Military and Veterans Studies Commons^™

Cross-Discipline Collaboration: A Holistic Legal-Social Work Partnership For Veteran Advocacy, Ken Marfilius, Elizabeth Kubala, Margo Lance, Paige Esposito

Voices of Service Symposium

The Veterans Legal Clinic integrates social work into legal advocacy to support homeless veterans facing complex legal and personal challenges. In collaboration with Altamont, social work students provide case management that connects clients to VA benefits, housing, mental health care, and other essential services. The interdisciplinary, trauma-informed model addresses systemic barriers such as service-connected disabilities and social inequalities. By delivering personalized client-centered support, the clinic empowers veterans to rebuild their lives with dignity and resilience.

National Military Trial Competition: First Competition Of Its Kind Hosted By Syracuse University College Of Law, Elizabeth Kubala, Todd Berger, Anna Lupardo

Voices of Service Symposium

Trial advocacy refers to the skills required of lawyers in order to effectively represent their clients during litigation. This involves all of the methods used in presenting a case in court such as opening statements, direct examinations, cross examinations and closing arguments. Effective trial advocacy requires a combination of legal knowledge, effective communication skills, and the ability to read the dynamics of a courtroom in order to ultimately influence the outcome of the case in the favor of your client. Law students develop their trial advocacy skills through classes, competitions, or personal development. Military justice refers to the legal system …

"Band-Aids Don't Fix Bullet Holes:" The Veterans Who Are Not "Veterans," The Unique Crises They Face, And Why Proactive Interagency Collaboration Is Key, Elizabeth Kubala, Seth M. Owens

Voices of Service Symposium

Not all veterans are "veterans." Over 540,000 living veterans have served this country, yet their military administrative discharge status prevents them from accessing U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) care and benefits. A shocking number of these veterans suffer from undiagnosed or untreated mental health conditions, and when exacerbated by the secondary effects from lack of access to VA support, put them at one of the highest risks for other psychosocial crises such as suicide and homelessness. The VA excludes these veterans from accessing their services due to the "less-than-honorable" nature of their discharge, which is excluded in the federal …

Supporting Veteran And Military-Connected Students: Initiatives And Future Plans At Syracuse University Libraries, Patricia Giles, Joel Carpenter

Voices of Service Symposium

Over the past two years, Syracuse University Libraries has been creating services and events tailored to the academic and community needs of veteran and military-connected students. This presentation focuses on two key initiatives: (a) A student veteran exhibit at Bird Library held around Veterans Day, and (b) A Veteran & Military-Connected Students Guide to the Libraries. The annual student veteran exhibit is designed to give student veterans a platform to share their stories with the broader Syracuse University community. The Veteran & Military-Connected Students Guide, developed by liaison librarian Patricia Giles and Information Literacy Scholar Joel Carpenter (MLIS '26), aims …

Legal Services For Homeless Veterans: New Va Grants Aim To Provide Critical Services To Veterans In Crisis, Elizabeth Kubala, Seth M. Owens, Andrew M. Patterson

Voices of Service Symposium

Ending and preventing homelessness among Veterans is a priority for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In 2022, the VA created the Legal Services for Homeless Veterans (LSV-H) grant program, providing funds for legal services organizations to deliver essential legal aid to homeless veterans and veterans at risk for homelessness. As one of only three law schools that are current LSV-H grant recipients, the Syracuse University Veterans Legal Clinic provides legal aid to homeless veterans in the areas of housing, income support (VA disability), access to healthcare, and requests to upgrade military discharge or dismissal of a former member …

Primary Care Brief Mindfulness Treatment Reduces Need For Clinical Services And Behavioral Healthcare, Dessa Bergen-Cico, Emily M. Johnson, Kyle Possemato, Mia Zappala, Allyson Smith, Robyn Sedotto

Voices of Service Symposium

Behavioral healthcare engagement is low for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) even in systems where high-quality evidence-based psychotherapies (EBPs) are available. Mindfulness based interventions (MBI) may mitigate avoidance in treatment through self-regulation and non-judgmental self-awareness. This study analyzed treatment engagement and service utilization of Veterans engaged in a randomized clinical trial MBI for PTSD (A Primary Care Brief Mindfulness Training (PCBMT)) to assess its impact on behavioral healthcare engagement in populations with PTSD.

