Career College Central

Career College Central - December 2017

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Subscribe at careercollegecentral.com 37 L ast November, director Mel Gibson brought to the screen an Academy Award-winning film about U.S. Army Corporal Desmond Doss, the first and only conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor during World War II. Due to his deep personal beliefs about nonviolence, Doss willingly chose to go into battle without a weapon and managed to save 75 lives as a combat medic during the Battle of Okinawa. Doss's accomplishments are just one of the many stories that display the impressive feats of the Greatest Generation. Typically, stories about this era of American history occur during or just before the war, telling about incredible sacrifices made on the battlefield, women stepping in to fill roles in the workplace, and American citizens buying bonds and collecting scraps to fund the Allied effort to turn back Germany. But there are also countless other heroic stories that took place aer the Allies' victory. ese stories involve the incredible support veterans received from our government and American businesses to help them assimilate upon return from combat and live out rewarding lives through the power of higher education. Returning home Many of the returning soldiers joined the military as teenagers and came back home as adults. A great number of them had served in foreign places and been witness to horrors beyond anything they could have ever imagined. For their sacrifices and acts of valor, Americans —including those in elected positions— wanted to thank them for their bravery in serving our nation. e U.S. Congress, with the backing of the president and many grassroots supporters, introduced the "Servicemen's Readjustment Act," which would later be called the G.I. Bill of Rights. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the bill into law in 1944, at a time when the war was still raging. e new law afforded these benefits to soldiers coming home from the Great War: • Education and training opportunities • Loan guarantees for a home, farm, or business • Job-finding assistance • Unemployment pay of $20 per week for up to 52 weeks if the veteran couldn't find a job • Priority for building materials for Veterans Administration Hospitals A Cornell University study conducted in 2009 found that 5.6 million vets opted for vocational training. Many vets found the education opportunities the most important aspect of the new benefits. Veterans were granted one-year, full-time training plus time equal to their military service, up to 48 months. Federal funds bestowed on the Veterans Administration helped pay for university and career school courses, or paid employers up to $500 per year for tuition, books, fees, and other training costs. Small living allowances were also granted to veterans while they attended college. ousands upon thousands of veterans utilized the G.I. Bill to enroll in and complete a college education. In 1947, veterans comprised 49 percent of U.S. college enrollment. roughout the nation, about 7.8 million veterans received training at colleges, career schools, and in business and agriculture training programs. By 1952, the law was altered to assist veterans of the Korean War and, in 1966, Vietnam War veterans. Choosing a career education Career schools were a particular favorite of returning soldiers. A Cornell University research study conducted in 2009 found that 5.6 million vets opted for vocational training. e hands-on and technical nature of many career schools' programs were a fit for vets with backgrounds in artillery or the operation of heavy machinery. And for those vets who wanted to enter into office positions, career schools had long since mastered the art of teaching business courses and other subjects critical for success in the corporate world.

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