Oswego State has been ranked as one of the Military Times’ Best for Vets colleges for the third consecutive year. This honor comes alongside the college’s opening of its Battle Buddy Center on Nov. 11.

Military Times, an independent newsweekly, looked over various aspects to create their 2017 ranking of 125 four-year schools. They weighed factors such as services available to veterans by the college or university, campus life and accommodations through surveys and national data.

“They really look at everything across the board,” said Benjamin Parker, Oswego State’s veteran and military services coordinator.

This includes recognizing that student veterans have breaks in their education due to their time in the service.

One of the services available for veterans at Oswego State is awarding college credit for military experience through a joint services transcript by the American Council for Education. Parker said once this is evaluated and approved by Oswego State, veterans could earn up to 30 credits based on their joint services transcript recommendations. Tuition assistance is also available.

Parker said he is  veterans’ one-stop place helping them with a wide variety of things from graduation to interest in  campus.

Oswego native and veteran Robert Lee said Parker met with him and helped him in his transition from military to campus life.

“Other people were telling me that, ‘Oh no you can’t do this for certain reasons,’ but when I met Ben he was like, ‘No, it was just a little bit more paperwork and effort from everyone involved,’” Lee said.

Another effort made by Oswego State is the Veterans Lounge, which opened in 2013 in Hewitt Union and now has been converted into a Battle Buddy Center designated by the New York State Industries for the Disabled.

“[Student veterans are] coming from a place that they basically spent their entire time enlisted being trained how to be whatever their occupation is and how to be a service member throughout all that training,” Parker said. “Once they’re out that’s all gone, so one important aspect that any college can really do is to have one place like a veteran’s lounge that they’re able to basically get together.”

The Battle Buddy Center is a substitute for the camaraderie that would be found on a military base.

“Based on the military concept of a ‘Battle Buddy,’ which partners soldiers to assist each other both in and out of combat, Battle Buddy Centers offer activities to encourage camaraderie and foster veterans to give and receive mutual support,” NYSID said in a press release. 

NYSID has designated 12 Battle Buddy Centers in New York. 

The $10,000 grant awarded by NYSID will go towards upgrading the lounge and creating veteran specific social events, like coffee breaks, Parker said.

“The new Battle Buddy Center is just a great center in general,” Navy student David Mulia said. “It’s just another designated area, where we can meet…other veterans and just kind of mentor, talk to each other.”

The Veterans Club holds their meetings inside the room as well.

Oswego State has also earned recognition by Military Advanced Education as a Military Friendly School and Best Colleges for Veterans among Regional Universities in the North by  G. I. Jobs U.S. News and World Report.