.
Knowledge Article of the Month
What is the VA 6 Credit Hour Exclusion and how is it different from mitigating circumstances?
The American University Veterans Services team is excited to welcome students back to campus! Still, we recognize that returning to in-person classes will not be without its challenges. Luckily, Veterans Affairs offers two options for students that might need to drop one or more classes without disrupting the continued receipt of their education benefits or penalizing the student with an incurring debt.
So, what is the 6-hour credit exclusion?
Well, the VA permits students to continue to receive benefits relevant to their enrollment after dropping up to 6-credit hours and up to the date they dropped classes where the student received non-punitive grades (“W’). What this means is that the VA will grant a one-time exclusion and no questions asked (proof of mitigating circumstances do not need to be provided), where the VA will pay for the dropped course from the date the course began until the date they were dropped by the student after the deadline of the university or program (whichever is applicable). This is not to be interpreted as the VA paying for the courses in full up to 6 credit hours. The VA will pay for the portion of the courses the student completed and the student will be billed for the portion that was not. If you’re dropping less than 6 Credit hours, the exclusion will only be granted for the amount of credits dropped and your one-time exclusion is used. The “unused” credits do not roll over for another time.
Ok. So what happens if you need to drop credit hours beyond the 6-credit hour exclusion policy?
Dropping credits beyond the 6-credit hour exclusion is where the mitigating circumstances provision may apply. This provision works the same as the 6-credit hour exclusion in terms of payments (the VA only paying for the portion of what was completed and billing the student for what was not) however the distinction is that the provision requires proof of mitigating circumstances before it is approved, and VA payments can be dispersed. A few examples of what the VA would deem mitigating circumstances are death in the family, severe sickness or illness, unforeseen change in employment, unavoidable geographical transfer. These are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
September Calendar
Don’t miss these important deadlines and upcoming events!
September 5, 2021 (6:30 – 7:30 PM EST)
First general body meeting of the American University Military Connected Club held on Zoom. This meeting occurs the first Sunday of every month. Meeting Zoom Link
September 5, 2021 (8:00 PM EST)
Open discussion for student members of the American University Military Connected Club. This is a monthly event! To request membership to the American University Military Connected Club, visit the Office of Campus Life’s “Engage” platform. You can also follow the Military Connect Club on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
September 6, 20201
Labor Day! American University Veterans Services Office will be closed and will resume normal services on September 7, 2021.
September 13, 2021
Last day to drop a fall course for a 100% refund and without a “W” recorded. This date is especially important for students using VA education benefits, since our office will start certifying students’ benefits after this date for students in programs at AU’s main campus. For guidance on the add/drop period for other academic programs (i.e., online programs) visit American University’s Calendar of Events.
Special Event
Mark your calendar!
Army Contracting Command – INSCOM is registered to attend the Career Fair at American Universiy on September 23, 2021. Army Contracting Command – INSCOM is made up of mostly Army Civilian Employees along with some Active Duty Soldiers. It also has a large number of former Active Duty Soldiers working in the organization now as Army Civilians.
Feel free to reach out to Jeff Martin, Supervisory Human Resources Analyst at: Jeffrey.p.martin.civ@mail.mil with any questions.
AU Veterans Spotlight
Kai Yuen Suherwan Communications Director, American University Military Connected Club
Kai Yuen Suherwan grew up in Singapore and served in the Singapore Army, as part of his national service. He now attends American University and is enrolled in the School of International Studies. He is extremely passionate about helping the Veteran community and is especially looking forward to his new position as social media director for the American University Military Connected Club. Kai’s passion for assisting the American University Military Connected Club stems from his hope that American University’s military-connected students feel a sense of inclusion and appreciation that he was not afforded. He’s the youngest but among the brightest of the American University Military Connected Club’s leadership team. We’re very grateful for his communications and social media skills. Kai plays an essential role, working tirelessly for all members of the American university Military Connected Club. The club’s President, Jennifer Thurston, has expressed much praise for Kai and says “I can’t imagine where we’d be without him. Thank you, Kai!”
Volunteer to help sort and process donations for the Afghanistan Youth Relief Foundation this weekend! In partnership with the Georgetown University Student Veterans Association, AUMCC members are invited to sign up for a shift at the Chantilly processing center. Georgetown student Verónica María Hoyer submitted the video below of the sheer amount of donated goods on 9/2/2021. See below the video for more information on submitting your own donations.
Meet the AUMCC team at the American University, 2021 Involvement Fair! We’ll have members of the team available via Zoom from 12pm – 4pm EST on Thursday, September 2, 2021. (Open to American University students only)
How can I prepare for the Fair?
Explore Engage! Make sure you can sign in and browse through all that Engage offers.
NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Italy (Aug. 22, 2021) Senior Airman Moon escorts Afghan evacuees aboard Naval Air Station Sigonella, Aug. 22, 2021. NAS Sigonella is currently supporting the Department of Defense mission to facilitate the safe departure and relocation of U.S. citizens, Special Immigration Visa recipients, and vulnerable Afghan populations from Afghanistan.
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Daniel Young)
We thank president Burwell for making the nominal effort in referencing the situation in Afghanistan in her Fall Welcome Letter.
In her statement president Burwell stated:
“Many in our community are struggling as family and friends endure terrible tragedies. This includes Afghan and Afghan American members of our community with loved ones at risk, and our veterans’ community, a number of whom served in Afghanistan or alongside colleagues and Afghan allies affected by the recent events. The devastating attack last week only deepens the pain, and we honor those who were lost. Our hearts are with you, and we are here to help.”
We ask president Burwell what resources at American University are available for our Afghan friends and Veteran community.
Moving on we hope that we can see more action and support given to our Afghan friends and our veteran community from our campus resources and President.
Photo from DVIDS: A client-systems technician from the 509th Communications Squadron communications support center installs a new battery into a computer Sept. 6. The communications support center is specifically designed to facilitate all the base’s communication needs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nick Wilson)
– Defense Imagery Management Operations Center
VetsinTech and the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) are conducting a nationwide survey of veterans and transitioning service members regarding technology-related skills gained during their time in service and their perceptions of a future career in the technology sector. The survey will provide valuable information to the Department of Defense, the military services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Labor, employers in the technology sector, and veteran-serving non-profit organizations.
The survey should take approximately 5 minutes to complete. Survey responses are anonymous. The survey will close on Tuesday, September 7th.
What is the price of the war in Afghanistan? What lessons did we learn? KPBS hosts a panel discussion.
About this event
Date and time
Thu, Sep 9, 2021, 9:00 PM EDT – Online Event
Join KPBS in a conversation with experts, veterans, and families impacted by the Afghanistan War. KPBS Military Reporter Steve Walsh moderates. Panelists include:
Quil Lawrence | NPR Veterans Correspondent
Gretchen Catherwood | Gold Star Parent
James Seddon | Afghanistan War Veteran, US Navy
Farhat Popal | Immigrant Affairs Manager, City of San Diego; Immigrant Advocate
This event is sponsored by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a major funder of the American Homefront Project. American Homefront is a collaboration between NPR and seven public radio stations that looks at veterans and the military.
THE MODERATOR
Steve Walsh is the military and veterans reporter for KPBS. He spent a large portion of his career as a print reporter for the Times of Northwest Indiana and the Post-Tribune in Gary, Indiana. At the Post-Tribune, he was embedded in Iraq twice. As KPBS’ military and veterans reporter, he contributes to the American Homefront Project, a collaboration of public radio stations that looks at veterans and the military.
Naval Air Station Sigonella Command Master Chief Anna Wood assists an Afghanistan evacuee deplaning a U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Aug. 22, 2021. Photo By: Marine Corps Sgt. William Chockey Source: Defense.gov
For those unfamiliar with American University’s Military Connected Club (AUMCC), we’re a chapter of Student Veterans of America and the only campus club focused entirely on serving AU’s military-connected students (both grad and undergrad). Membership is open to all American University students, regardless of military service status.
An airman guides qualified evacuees aboard an Air Force C-17 Globemaster III in support of the noncombatant evacuation operation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Afghanistan, Aug. 24, 2021. The Defense Department is committed to supporting the State Department in the departure of U.S. and allied civilian personnel from Afghanistan and to evacuate Afghan allies to safety. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Taylor Crul Photo from Defense.gov
Dear AU Military Connected Students, as we prepare for the fall semester, I want to take a moment to address the evolving events in Afghanistan. If you’re like me, you’re vacillating somewhere between speechlessness and ranting raves. This is to be expected. We’re all experiencing the effects of *grief. The myriad of emotions associated with processing loss will look and feel different for each of us but are no less valid. Fortunately, we don’t have to grieve in isolation. There are over 500 military connected students at AU, and many more military-connected staff and faculty. With fall classes only a week away, and the capability to connect both in person and remote, there’s no better time for military-connected students to come together in solidarity.
Beginning Sunday, August 22nd @ 8pm EST and every Sunday through December 12th (or until further notice), a Military Connected Club Executive will facilitate an open discussion via Zoom for military-connected students interested in sharing their thoughts, feelings, concerns and/or comments. Regardless of the topic, we want to assure your voice is heard, concerns acknowledged, and any conflict appropriately resolved. To that end, we encourage all military-connected students to join us in solidarity. United we’re far stronger than alone.
