Journal of Science Policy & Governance
​Volume 22, Issue 01 | March 6, 2023

Policy Brief: Honor, Duty, and Service: A Blueprint for Creating Regional STEM Pipelines To Serve U.S. Military Veterans 

Chelsea Rand-Fleming
  1. Auburn University, Chemistry and Biochemistry Department, Auburn, AL, U.S.A
​
Corresponding author: crr0051@auburn.edu ​
Keywords: Veterans; STEM; Employment; STEM Careers ​
https://doi.org/10.38126/JSPG220109 ​

Executive Summary

Veterans face the possibility of unemployment after their transition into civilian life. Creating STEM pipelines for local communities that guide veterans towards long-term employment is necessary. The implementation of localized veteran pipelines in STEM is instrumental to ensuring that veteran unemployment numbers decrease. Focusing efforts to a small area, such as a fifty-mile radius around a town, fosters intimate connections among the veterans and other members of the pipeline. Pipeline localization gives each program its own support systems to support STEM careers in that specific location, making a difference for veterans in cities and towns everywhere. Enhancing the resources available for veterans to access long-lasting and meaningful careers in STEM is possible with veteran pipelines in STEM programming.

-Read the full article through download.-

Background header image courtesy of Rice University
Chelsea Rand-Fleming is a Ph.D. candidate at Auburn University in the Chemistry and Biochemistry program. Chelsea studies the post-translational modifications and assembly of MCR (methyl coenzyme M reductase). She has a passion for making STEM more accessible to underrepresented groups. After earning her Ph.D., Chelsea plans on pursuing a career that allows her to share her combined love of chemistry and outreach. 

​Acknowledgements 
This publication was written as part of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Advocacy Training Program. The views reflected in herein are solely attributed to those of the author.

References

  1. Burke, Amy, Abigail Okrent, and Katherine Hale. 2022. “The State of U.S. Science and Engineering 2022 | NSF - National Science Foundation.” National Science Foundation. 2022. https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsb20221/u-s-and-gl obal-stem-education-and-labor-force. 
  2. Department of Defense. 2022. “Military Discharge Data.” SkillBridge. 2022. https://skillbridge.osd.mil/separation-map.htm. 
  3. Fleming, Saevonne. 2022. Life After Active Duty. Fort Valley State University. 2022. “Cooperative Developmental Energy Program.” Fort Valley State University. 2022. https://www.fvsu.edu/cdep. 
  4. Hinojosa, Ramon, and Melanie Sberna Hinojosa. 2011. “Using Military Friendships to Optimize Post deployment Reintegration for Male Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom Veterans.” The Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development 48 (10): 1145. https://doi.org/10.1682/jrrd.2010.08.0151. 
  5. Holian, Laura, Tara Adam, Anlar Llc, and Tracy Hunt-White. 2020. “Veterans’ Education Benefits a Profile of Military Students Who Received Federal Veterans’ Education Benefits in 2015-16 AUTHORS.” https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2020/2020488rev.pdf.
  6. Okrent, Abigail, and Amy Burke. 2021. “The STEM Labor Force of Today: Scientists, Engineers, and Skilled Technical Workers | NSF - National Science Foundation.” Ncses.nsf.gov. 2021. https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsb20212. 
  7. Parker, Kim, Ruth Igielnik, Amanda Barroso, and Anthony Cilluffo. 2019. “THE AMERICAN VETERAN EXPERIENCE and the POST-9/11 GENERATION.” Pew Research Center 419: 4372. 
  8. Sen. Rubio, Marco. 2019. S.153 - Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act. https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/ senate-bill/153/text. 
  9. Syracuse University. 2022. “The Employment Situation of Veterans – June 2022.” D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families. 2022. https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/article/the-employme nt-situation-of-veterans-june-2022/. 
  10. www.sciencepolicyjournal.org JSPG, Vol. 22, Issue 1, March 2023
  11. Journal of Science Policy & Governance POLICY BRIEF: LOCAL U.S. VETERAN STEM PIPELINES 
  12. Tsai, Jack, Rani A. Hoff, and Ilan Harpaz-Rotem. 2017. “One-Year Incidence and Predictors of Homelessness among 300,000 U.S. Veterans Seen in Specialty Mental Health Care.” Psychological Services 14 (2): 203–7. https://doi.org/10.1037/ser0000083. 
  13. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 2022. “New Data Shows 11% Decline in Veteran Homelessness since 2020—the Biggest Drop in More than 5 Years.” (HUD). November 3, 2022. https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_med ia_advisories/HUD_No_22_225. 
  14. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. 2018. “GI Bill.” VA.gov. 2018. https://www.va.gov/education/about-gi-bill-ben efits/. 
  15. ———. 2019. “Mental Health.” Va.gov. 2019. https://www.research.va.gov/topics/mental_heal th.cfm. 
  16. Woolhandler, Steffie, David U. Himmelstein, Ronald Distajo, Karen E. Lasser, Danny McCormick, David H. Bor, and Sidney M. Wolfe. 2005. “America’s Neglected Veterans: 1.7 Million Who Served Have No Health Coverage.” International Journal of Health Services 35 (2): 313–23. https://doi.org/10.2190/upbq-c3rh-d367-5h9d. 
  17. Young, Sharon, George Ondek, and Glenn Allen Phillips. 2022. “Stranger in a Strange Land: A Qualitative Exploration of Veteranness.” Journal of Veterans Studies 8 (1): 175–85. https://doi.org/10.21061/jvs.v8i1.308.
DISCLAIMER: The findings and conclusions published herein are solely attributed to the author and not necessarily endorsed or adopted by the Journal of Science Policy and Governance. Articles are distributed in compliance with copyright and trademark agreements.

ISSN 2372-2193
© 2022 Journal of Science Policy & Governance, Inc. All rights reserved. The opinions, findings and conclusions from JSPG publications and events do not necessarily reflect the views of the journal.