When veterans leave the military, there is often a struggle to find what comes next. Many go to college because they think it’s the next step but aren’t sure what they want to study or what career they want to pursue. The Don & Ellie Knauss Veteran Resource and Support Center’s (VRSC) Veteran’s Evaluation of Talent plus Matching Assistance Program (VET+MAP) helps student veterans answer those questions.

The first half of the program focuses on helping veterans identify who they are by defining their values and writing a purpose statement. “There's a pretty cool moment that happens every single time when an individual goes through multiple drafts to craft their purpose statement and they finally get to a version of it that just nails everything,” said Jason Walker ’90, VRSC assistant director. “It's like this massive weight off their shoulders.”

Lifting that weight from student veterans’ shoulders is one of VET+MAP’s main goals.

The program is one-on-one and highly individualized, allowing each student to complete the program at their own pace with their own goals in mind.

The second half of the VET+MAP program helps students apply what they learned about their talents, ambitions, and goals to figure out what major and career path is right for them. Daniela Romero Najera ‘23, VET+MAP graduate assistant, has seen the impact this part of the program can have first-hand.

When Romero Najera first came to the VRSC, she was in a rough place. With only $20 in her pocket, she walked through those doors in the MSC not sure what kind of help she was going to find. What she didn’t know was that day would change her life.

“Finishing the VET+MAP program felt like someone was clearing dirt from my eyes and I could see clearly for the first time,” Romero Najera said. She originally started her journey into higher education with the goal of becoming an elementary school teacher. With the help of VET+MAP she has realized that her passion lies elsewhere – helping veterans the same way the VRSC has helped her.

“When veterans struggle with transitioning to civilian life they often have this misconception that they are broken, but it’s not that,” Romero Najera said. “It’s usually just that they aren’t in the right place.”

VET+MAP has helped Romero Najera find her place and now she gets to guide others in that same journey.

One of the individuals that she has helped on that journey is Geoffrey Bosenbark ’25. When Bosenbark left the Marine Corps in 2022, he was certain he no longer wanted to work for the federal government. After participating in VET+MAP, Bosenbark realized that service and national security were important to him. Now, he’s pursuing a career in cybersecurity.

The VRSC has a variety of programs including VET+MAP that help student veterans succeed in Aggieland . Bosenbark said that those programs make Texas A&M a great place to be for student veterans. “I have friends who have gotten out of the military and gone everywhere,” he said. “None of them have had the kind of experience that I’ve had here.”

The VRSC and its programs are made possible through charitable gifts from former students and other Aggie supporters. who help the VRSC continue their mission of Serving Well Those Who Have Served. To help support the VRSC contact David Bacot ‘90 or give online.