Veteran's Service In Research Veteran's Advance Complementary And Integrative Mental Healthcare, Dessa Bergen-Cico

Voices of Service Symposium

This poster encompasses findings from research using complementary and integrative health interventions for Veterans with traumatic stress/PTSD. These studies encompass: a.) the use of mindfulness-based interventions for treatment of PTS/PTSD, suicidality, and depression (Possemato, Bergen-Cico et al, 2016) b.) implementation science involving Veteran peers as co-facilitators of primary care delivery of mindfulness-based interventions for Veterans with PTS/PTSD (Possemato, Bergen-Cico et al, 2022) c.) the efficacy of mindfulness-based intervention as evidenced by changes in biomarkers like cortisol a stress hormone(Bergen-Cico, Possemato, et al, 2014) d.) dog ownership and companionship for management of PTS/PTSD (Bergen-Cico et al, 2019; Ramon, Bergen-Cico Possemato, 2022)

Bisphosphonates Loaded Nanoparticles In Microparticles As Macrophage Targeting Immunomodulatory System For Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis Therapy, Paul Sagoe, Kaixiang Zhang, Benjamin Zink, Era Jain

Voices of Service Symposium

Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) is a painful and debilitating disease that emerges following a joint injury. Given the rigorous nature of military training and the subsequent injuries sustained during service, the incidence of PTOA in military demographic is five-times higher than the general population, making it the leading medical cause of disability and early discharge from active duty. Emerging evidence suggests inflammatory macrophages as key drivers of PTOA progression, thus abating their activity may advance therapy. Zoledronate (Zol), a bisphosphonate with high macrophage-affinity and anti-inflammatory properties, has potential for PTOA treatment but is limited by low bioavailability, rapid joint-clearance and elevated …

Enhancing The Impact And Longevity Of Research On Veterans And Military-Connected Populations At Syracuse University, Grace R. Swinnerton, Dylan Mohr

Voices of Service Symposium

What happens to your poster on veterans and military-connected populations after today's presentation? What about future research outputs? Are you seeking a platform that offers persistent access, increased discoverability, and encourages the use and re-use of your work? This poster explores how SURFACE, Syracuse University's digital repository, provides a comprehensive solution to these needs.

SURFACE is a free, open-access resource that ensures long-term preservation of a wide range of content, including digital posters, articles, books, journals, and more. For example, the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) has leveraged SURFACE to store their Applied Research outputs. This partnership has …

Research That Drives Economic & Social Mobility For Veterans And Military Families, Rosalinda V. Maury

Voices of Service Symposium

This poster highlights IVMF's data-driven research and programs that advance economic and social mobility for veterans and military families. It showcases findings on employment, entrepreneurship, transition readiness, and community reintegration, with insights drawn from national surveys and ongoing data monitoring. These findings inform policy, improve program design, and support stakeholders working to enhance veteran outcomes across sectors.

Race And Military Service: Economic Mobility For Underrepresented Racial Minority (Urm) Veteran Entrepreneurs, Mauricio Mercado, Arielle Badger Newman

Voices of Service Symposium

The United States military has long been perceived as a path to upward economic mobility, offering comprehensive training and a robust support network for veterans. Yet for historically underrepresented minority populations, the full scope of this potential remains uncertain due to ongoing discrimination and disparities in access to opportunities. This research interrogates how intersecting identities of military service and race shape entrepreneurial outcomes and pathways to economic mobility.

Expectancies For Alcohol Analgesia And Alcohol Use Among Veterans With Chronic Pain: The Moderating Role Of Discrimination In Medical Settings, Victoria E. Carlin, Kyle Mackenzie White, Joon Kyung Nam, Grant H. Ripley, Alexa G. Deyo, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Introduction. Chronic pain and alcohol use are highly prevalent and frequently co-occur among U.S. military veterans. Expectancies for alcohol analgesia (i.e., degree to which an individual believes that consuming alcohol can help reduce or manage their pain) may contribute to alcohol consumption, dependence, and related harms. Discrimination in medical settings (i.e., degree to which one experiences inequitable treatment while receiving healthcare due to a stigmatized identity) has been linked to a variety of deleterious health outcomes and may amplify associations between expectancies for alcohol analgesia and drinking behavior. Methods. Participants included 430 U.S. military veterans with chronic pain who endorsed …

Increasing Access To Valuable Services For Veterans Treatment Court Participants, Elizabeth Kubala, Bill Rielly

Voices of Service Symposium

The Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic (VLC) at the Syracuse University College of Law is partnered with the New York Health Foundation (NYHF) to develop and implement an approach for expanding the services available to Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) participants across New York. VTCs offer an alternative to criminal court for many low-level offenses. The participants complete an intensive 18-month program of counseling, support groups, and recovery before graduating. A significant number of participants earned VA benefits through their service but are not receiving those benefits. Advocating for these veterans benefits reinforces that their service was valuable, …

