WE ARE UNCW Profile
Bill Kawczynski
Director, Military Affairs
Melanie Nelson
Military Student Services Specialist
Joanna DeMott
Military Liaison and Program Manager
Welcome to the land of the
Military Seahawk!
The Office of Military Affairs is here to support you in your academic journey and beyond. Our students represent all branches of military service and affiliations:
- Veterans
- Active duty service members
- Reservists
- National Guard members
- Military/veteran family members
Use the navigation buttons above to learn more about programs and services at UNCW, and please don't hesitate to reach out with questions (email militaryaffairs@uncw.edu).
Take a virtual tour of the Military Affairs Wing in Veterans Hall.
We recognize the challenges faced by Black students, students of color, students with disabilities, students in the LGBTQIA community, and students in other marginalized populations. We will continue to promote the ideals and standards of behavior found in the Seahawk Respect Compact.
Local Resource Guide
The following remarks were shared recently by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:
Veterans from all eras are reacting to the events in Afghanistan, such as the U.S. withdrawal and the takeover by the Taliban. You are not alone. Veterans may question the meaning of their service or whether it was worth the sacrifices they made. They may feel more moral distress about experiences they had during their service. It’s normal to feel this way. Talk with your friends and families, reach out to battle buddies, connect with a peer-to-peer network, or sign up for mental health services.
Local resources for UNCW students:
- Visit the Counseling Center at UNCW, which is included with the cost of tuition; drop-in from 1-4 pm Monday-Thursday
- Visit the Vet Center in Jacksonville, North Carolina
- Speak with the VA Suicide Prevention coordinator, Mona McBryde, at the Wilmington VA Health Care Clinic: 910-343-5200 ext. 3659
- Call the Coastal Horizon Save a Vet Now Outreach Program:
- New Hanover County: 910-343-0145
- Brunswick County: 910-754-4515
- Pender County: 910-259-0668
- Call Mobile Crisis: 1-866-437-1821
- Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
- Speak with staff in the Office of Military Affairs (8 am-5 pm M-F in Veterans Hall 1029)
Read the full message from the VA, including links to more resources.
News
Veterans Week 2021
The Office of Military Affairs is looking forward to celebrating our military and veteran community with several events during Veterans Week 2021. Check the list on the Events page for updates about Veterans Week!
We Are UNCW: Sharryse Piggott '18, '21M
Read this profile of a Marine and North Carolina National Guard veteran who earned not one, but two degrees from UNCW.
Military Family Night with UNCW Soccer
On Saturday, October 16, UNCW will host a Military Family Night at the Men's Soccer Match against James Madison University.
*Free tickets for military/veterans and their family members
*Gates open at 5:30 pm; match starts at 7pm
*Pick up tickets at the military table at the main gate
*Concessions available for purchase
*Park in the gravel lot by the UNCW Soccer Stadium (between Greene Track and Bozeman Softball Field)
Time Capsule from 2001
When the Office of Military Affairs moved to Veterans Hall last year, we found a book that had been given to UNCW students in 2001 as an outlet for them to reflect on the events of September 11. A year later, they were asked to share their reflections again. This year, Randall Library created a digital exhibit for our community to read these reflections from the past and to contribute our own reflections. Join in the Remembering 9/11 Padlet Exhibit.
Fallen Comrade Memorial
On Tuesday, August 31, the Office of Military Affairs set the Fallen Comrade table. This military tradition is designed to remind us that not all service members return from the mission. This memorial was chosen to help the campus community reflect on the loss of 13 U.S. service members in Afghanistan on Thursday, August 26, as well as on 20 years of war in Afghanistan.
Here is an explanation of this memorial:
FALLEN COMRADE TABLE
The table is round, to show our everlasting concern for the fallen and missing.
The cloth is white, symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to serve.
The single red rose reminds us of the lives of these Americans and their loved ones and friends.
The red ribbon symbolizes our continued determination to account for our missing.
A slice of lemon reminds us of their bitter fate.
A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears of the family and friends of the fallen.
The lighted candle reflects our hope.
The Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain us and those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God.
The glass is inverted, symbolizing their inability to share a toast.
The chair is empty, the seat remains unclaimed at the table.
Members of the campus community are reminded that students may seek assistance through the Counseling Center and employees may seek assistance through the Employee Assistance Program.
Yellow Ribbon Program
UNCW is participating in the Veteran Affairs Yellow Ribbon Program for the 2021-22 academic year. This program offers additional funding to certain students who do not qualify for the in-state tuition rate at UNCW.
Here is an explanation of how the Yellow Ribbon Program and the Veteran's Choice Act work:
The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers UNCW tuition only up to the in-state rate.
If you are not considered a resident of North Carolina for tuition purposes (according to the North Carolina Residency Determination Service), you will not be eligible for the in-state tuition rate.
However, you may be eligible to apply for the Veteran's Choice Act, which would waive the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition.
If you are not eligible for the Veteran's Choice Act, you may be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon Program, which offers some additional funding for a limited number of qualified students (veterans and children of military members or veterans only) on a first come, first served basis.
- Review eligibility requirements for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
- Apply for the Yellow Ribbon Program. You will only be able to submit the form one time, so please read the application carefully before submitting.
If you have any questions, contact the VA-Military Financial Aid Counselors for assistance.
We Are Class of '21
Air Force veteran Ashlie Anderson served as the president of UNCW's Student Veterans Organization as she prepared to graduate with a degree in Exercise Science. Ashlie's story was featured on We Are UNCW.
Student Veteran Receives Scholarship from the Association of the United States Army
Sean Quigley, an Army veteran and Recreation Therapy major in the School of Health and Applied Human Sciences, has been awarded a scholarship from the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), of which UNCW is a member. The Association of the United States Army is a nonprofit educational and professional development association serving America’s Total Army: Soldiers, Army civilians, and their families. This Chapter provides a voice for the Army, supports the Soldier, and honors those who have served in order to advance the security of the nation.
Secretary for the North Carolina Department of Military and Veteran Affairs Visits UNCW
Lieutenant General Walter Gaskin, the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veteran Affairs, visited UNCW to tour Veterans Hall on Thursday, April 15. During the tour, he discussed the potential for research collaborations and learned about educational opportunities available for students. Photo shows (left to right) Director of Military Affairs, Bill Kawczynski; Chancellor Sartarelli; Secretary Gaskin; and Provost Winebrake.
We Are the Class of 2020
Megan Schwartz, a December 2020 graduate of the Watson College of Education, is also a military spouse who has lived through many of the hallmarks of military family life while in college. Read Megan's story to learn more.
Updates on Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCOV)
Please visit the UNCW Student Health Center Updates page for the latest information on prevention, resources and travel advisories related to the coronavirus.
Veteran Friendly
Staff from the Office of Military Affairs interview representatives from higher education and other industries to discuss what it really means to be "Veteran Friendly."Listen to Veteran Friendly
The Military Seahawk Podcast
Student veterans and other guests describe their experiences transitioning out of the military and into college life. Streaming now on TealTV.org or wherever you stream your podcasts.Listen to The Military Seahawk Podcast
