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What does ‘Military Culture’ mean to you?
For over a decade, about 1 percent of the nation’s population has volunteered for the military and served in the nation’s longest-running wars. But many more have experienced military culture from another lens—as parent, spouse, child, friend and community.
We asked what military culture meant to you — from the […]
by Claudia Bustamante
About 120 Los Angeles leaders received an initial look on June 6 at findings from the county’s first and most comprehensive study of the military population, which will be used to inform veteran policy and programs moving forward.
The Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans & Military Families at the USC School of Social Work conducted more than 1,850 surveys of veterans to help identify the areas of greatest need in Los Angeles County, home to the largest population in the country.
Speaking on the 70th anniversary of D-Day, Anthony Hassan, the center’s director, said Los Angeles must move […]
On Thursday, May 29, more than 200 veterans met with representatives from 45 companies during USC’s 2nd annual “Serving Those Who Have Served” veterans career event. Unlike typical job fairs, this day hoped to increase likelihood of job prospects by connecting veterans with navigators and educating employers about veteran hires. Read more here.
by Claudia Bustamante
Five years ago, Anthony Hassan left a military career to become the founding director of a social work center at the University of Southern California.
Today, both he and the Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans & Military Families at the USC School of Social Work are known for their mission to help veterans transition smoothly into their civilian communities.
In recognition of Hassan’s work over the years—especially in informing the military social work curriculum that aims to graduate students who can understand the unique challenges facing the military community—the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) presented him […]
by Claudia Bustamante
The USC School of Social Work’s international influence continues to grow after Dean Marilyn Flynn and faculty traveled to Taiwan to discuss the importance of military social work.
Flynn, along with Anthony Hassan, clinical professor and director of the Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans & Military Families, and Carl Castro, assistant professor, were invited last month to share their expertise on the development of a military social work academic program and how it will benefit the country as it moves toward an all-volunteer military force.
Currently, all Taiwanese men age 20 and over must serve a year in […]
IAVA’s 6th Annual Heroes Celebratin, held May 6 at Mr. C Beverly Hills, honored CIR Director Anthony Hassan with its 2014 Civilian Service Award and Peter Berg, director of “Lone Survivor,” with its 2014 Leadership in Entertainment Award.
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The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have been the longest-running in the United States’ history. Since 2001, approximately 2.6 million service members have been deployed (many, multiple times) as part of the nation’s all-volunteer force.
As they return home, all of them will have unique and different transition experiences. A common denominator to a successful transition from military to civilian life, though, continues to be employment. Moreso than merely having a job and cashing a paycheck, securing meaningful employment can also serve as a protective factor against mental health challenges while providing a veteran with a sense of purpose, […]
by Linda Jacobson
Military-connected children gathered in downtown Los Angeles last month to be honored and thanked for the sacrifices they make as part of military families.
“Because they don’t wear uniforms, military children often don’t get recognized,” said Nathan Graeser, community liaison/analyst with the Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans & Military Families (CIR) at the USC School of Social Work and coordinator of the Los Angeles Veterans Collaborative (LAVC), said as he welcomed the families.
USC’s Building Capacity and Welcoming Practices in Military-Connected Schools also participated in the Month of the Military Child event, which was organized by multiple partners […]
In March, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) held their annual lobbying effort in Washington, D.C. “Storm the Hill” gathered 32 veterans from across the nation to meet with 150 members of Congress and their legislative directors to discuss the pressing issue of veteran suicide. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports that approximately 22 veterans die by suicide per day, i.e., nearly one per hour, 8,000 a year and 100,000 since Sept. 11, 2001. The lobbying effort produced Senate Bill 2182 “Suicide Prevention for America’s Veterans Act,” sponsored by Sen. John Walsh (D-Mont.), the first Iraq war combat […]
Op-ed by Ron Avi Astor
The well-being of our servicemen and women–and their families–is a concern not only for the military, but for civilian society as well. Supporting those who have served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars as they transition into our workplaces and neighborhoods is our duty as Americans, makes our communities stronger, and builds a solid foundation for our ability to face future challenges as one nation.
That’s why recent reports on poor mental health outcomes and thoughts of suicide among military family members are extremely troubling. And with Congress now considering a bill that would track these deaths […]
