PCC Veterans Club Shows Support as Local Congresswomen Call for Pentagon to Repay Local National Guard Members

Representatives Judy Chu and Janice Hahn hosted a press conference with local veteran groups at the Alhambra American Legion Post 139 Friday to call for legislation that will provide a permanent solution for the Pentagon’s collection of enlistment bonuses that were mistakenly given to members of the California National Guard.

The story that made recent national news has since produced a temporary fix, according to Chu, after Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced a halt to the repayments Wednesday. Several groups including Pasadena’s own PCC Student Veterans Association were in attendance to show support for the men and women affected and to represent a portion the city’s veteran population.

“I was shocked and outraged when I heard the stories of veterans being forced to return their enlistment bonuses,” said Chu. “This is not how we should treat our men and women who volunteer to serve, especially during a time of war. Many of them acted in good faith, at times extending their years of service in exchange for these bonuses – years of their lives they cannot get back. The Pentagon halting all efforts to collect reimbursement from affected California National Guard members is a good first step, but it is not a permanent solution. That is why I am urging Congressional leadership to bring legislation to the floor when we return in November. We must enact legislation to forgive the money owed by those who fulfilled their duty and return the money already paid by those who have complied with their order.”

Reps. Chu and Hahn were joined by representatives from The Veterans of Foreign Wars, various American Legion posts, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, In Helping Others, Vet Hunters, Disabled American Veterans, and GI Forum in addition to PCC’s veteran group.

Chu told personal accounts of veterans that have acquired debt that can sometimes exceed a balance upwards of $30,000 with another individual who was tacked with a hefty debt after being injured serving overseas.

“I appreciate that defense secretary Ash Carter has ordered the Pentagon to halt the clawback. It was the right call and brings long-overdue relief to these veterans and their families,” said Rep. Hahn who referred to this situation as sloppy accounting. “However, we know we can’t stop there and these veterans are still vulnerable if Congress does not act. Congress must pass a fix that ensures these veterans will be in the clear and addresses the incredibly unfair situation faced by those who were already forced to make payments. Congresswoman Chu and I will be ready to work and find a solution when we return to Washington.”

There are approximately 40,000 veterans in the San Gabriel Valley alone, according to Veterans of Foreign Wars representative Dave Loera. These financial hardships that have been described in its simplest form as unfair by Chu and add to the already difficult circumstances that many veterans face.

PCC’s Veterans Student Association is local resource for young veterans in Pasadena that provides resources, courses, a facility and helping hands for individuals struggling with the reality of assimilating back to civilian life.

“It’s a way to decompress and good way to meet other brothers and sisters. It feels great knowing another person has your back,” said Veteran Marine Corp Sergeant and PCC student Christopher Munoz.

“The PCC Veteran’s club is one of the best out there.”

There are approximately 700 veterans on campus each semester at PCC with 150 being women veterans. The club currently has almost 200 members that participate regularly in meetings and functions.

“The transition period we are given happens very quick. We simply aren’t the same kind of people as everyone else who we work with, or go to school with and so on,” said Munoz who mentioned inevitable issues veterans face are episodes of PTSD and feelings of isolation.

The PCC Veteran’s club has their own space on that accommodates their growing membership. Weekly meetings are held and it is open every day for veterans to drop in at their own convenience and usually find themselves in discussion, taking courses and doing other things with fellow veterans. The room is referred to as the “smoke pit”.

“The program understands our problem with integration. Everybody has a similar background and we are able to drop down our barriers and connect with one another. We get to be our selves instead of feeling isolated out here when we come bac. It’s a safe place for us,” said Munoz.

Vietnam War Veteran Harold Martin served in both the Army and National Guard for over twenty years and is an advisor for the PCC Veterans Club. He has eight years experience teaching transitional courses to veterans at PCC, which is the second school in the nation to offer these types of courses dubbed “Boots to Books”.

“These courses serve veterans that would most benefit from a transitional course to help them go from a military mind set and back to a student and civilian mind set. Most young veterans we see went straight into the military right out of high school and that has been their primary adult experience in the world—and that’s a world very different from civilian society. We have these alternative universes that suddenly collide once that veteran returns and decides to go to college,” said Martin.

The semester long course Martin teaches aims to accelerate the vets’ transitional as quickly as possible.

“We know that the number one difference of whether a veteran is going to be successful or drop out is due to social support. We try to create that social support on campus by getting people to bond together in the class and by also participating in club activities,” said Martin.

Both Munoz and Martin have not been personally affected by the recent financial problem and are not aware of any PCC veterans that have been affected. The news is still disappointing to say the least.

“I’m not surprised. This kind of stuff happens to us veterans more than people think. Its great to see people from Congress getting on this issue,” said Munoz. “Most of our vets are under thirty and this financial problem seems to have affected the Gulf War vets more than anything. We still care for our own guys and that’s why we’re out here to support.”

Members of the National Guard who have been impacted by the repayments are encouraged to contact their Congressional offices for assistance.

For more information about PCC’s Veterans Club, visit http://www.pasadena.edu/academics/support/veterans-services/.