Checkout the nation's best kept secret - the Commissioned Corps! One of the seven uniformed services and falls under the Department of Health & Human Services. There are approximately 6,500 service members who are under the direction of the Surgeon General's office. The Commissioned Corps officers work at federal government agencies such as:
Food & Drug Administration
Center for Disease Control & Prevention
Indian Health Service
Bureau of Prisons
Immigrations
U.S. Marshalls
Coast Guard
Too many agencies to list. Here's the website: www.usphs.gov. There are quite a few professions to choose from. Additional professions can be found under "Health Services". The Commissioned Corps has the same benefits and retirement as any other uniformed service. Check it out. Don't let your military time go to waste. Transfer it over to the Commissioned Corps!

I am concerned that this story sounded like a commercial for "columbia university college of general studies."

the college just started advertising on NPR, and after listening to this show, it seems that it is promoting the college's program. The students kept on saying "college of general studies" instead of "columbia university" Who ever mentions the specific college of their university? They also mentioned the name of their dean and their outreach programs.

If you are going to have a story on an advertiser you should disclose this at the top of the program.

Thanks Melanie for posting the info on Fordham. Here is a brief story about the veterans at Fordham thanks to the new 9/11-GI Bill:

http://www.fordham.edu/Campus_Resources/eNewsroom/topstories_1704.asp

Thanks.

Helen Benedict,

Please take no offense to today's radio show not featuring any female soldiers. There are currently only two female undergraduates at the School of General Studies. Neither could make the time to appear on the show because of their class schedule.

-J. Robledo

Helen Benedict,

Please take no offense to today's radio show not featuring any female soldiers. There are currently only two female undergraduates at the School of General Studies. Neither could make the time to appear on the show because of their class schedule.

-J. Robledo

Thank you to the three vets who spoke. A wonderful program today and I especially respect the way in which they honored the questions with really thoughtful and personal responses. I would like to see our policy makers talk directly with servicemen and women like these three. Keep it up and again thank you for speaking from your hearts, minds and experience.

It is wonderful to hear about these political literacy programs. We are all lucky because of these amazing people teaching our kids to understand, become involved and perhaps make changes in what goes on in our city. It is clear that these kids are more knowledgeable than the average NYC student and will most likely become a very productive citizens, and perhaps advocates for policies that will change the live of many.

My thanks to Dr. Malone, Pace University, and every program like this out there.

Gentlemen, thank you for your service and good luck in your studies. I salute you.

Brian - I hope that you are going to pause for a moment of respectful silence at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in honor of Armistice Day and all the loyal American vets who have served this country since it's founding.

for Daniel--I, too, am from Wheeling. Now in Brooklyn, and a Vietnam vet. Don't give up on New York. It took me full three years to grow into it. If I can help, get my email from the station.

I work for Fordham University and just happen to be updating our Veterans Initiative website while listening in (as usual) to the program. Veterans should know that Fordham University is taking a leadership role among its peer institutions to provide benefits and programs for returning veterans. All interested should visit www.fordham.edu/veterans for more information.

Helen 5
i hope brian talks about that!

While I commend Brian Lehrer for paying attention to veterans who are doing well, such as the three students at Columbia University (where I am a professor), I am dismayed to see him fall into the usual pattern of featuring only men. Even President Obama acknowledged the service of women in his Veterans Day speech at Fort Hood, but not NPR.

Furthermore, in the spot about the tragic rise of homelessness among veterans, there was no mention that 11 percent of them are women, and that 40 percent of homeless women veterans say they were raped while serving (as reported by the New York Times). Not only do our vets need more treatment, education and help; our military needs to stop subjecting its women to constant harassment and sexual assault.

Helen Benedict, Columbia professor and author of, The Lonely Soldier: The Private War of Women Serving in Iraq.

Do the guests believe that they were fighting for freedom? Meaning do they believe that they were fighting for my right to protest, assemble, protection from illegal search and seizure, cruel and unusual punishment, speech etc...

Or do they think that they were fighting for different reasons such as geo-political or economic reasons.

And how much is our economy and lifestyle in the USA based on America's military strength?

And, how do they feel about people who decide not to join the military.

As difficult as it was,and it was terrible, for the Viet Nam Vets to return home to hostility and ridicule, it seems the Iraq and Afganistan vets are coming home and being completely ignored. How does that feel?

please ask how they feel the military's mental health programs?