Rowan College of South Jersey's (RCSJ) Military Services Office hosts its annual Military Resource Event at its Cumberland Campus on Wednesday, April 15, in the Arpino Education & Humanities Center (ARP) Room 216, and at its Gloucester Campus on Friday, April 17, in the Acenda Behavioral Science Building (BSC) lounge.
This event aims to connect local veterans, military service members, and their families to a variety of resources and support. Each day of the event will run from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Every year, the Military Resource Event raises awareness about military opportunities and support for all military-affiliated community members. Vendors from the VA assist them with benefits they may qualify for. Additionally, RCSJ provides on-campus resources, such as its Wellness Center. This year's Cumberland Campus event will include the following:
- NJ DMAVA VSO Cumberland County
- RCSJ Wellness Center
- Rowan University Military Services
- Keating First Generation Institute
- Veterans Representative (DVOP)
- NJ Department of Veteran Affairs
- Veterans Multi-Service Center
- Red Cross
- USAF Recruiter
- Yi's Karate of Vineland
The Gloucester campus event will also host the following resources:
- Rowan University Military Services
- Gloucester County Veterans Affairs
- RCSJ Wellness Center
- Southern Jersey VA Outreach
- Keating First Generation Institute
- Crisis Canines
- Soldier On
- Navy Recruiters
- American Red Cross
- Gloucester County Sheriff
- NJ Department of Veteran Affairs (NJ DVA VSO) Gloucester and Camden Counties
- Department of Veteran Affairs Philadelphia Regional Office
Military-affiliated community members and their families can directly speak to the available vendors about the resources they provide. Since VA benefits are constantly changing, RCSJ provides a way to help service members keep up with the changes that may affect them and their families.
Military students are also given information from both RCSJ and its flagship partner, Rowan University, about benefits specifically offered to students. This includes RCSJ's military lounge, Student Veterans Association (SVA), and a direct contact offered to military students that will further assist them when transferring to Rowan University.
According to an article from performance.gov, “Each year, approximately 200,000 Service members leave the military and must reorient their lives. This includes fundamentals like their employment and education, finances, housing, health, and even relationships" (GSA, 2024). Community support throughout this process becomes essential in helping service members during their transition.
RCSJ's Military Services Office is led by John Ryder, director of Student Affairs and Military Services. Ryder is a Gulf War veteran and former Petty Officer 3rd Class (E-4) and a 2024 Veteran Champion of the Year in Higher Education Award recipient. Having experienced the transition to civilian life himself, Ryder knows how important it is to help connect service members and their families with essential support.
“I do what I do because I want to help others," he shared, “When I came home [from serving in the military], there wasn't a lot of help for our service members."
RCSJ's Compliance Manager for Student Affairs and Military Services, Danielle Crawford, also facilitates this event. Crawford transitioned to civilian life after serving as a Senior Airman (E-4) in the United States Air Force. For her, the most rewarding aspect of the Military Resource Event is the opportunity to show support to fellow veterans and their families.
Crawford extended her appreciation to the community: “Thank you to Rowan College South Jersey Military Service Office and all of our supporters. Without all of you, events like this aren't possible."
For more information about veteran resources and military student benefits visit RCSJ.edu/Veterans.
