Auburn University celebrates active and non-active military officers throughout the year, from Veterans Day ceremonies to Bald Eagle and aircraft flyovers in Jordan-Hare. Yet, the most poignant reminder of Auburn’s military appreciation are the Tigers who wear and serve the Stars and Stripes on- and off-campus. Veterans Affairs and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps provide resources and training to Auburn students, whether returning from active duty, training for service or living as a military dependent.
In partnership with Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Resource Center (VRC) serves over 1,800 military-affiliated Auburn students across all colleges. Located in Foy Hall, the VRC helps veterans transition from military service to campus life through extensive programs and services.
“When you walk in the door, whether you’ve had a two-year stint in the military, whether you’ve served for twenty years or whether your parents serve in the military and you’re here as a dependent, it’s a very welcoming environment,” said Mike Smith, a VRC program coordinator.
Dedicated to military service and appreciation, the VRC and its school certifying officials help veterans navigate their benefits like the GI Bill. Partnering with Auburn Athletics, the VRC also celebrates Gameday Hero, honoring military personnel and their families at home football games in front of over 80,000 Auburn Tigers.
Military-affiliated students and veterans can foster community through the Auburn Student Veterans Association, an on-campus organization that hosts events and makes Auburn home for student veterans. Auburn University also hosts the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps or ROTC, a program that allows students to complete their academic studies while training for military service upon graduation. Approximately 300 to 400 students are enrolled in the three available on-campus branches – Army, Navy including the Marines Corp and Air Force.
“I have a lot of family members who served, but I also wanted to serve our country. Beside my family members that have served, I really like the civil service aspect and then I could also combine the fact that I want to be a nurse with the fact that I can serve our service members and their families,” said Taylor VanAntwerp, junior in nursing and Army ROTC member.
VanAntwerp’s typical week is eventful and hard to balance, managing 6 a.m. physical training, Army labs and military classes between clinicals and nursing courses.
“It’s all just making sure that I am keeping balance between prioritizing myself and all of my schoolwork and nursing school and then also being able to pour into the program and the underclassmen and the rest of my peers who are there,” VanAntwerp said.
Regardless of beginnings, all ROTC graduates will have a unique Auburn experience cultivated through leadership, duty and public service.
Senior studying political science and fellow Army ROTC member Jayden Apticar is one of many to refer to the program as one of his most rewarding Auburn experiences.
“I think [ROTC is] something that you don’t really get in the regular civilian world, and I think it really helps in developing yourself not just as a leader but as a person,” Apticar said. “You learn a lot of things about yourself that you really wouldn’t learn unless you were pushed into learning those.”
Beyond personal growth, ROTC cadets join a second family within the Auburn community. Apticar has been involved in numerous student organizations like Student Recruiters, SGA and BSU but highlights ROTC's second-to-none teamwork.
“I think the teamwork among us is just one of the program’s most unique and rewarding aspects of it. I think it’s because it’s built on mutual respect, trust – we all have shared goals – and a strong sense of brotherhood and camaraderie. [...] I think this dynamic helped create the bond different from any other group I’ve been a part of and any other organization,” Apticar said.
Whether they are entering the classroom, the workplace or the corps, military-affiliated students and veterans can find their home on Auburn's campus. The Veterans Resource Center, ROTC and non-affiliated students can help those who have served and those who will serve for many generations to come.
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