Green Zone

The Green Zone Program promotes an improved campus culture at Georgia Southern University for veterans who are shifting from the structured life of the military — and sometimes a combat zone — to begin a new life as a student in the vastly different environment of a college campus.

The overarching goal of the initiative is to facilitate the successful transition of veterans. The transition from the structured life of the military to a college campus is challenging for many veterans. The Green Zone Program is geared around informing faculty and staff about student veterans and their needs on campus. The primary objective of the Green Zone Program is to increase the knowledge and skills of the Georgia Southern faculty and staff to identify and address the needs of veterans and assist them in successfully completing their transition from the military to university and civilian life. Faculty and staff members that volunteer to participate will attend training that will focus on key issues veterans face while making this life-changing move. While they will not be expected to “solve” problems, they will be able to provide a sympathetic ear and help the student veteran find the appropriate resource to resolve their issue. Upon completion, offices are given a Green Zone sticker to signify their designation as a “military-friendly area of operation”.

Who is the Green Zone Training Program for?

The Green Zone training program is specifically designed to train faculty and staff to provide additional support for student veterans. In the present stage of the Green Zone program, the training is not for military-affiliated students to become active participants; but rather beneficiaries from the trained faculty and staff volunteers.

Certification Training

The certification training program has been designed to increase the knowledge and skills of the Georgia Southern faculty and staff to identify and address the needs of student veterans and assist them in successfully completing their transition from the military to university and civilian life. The training is conducted in three phases on different days. The program begins with a one-hour brief that will provide an overview of the program. The second phase is a five-hour field trip to Hunter Army Airfield where participants will get to see a day in the life of a Solider by participating in physical training (optional), receiving a command brief, taking a tour of the installation, seeing equipment displays, participating in simulations and eating lunch with Service Members. The final phase of the training will be a four-hour block of instruction conducted by external agencies that will provide participants the tools they need to provide a sympathetic ear to student veterans and help them find the appropriate resource to resolve their issues.

Veterans on Campus: Peer to Peer

Online interactive training simulations that teach student veterans how to mentor fellow military-affiliated students and help each other make a successful transition to life as college students. The program also provides student veterans information about support services on and off-campus.

Online Interactive Training Simulations

These simulations help faculty and staff understand the needs, experiences, and cultural issues affecting student veterans who transition from military to university and civilian life. This program also teaches users how to connect military-affiliated students to campus resources. These resources can aid them in their transition and ensure they achieve their academic, professional, and life goals. Once registered, you will have access to web-based simulations at your convenience. If you wish to participate in our online interactive training, please email us at pgore@georgiasouthern.edu.

Last updated: 7/11/2022