Developing An Undergraduate Course On Veteran And Military Behavioral Health, Sarah J. Litt, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Understanding the behavioral health needs of military service members and veterans is important for students who may pursue careers across the helping professions. This poster presentation details the development of a new undergraduate course that provides foundational knowledge in military and veteran behavioral health. The course examines a broad spectrum of psychological and behavioral health issues, including substance use and addiction, trauma and PTSD, military sexual trauma, suicide, pain and physical impairment, depression, anxiety, and the challenges associated with transitioning to civilian life. It also explores family and relationship dynamics, military culture, and barriers to mental health care. Key considerations …

Pain Interference And Hazardous Drinking Among U.S. Veterans: The Role Of Combat Deployment, Joon Kyung Nam, Kyle Mackenzie White, Victoria E. Carlin, Joseph W. Ditre

Voices of Service Symposium

Chronic pain and hazardous drinking (i.e., patterns of alcohol consumption that elevate risk for negative health outcomes) are both common and often co-occur among U.S. veterans. Research examining associations between pain interference (i.e., extent to which pain disrupts daily functioning) and alcohol use among non-military samples has yielded mixed findings, with some linking greater pain interference to lower levels of alcohol consumption, and others linking it with increased odds of alcohol dependence. However, there has been a paucity of research examining these relations among veterans, and the role of combat exposure remains unexplored. The goal of these analyses was to …

The Employment Situation Of Veterans: March 2025, Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

In March 2025, U.S. employment rose by 228,000, with notable gains in health care, social assistance, and transportation, while the overall unemployment rate held steady at 4.2%. Veteran unemployment declined overall, though trends varied by age, gender, and race, with some subgroups—such as older veterans and Black veterans—experiencing increases.

The Employment Situation Of Veterans: April 2025, Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

In April 2025, the U.S. added 177,000 jobs, with the national unemployment rate holding at 4.2%. Veteran unemployment declined to 3.5% from 3.8% in March, while Post-9/11 veterans saw a drop to 2.9%. Male veteran unemployment fell to 3.1%, but female veteran unemployment rose to 5.9%. Black and Hispanic veterans experienced significant improvements, with rates falling to 4.8% and 2.9%, respectively—both lower than their nonveteran peers. Younger veterans (25–34) and those aged 45–54 saw notable declines, while veterans aged 55–64 experienced a slight increase. Despite gains, disparities remain, especially for female and older veterans.

Leveraging Allies, Partners, And Technology: A Case Study Approach To Identifying Best Practices For Improving Us Military All-Domain Urban Training, Kevin Michael Felix

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

In this study, the researcher explored urban training gaps, opportunities, and synergies across the United States and five Allied and partner nations, and how synthetic training environments (STE) technologies should be optimized now and in the future to improve US all-domain urban training. The researcher adopted a qualitative multiple case study approach, analyzing military doctrine, urban warfare training strategies, and infrastructure in the United States, Germany, France, Britain, Israel, and Singapore to establish best practices across these countries. Urban warfare requires specialized skills to negotiate terrain, including high-rise buildings, subterranean networks, and dense civilian populations. However, the existing U.S. military …

Managing The Cost Of Services For People With Disabilities: International Approach. Part Ii: Ohio, United States, Dana Pugh, Jaroslaw Richard Romaniuk

Faculty Scholarship

Introduction: Four years of managing a housing network for people with disabilities prompted a rethinking of the financial management of the services offered. Clients with different needs require diverse professional staff for their home care. Emergency situations require that professionals offering assistance maintain the highest level of education possible. Financial resources often limit the quality of care for people with disabilities. Method: This paper is based on a literature search and on professional experience (Dana Pugh) in the management of a housing program for people with disabilities in Cleveland, Ohio (USA). Findings: In Poland, people with disabilities usually live with …

An Examination Of Early Termination From Trauma-Focused Treatment For Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Literature Review And Mixed Methods Study Proposal, Laura M. Lathrop

Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects

The high rate of early termination from evidence-based, trauma-focused psychotherapy treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) impedes maximum benefit from trauma-focused treatment, making it an on-going concern for clinicians. This paper consists of a literature review regarding the problem of early termination from evidence-based, trauma-focused treatment for PTSD in adults. It then proposes a mixed methods study to investigate re-engaging veterans in trauma-focused PTSD treatment, analyzing completion rates, and evaluating participants’ experience using qualitative interviews.