Student Veterans of America reinstated its Mt. SAC chapter Monday, March 11.

SVA is a nation-wide organization that advocates for the needs and educational wellbeing of veterans as they pursue higher education.

Per its website, SVA is a student-led 501(c) nonprofit organization whose mission is to “act as a catalyst for student veteran success.” This includes providing resources, networking and advocacy throughout and beyond their time in school.

SVA chapters represent over 754,000 students on nearly 1600 college campuses nationwide and abroad. Victor Sierra, 33, a Marine Corps veteran and Mt. SAC SVA chapter president, who is also a first-year student at Mt. SAC  explains the purpose of SVA. “SVA provides everything from networking to tutoring, workshops and potlucks,” Sierra said. “It’s really just about building community with those who have that shared experience.”

Sierra spearheaded the push to bring SVA back to Mt. SAC; he explained some of the unique challenges veterans face upon both returning to civilian life and in pursuit of higher education. “You know, for a lot of guys that change is very difficult,” Sierra said. “I mean it’s like a whole new world. Once you’re out nobody really tells you what you should be doing or who you should be talking to.”

“Without, you know, that community around them it can be easy for some of these guys to lose their way or fall into the wrong thing.” Sierra added.

He then explained that while the Veterans Resource Center has a multitude of wonderful tools, programs and resources to help students succeed, many veterans just aren’t aware of them. “We have amazing staff and services, but we don’t have a great transitional program,” Sierra said.

He continued to explain that a more interconnected community like SVA can help students access the resources and services they need.

While SVA is a veteran advocacy group and community, the chapter is open to all Mt. SAC students.