Two bills sponsored by New Jersey Assembly Democrats were passed last month by the state’s General Assembly, in an effort to help New Jersey service members and veterans make their path to higher education easier.
As a veteran himself and experiencing the transition of coming home and going to college after active duty service, N.J. assembly member Bob Andrzejczak, one of the sponsors of both bills, realized that not all institutions work in favor of veterans.
“We should be taking care of our veterans when they do come home,” he said, adding that other veterans and assembly members agreed and even brought new ideas on how to help make this experience better for veterans.
The first bill, A-790 or “Combat to College Act” allows for New Jersey veterans and service members attending a public institution in the state with priority status when the course registration period occurs each semester. In order to be eligible for this bill, one would need to be an active duty military service member and a veteran who was honorably released or discharged.
“Reservists juggling college courses with uniformed service members and veterans who risked their lives for our country deserve priority registration and recognition of completed training through credits,” assembly member Raj Mukherji, one of the bill’s sponsors and a former sergeant in the U.S. Marines who served in military intelligence, said in a press release. “This common sense legislative package will help the transition of veterans to civilian life as well as help more service members attain their degrees.”
Assembly member R. Bruce Land, agreed, stating that anything that can be done to help military service members and veterans continue their education is “a smart approach.”
“They have made and continue to make sacrifices for our country and state, and it’s only right that we tweak systems like this one to be more accommodating,” he said.
