Veterans helping veterans: A mission to help others through service and education 

Posted On: January 13, 2025

(SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — January 13, 2024) Empire State University is home to the largest number of military-affiliated students within the State University of New York system. Whether they are veteran, active-duty, or military-spouses, the university works to support these students through peer and community support and the military and veteran opportunity program. Beyond that, SUNY Empire is home to many veteran faculty and staff who use their experience in service as a driving force to give back and help others who served their country. Meet two veterans behind the important work at Empire State University’s Veteran and Military Resource Center.  

William Yaeger, Military Outreach Coordinator at the Veteran and Military Resource Center 

Describe your military background and service. 

Yaeger: I enlisted in the USAF in January 1983, commissioned in the Air Force in September 1995, and retired in January 2006 (after 23 years of service). I was a dog handler when I enlisted and became a Security Forces Officer upon commissioning.  As an officer, I did a career broadening tour as Commandant of Cadets/Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies at Michigan State University AFROTC Program from 2001-2004. Before I joined, I did one year at Loyola University in Chicago (where I am from) but could no longer afford it. Thus, the reason I joined (to obtain my education). While in the service, I completed my associates degree with Community College of the Air Force, my bachelor’s degree with Northwestern Oklahoma State University and my graduate degree (MA Adult Learning) with University of Oklahoma. All degrees were completed using my USAF Tuition Assistance benefit. While in, I really enjoyed training and education, which set me up to assume my role at the university (which I have been doing since 2006, the year I retired from the service).    

Describe your role at SUNY Empire & the VMRC. How do you help students? 

Yaeger: In my role as a Military Outreach Coordinator, I primarily conduct pre-enrollment advising and complete preliminary review of potential transfer credits for our military-affiliated prospects and students (active duty, reserves, national guard, veterans and their family members). I do this from home (Colorado Springs, CO), but occasionally travel to attend military education fairs and conferences throughout the country. Additionally, I work with Registrar in evaluating Joint Services Transcripts for our military and veteran students to help them maximize their transfer credit with the university. Finally, I am the VMRC’s Policy Director for the USAF Academic Institution Portal. This is our client resource management system for Air Force students (and now also includes Army students). 

As a veteran, what does it mean to you to be able to help military-affiliated students here at Empire State University? Why is that work important?  

Yaeger: It’s greatly satisfying to help military-affiliated students navigate systems in their pursuit of higher education. As previously noted, I entered the Air Force to help fund my education, but at the same time, I fell in love with USAF between various duty positions, assignments (many of them overseas) and the camaraderie of the military. I feel I’m able to help other service members and veterans do the same thing. Bottom line, I can “walk the talk” and help build SUNY Empire’s reputation as reliable and a great option of higher education for our military-affiliated students. To do this, I focus on being transparent, promising less and delivering more, and standing by what I commit to. 

Bethany Hicks, Military Academic and Student Services Coordinator at the Veteran and Military Resource Center 

Describe your military background and service. 

Hicks: I enlisted in the Army in February 2000 after I graduated with my master’s degree. Joining the Army isn’t something that I always dreamed I would do. In graduate school I was encouraged by one of my counseling psychology professors to surround myself with people who were not like me in order to really understand people. Also, a good friend who’d been in the military told me about the college loan repayment program which would allow my college debt to be paid off after 3 years of service. I was also exploring different careers at the time, and thought I might want to work in law, so I joined as a paralegal. It didn’t take me long to realize that working as a paralegal wasn’t challenging to me, so I applied for a special duty position working for the Morale Welfare and Recreation department, where I planned events for single soldiers, and organized volunteer opportunities for soldiers in the community. 

Describe your role at SUNY Empire & the VMRC. How do you help students? 

Hicks: At SUNY Empire, I oversee military affiliated students’ experiences by ensuring they utilize military credits and understand the opportunities and resources available to them. I am also the Staff Advisor for the SUNY Empire Student Veterans and Military club, a chapter of the Student Veterans of America. 

As a veteran, what does it mean to you to be able to help military-affiliated students here at Empire State University? Why is that work important? 

Hicks: There’s a certain language, culture and experience shared by those who’ve served in the military. Veterans naturally connect with each other and feel a sense of belonging because of that shared experience. Creating a sense of belonging by relating to other Veterans in my role is very important to me because I know that it contributes to their success and progression toward their degree.