Going from active military service with its intensity of duties to normal civilian life can be jarring.

“It’s a radical overnight change,” said Javier Cardenas, a VA certifying official at South Texas College in McAllen. “It has the potential to be catastrophic.”

Cardenas would know. The McAllen native joined the Marines two weeks after graduating from high school. He would serve four years in the Marines and admits to feeling aimless in re-entering civilian life. 

“In the military, you’re moving high speed from sun up to sundown,” Cardenas said. “Then all of a sudden, it’s over. What now?” 

Ricardo Olivares served as a medic and in administrative duties in a 20-plus year tenure in the U.S. Army. He has been at STC for two decades since leaving the military. Olivares has served as an instructor and in leadership positions in the human resources program at STC. He has seen students in his classrooms who are veterans and can spot their characteristics and challenges in making the transition to civilian life.

“I tell them that they need to remember they’re not in the military anymore,” said Olivares, an Alamo native, who like Cardenas, comes from a military family. “They’re in McAllen, Texas, in a classroom and everyone has free will.”

Coming from “the atmosphere and flavor” of military life and moving to the civilian world can lead to veterans “needing mental health help,” Olivares said. He spoke of a younger family member who was perhaps leaning back too much on a past military life.

“I said, ‘I get it, you’ll be a Marine for life,’’’ said Olivares, who earned two Master’s degrees while in the military in preparing for civilian life. “Now you have to get a good job in civilian life so you can help your family here.”

Getting Vet Benefits

The STC Office of Student Veterans Affairs helps vets make that transition.

It’s where the 33-year-old Cardenas works in informing veterans of the benefits they’ve earned. Among them are benefit programs associated with the GI Bill and what it can do to help vets cover college costs. Cardenas was one of those veterans who knew little of what the GI Bill does in financially assisting students with education and training benefits. Its coverage includes helping to pay for tuition, books and housing while attending colleges and vocational schools.

“I had heard of it,” Cardenas said of the original landmark law passed during World War II. “I didn’t realize how comprehensive it is.”

Cardenas utilized those benefits to earn an associate’s degree from STC. His next step was achieving an STC undergraduate degree in operations management. He is now part of a team at STC that helps veterans enroll at the school and guides them through the process of determining benefits from the Veterans Administration as it pertains to education and training. 

The VA makes all decisions regarding eligibility and benefits. Once those matters are settled, the Student Veterans Affairs office helps veterans through the enrollment process in receiving their benefits.  

Reaching Out

In recent years, STC’s Veterans Affairs Office has extended its reach to inform vets about mental health issues and the resources that can help them.

A veterans resources fair took place on campus earlier this year. Representatives from local, state and federal organizations were on campus in McAllen to inform veterans of the services they provide. The event was a big success and was replicated at STC’s Starr County campus with the support of a local industrial foundation. Next up are events and efforts to help vets at STC deal with mental health issues in their post-military life.

Vet peer groups are invaluable in helping veterans get through mental health challenges. Olivares, as an older vet who’s on campus, has provided some of that mentorship and guidance. Cardenas says the counsel of wise vets is much appreciated.

“It’s the rapport we have with each other,” Cardenas said. “There is the wisdom and experience of guys who were in for 20 years or more. I know I’ve learned a lot from those guys.”

Cardenas grew up the son of a Marine and a grandson of a U.S. Army veteran. Serving in a logistics platoon didn’t always lead the younger Cardenas to the life he envisioned as a Marine. Despite that, Cardenas knows he made the right decision to enlist as a fresh-faced high school graduate 15 years ago.

“Ultimately, at the end of the day, I’m grateful I did it,” he said.