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IN Combat to College bill on governor's desk

Legislation aimed at helping recently-returned military veterans adjust to college is awaiting the governor’s signature.

The “Combat to College” bill requires Indiana public colleges and universities that enroll at least 200 former military service members to develop a centralized location for admissions, registration and financial aid for recent military veterans.

Senator Sue Glick (R-LaGrange), the bill’s author, says the measure essentially creates a one-stop shop that will help veterans transition from the battlefield to a college campus.  She says the legislation also requires each school to develop programs that assist with issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder in returning vets.

“We want to make sure that those that are coming in with a little additional hardships like the disabilities can address those issues, that the universities are mindful of those needs of those student veterans.”

Glick’s bill is one of several measures dealing with veteran education and jobs, including legislation from Representative Dan Forestal (D-Indianapolis).  His bill allows combat paramedics and emergency medical technicians to skip costly and unnecessary retraining once they return from service.

Forestal says the measure authorizes the state’s emergency medical services commission, which licenses paramedics and EMTs, to immediately license a veteran if they pass a practical exam.

“Having that kind of streamlined I think will take some of the roadblocks out of the way for our veterans so they can get back to work doing what they love and serving in the communities.”

Forestal’s bill has been signed by the governor while Glick’s awaits his signature.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.
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