Current Student Resources

Education Benefits:

GI Bill/ Chapter 33: Educational assistance program that helps to pay for college, graduate school, and training programs. It includes payment of tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance, and a stipend for books and supplies.

• • GI Bill Info
  • GI Bill Application
  • Check Your Current Benefits

Veterans Readiness & Employment/ Chapter 31 (Voc Rehab): Education and training benefits available for veterans with a service-connected disability

• • Info on Chapter 31

Chapter 35 Benefits: Receiving education benefits as a dependent or survivor

• • Info on Chapter 35

Additional Benefits:

Transfer Your Benefits: If you have unused education benefits, you may be able to transfer them to a qualified spouse or child.

• • Transferring Benefits

Yellow Ribbon Program: This program allows institutions of higher learning in the United States (like PLU!) to voluntarily enter into an agreement with VA to fund tuition and fee expenses that exceed the tuition and fee amounts payable under the GI Bill.

• • Information on the Yellow Ribbon Program

• PLU Counseling Center

  • The counseling center offers free mental health counseling resources to all currently enrolled students

• PLU Campus Ministry

  • Campus Ministry is open to any faith, and to anyone seeking religious guidance.

• Student Success and Support Pathfinder

  • This pathfinder give you easy access to technical, social, and academic support on campus.

United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Mission Statement
To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s veterans.

Air Force Association McChord Chapter (AFA)

AFA is an independent, 501 non-profit, professional military and aerospace education association that promotes American aerospace power.

American Lake VA

With a reputation for excellence, innovation and extraordinary care of our Nation’s heroes, VA Puget Sound strives to lead the nation in terms of quality, efficiency and public service through its proven record of innovation and extraordinary care of Veterans.

Association of the United States Army

AUSA is the U.S. Army’s professional association, the voice for the Army on Capitol Hill, and offers support for soldiers and their families.

Association of the United States Navy

AUSN is the premier voice for America’s Sailors and Navy families. Our mission is to support the Navy through advocacy to Navy leadership, industry leaders and Congress.

Boots to Shoes

The Boots to Shoes mission is to augment veterans support services for 21st century Veterans’ successful transition into civilian jobs.

Cohen Veteran Network — Valley Cities

Cohen Veterans Network provides mental health care to post-9/11 veterans and their families, regardless of insurance, discharge status, ability to pay, or service experience.

eBenefits: Your Gateway to Benefit Information

eBenefits is a web portal managed jointly by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the United States Department of Defense (DoD) to provide Service members, Veterans and eligible dependents the ability to manage their VA and DoD benefits, claims, and military documents online.

Military Order of the Purple Heart

The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the armed forces of the U.S. who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action. The organization now known as the “Military Order of the Purple Heart,” was formed in 1932 for the protection and mutual interest of all who have received the decoration.

North American Black Vets

NABVETS will provide personal advocacy on behalf of veterans seeking claims against the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; advocacy for youth in all matters required for successful passage into adulthood; advocacy on behalf of families; with community involvement, provide advocacy in creating positive lifestyles for veterans; and to generate and preserve the historical record.

Washington Department of Veterans Affairs

The Veterans Bureau administers the Veterans’ Assistance Fund as mandated by State Law to provide emergency relief to indigent veterans residing in Washington State.

Tacoma Veteran Center

The Tacoma Veteran Center provides no cost, confidential services to those who’ve served.

Purpose, Mission, and Affiliations

1. To assist veterans as they transition from military to campus life, and to serve as an outreach mechanism between student veterans, school administrators and faculty, and the campus community.
2. To ensure that veterans, active duty personnel, reservists and their families are receiving all the benefits entitled to them, and to ensure a contact to readjustment counseling should they feel the need.
3. To provide for fellowship and camaraderie of like-minded individuals in order to create a network of students and successful alumni as a means to provide professional and leadership development.
4. To create and promote a positive environment on campus that fosters academic success and encourages student veterans to achieve their personal academic goals, and to assist in removing obstacles to that success.
5. To connect student veterans to resources, programs, scholarship opportunities and services available through outside (off campus) Veteran Service Organization (VSOs), as well as to facilitate communication and promote the special needs of veterans to on-campus services.
6. PLU Student Veterans Association is affiliated with the national organization, Student Veterans of America (SVA).  More information concerning this affiliation can be found in the PLU SVA bylaws.
7. This club will abide by the stated objectives of Pacific Lutheran University as well as the rules and regulation established by the University and is responsible to University authorities.

Have questions about ROTC? Please email rotc@plu.edu