SUNY Oswego will celebrate Veterans Day 2016 by honoring veteran students, staff and alumni at a luncheon on Friday, Nov. 11. The event, to be held in Room 235A of Hewitt Union, will feature the dedication of a new Battle Buddy Center on campus, which will be within the current Veterans Lounge in Hewitt Union.

Designated by New York State Industries for the Disabled Inc. (NYSID), the Battle Buddy Center at SUNY Oswego will serve as a safe haven for veterans to socialize with each other and receive services that are unique to their military backgrounds. 

Based on the military concept of a “Battle Buddy,” which partners soldiers to assist each other both in and out of combat, Battle Buddy Centers offer activities to promote camaraderie and foster veterans to give and receive mutual support.

SUNY Oswego is the 12th NYSID-designated Battle Buddy location in New York state and the only college in Central New York offering this safe haven for vets. The designation recognizes SUNY Oswego’s past efforts to serve its military student population and will allow the college to enhance its ongoing support of the military community on campus.

“SUNY Oswego remains dedicated to providing outstanding educational services that reflect the unique needs of our veteran students,” said college President Deborah F. Stanley. “The Battle Buddy Center will enhance our ability to serve our veteran students as they transition from active duty into and through higher education. Creating a safe space that promotes a strong sense of community and supports academic and personal success for our veterans is a project we are proud to support.”

The Veterans Lounge opened in 2013, one of many efforts the college made and continues to make to assure the college is responsive to the unique challenges for veterans enrolling during or after military service. These steps have led to significant recognition, including the Military Times “Best for Vets” ranking for 2017, announced Tuesday.

Owner of newsweeklies focusing on each branch of service, Military Times weighs colleges’ and universities’ array of services, special rules, accommodations, campus culture and financial incentives for veterans through detailed surveys and comparative national data to arrive at the ranking.

Oswego also has earned recognition as a Military Friendly School by Military Advanced Education and by G. I. Jobs. U.S. News and World Report placed Oswego 25th on its list of Best Colleges for Veterans among Regional Universities in the North.

Acting Provost Walter Roettger, a retired U.S. Air Force captain, will provide remarks at the Nov. 11 dedication ceremony, during which New York State Industries for the Disabled will present a check to SUNY Oswego in recognition of the Battle Buddy designation. The drop-in luncheon will run from noon to 2 p.m., with the formal ceremony at 12:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Ben Parker, the college’s veteran and military services coordinator, at benjamin.parker@oswego.edu or 315-312-2270.