Veterans: Help reporters cover the student veteran experience

America is learning how to serve a new generation of veterans. More than 1.5 million people have served in Afghanistan and Iraq and they are returning home to economic uncertainty, government bureaucracy, and a culture that doesn't always understand the experience of war.

Reporters here at American Public Media want your help telling the story of the student veteran experience. We've been reporting on veterans' issues for months now and we'd like to know about your thoughts and experiences.

We may include your insights in our upcoming stories or contact you to find out more. But your information will remain completely confidential unless you explicitly give us permission on the form to share your insights. Thanks for your time.

(Photo by John Moore | Getty Images)

* indicates required field

First Name *

Last Name *

E-mail *

City

State or Province

Postal Code *

Country

Phone

When did you serve, where, and in what branch of the military?

What is your rank? Current status (retired, active duty, etc.)? *

Please tell us a little about your education. Are you in school right now? If so, which school, and how many years do you have left? And are you there with the help of the current GI Bill or the Montgomery GI bill? *

If you are in school with the help of the current GI Bill or Montgomery GI Bill, was it a factor in your decision to go to school? Please explain. *

Have you experienced any delays in GI Bill payments? If so, please describe.

How are you doing in school? If you have failed or had to drop any classes, was your experience in the armed forces a factor? Please explain.

What were some of the greatest challenges you faced when you left active duty? Were they physical? Psychological? Financial? Social? Something else?

We've done a lot of reporting on the backlog in VA disability claims. Are you waiting on a claim now?

We want to hear about the new ways that veterans are finding support and building community, especially in regards to education. Tell us about veterans' organizations, school groups, programs, resources, clubs, teams, or businesses, big or small, that we might not have heard about -- especially those that you have found particularly innovative or useful in regards to education.

What else should we know that would make our understanding of the modern veteran experience more complete?

If you have an original photo that helps illustrate what you described above, or just of yourself -- in or out of uniform -- please upload it here. (No larger than 10MB, please.)

Tell us a little about the photo: name(s), date, location, and the story behind it.

Are you willing to help us find other veterans to help inform our reporting on this topic?

sure
no thanks

May we publish your insights (and any uploaded files) and attribute them to you? Your comments may be edited for length or clarity. If you choose "no", or "contact me first", your comments will of course be completely confidential. *

sure
no thanks
contact me first

And now, three final quick questions to help us better understand your perspective:

In what year were you born?

What do you do for work now?

Where can we find you or connect with you online? (your homepage URL, Google +, Facebook page, Twitter handle, blog URL, etc.)

Your Information

By completing this form, you become part of American Public Media's Public Insight Network (PIN). American Public Media and any other PIN newsroom listed on this form may contact you for help with current and future news coverage.

This submission may be shared with journalists at American Public Media and other news organizations collaborating on reporting. It will not be used for marketing or fundraising purposes, and we will never quote you without first getting your explicit permission.

If you give us permission to publish your submission, we may edit before sharing it on-air, in print or online. We reserve the right to reuse or republish your submission, or to withhold your submission from publication. You must be 13 years or older to provide a submission.

About the Public Insight Network

Founded in 2003, American Public Media's Public Insight Network is a platform for connecting trusted journalists with knowledgeable sources and for fostering journalistic excellence, innovation and collaboration. Learn more »

Through American Public Media, you may have opportunities to also inform reporting for Marketplace, Marketplace Money, On Being, American RadioWorks and other partner newsrooms.