Courtesy of Lornett Vestal
Saturday marked the 80th anniversary of President Roosevelt signing the Servicemembers Readjustment Act into law on June 22, 1944. This act, also known as the G.I. Bill, provided World War II veterans with funds for college education, unemployment insurance, and housing. It put higher education within the reach of millions of veterans of WWII and later military conflicts. This legislation transformed the military community and is an exemplary testament to how we can change the nation by empowering the veteran community.
- Within its first seven years of use, about 8 million veterans used the opportunities provided by the program. U.S. college and university degree-holders more than doubled between 1940 and 1950.
- Within 50 years, the number of Americans with advanced degrees rose nearly 20 percent.
- By July 1956, when the bill initially expired, almost half of the 16 million World War II vets had gotten education or training through the GI Bill.
In celebration of the 80th anniversary of the G.I. Bill, we at Sierra Club Military Outdoors (SCMO) seeks to highlight the transformative impact of education and its power to create new opportunities for veterans.
The George Washington University (GW) Career Services Council, in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability and Military and Veteran Services, has partnered with SCMO to continue this legacy of empowerment. Through the Charles and Deborah Frank Fellowship, generously supported by alumnus Charles Frank, B.A., CCAS 1974, GW student veterans can leverage their G.I. Bill benefits to engage in meaningful work that bridges their educational experiences with impactful outdoor careers.
This fellowship funds a summer position within SCMO, where fellows support the campaign, collaborate with chapters nationwide, and develop sustainable partnership resources. This initiative not only honors the spirit of the G.I. Bill by providing veterans with educational and career opportunities but also enriches the broader community by promoting access to nature and fostering a deeper connection with the environment.
SCMO supports the Outdoors for All campaign goal of cutting the nature equity gap by ensuring an additional 10 million people can exercise their human right to connect with the outdoors. Part of that is by advocating for transformation policy initiatives such as the Military and Veterans in Park Act.
Our work must consider the longstanding impacts of institutional discrimination in application that continues to impact marginalized populations. Deliberate, thoughtful implementation of policy is imperative to close the nature equity gap for marginalized communities otherwise we run the risk of exacerbating the problem – a lesson we’ve learned from the implementation of the GI Bill summarized below:
“While the introduction of generous student aid through the G.I. Bill held the promise of significantly reducing black-white gaps in educational opportunity and long-run economic outcomes, the G.I. Bill exacerbated rather than narrowed the economic and educational differences between blacks and whites among men from the South.”
The Sierra Club Military Outdoors team has leveraged the GI Bill to ensure veterans and the military community enjoy the beauty of nature by supporting programs and policies that remove barriers preventing them from experiencing the great outdoors. We’re dedicated to leading the way on doing so in an equitable and ethical manner centering on access for marginalized groups. On this anniversary, the SCMO team is grateful for the investment leaders have made in service members and look forward to advancing those efforts.
SCMO Impact Statements:
- Reggie Jaramillo, Veteran - US Army
Education plays a pivotal role in facilitating veterans' transition to outdoor careers, a fact that I have personally experienced. The G.I. Bill allows veterans to pursue higher education and specialized training, equipping them with the skills necessary for environmental science, conservation, and outdoor recreation careers. As a senior at George Washington University, I am utilizing the G.I. Bill to study exercise science, and as a Sierra Club Military Outdoors Fellow, I am witnessing the transformative power of education in opening doors to fulfilling careers in the outdoors. My journey from a seven-year Army medic to a student and fellow is a testament to this. This pathway benefits individual veterans and enriches our communities with skilled professionals dedicated to preserving and enjoying our natural landscapes.
- Lornett Vestal, Veteran - US Navy
The GI Bill has allowed countless veterans a pathway into the middle class, myself included. G.I. Bill is a lifeline in an era when college and university costs are out of reach for many working-class and middle-class people. After a tour in the Navy, I was able to obtain an undergrad and graduate degree thanks in part to the G.I.Bill. I’ve had fellow sailors I’ve served with going on to trade school and college to advance themselves and their careers. The G.I. Bill can be a tool to help train and prepare military veterans for careers in the outdoors, including careers with conservation nonprofits, NGOs, government agencies, outfitters, outdoor recreational organizations, and recreational therapy careers.
- Sherman Neal II, Veteran - US Marine Corps
The GI Bill has enabled me to take the risks required to discover my passions, merge experiences in the Marine Corps with technical skills, and increase my cultural competency by immersing myself in diverse learning communities. There is no “linear” career path for Marines – the deliberate infusion of professional development unrelated to a specific military occupational specialty is a key to developing resiliency and diversity of thought in the force. Opportunities provided by the GI Bill allow the SCMO team to bring a diverse set of perspectives to our work in the same way.
- Gerry James, Veteran - US Air Force
Growing up with a father who was an active duty soldier and a mother who was a Army veteran/government employee, my parents were unable to fully finance my education. However, by enlisting in the Air Force, I was able to utilize the GI Bill to gain access to a university setting where I could expand my knowledge, skills, and explore my interests. This opportunity ultimately paved the way for a successful career focused on creating inclusive outdoor spaces, conservation efforts, and facilitating just transitions for rural communities.
During my time in college, I immersed myself in a variety of experiences such as engaging in coursework, internships, and involvement in different projects. These experiences exposed me to unique opportunities like participating in bat misting activities at my university's research forest, contributing to my college's trail town planning committee, being part of the Super Bowl XLVI social media team, and gaining insights into strategic communications, citizen science, and social movements at an advanced level.
Through these diverse experiences, I was able to develop a well-rounded skill set and a deep understanding of how to effectively merge strategic communications with citizen science and social movements. This foundation has been instrumental in my career journey and has allowed me to make meaningful contributions in the areas of environmental conservation, community development, and creating spaces that are inclusive and accessible to all.