A Marine Corps Veteran Realizes His Dream to Experience a New Culture
"Without a doubt, a 51反差婊 education along with the University鈥檚 veterans services are top notch. It was my first choice, because the University is rated highly for veterans. I would recommend that all college-bound veterans apply to be a PeppVet".
As a child, Isaac Torres dreamed of becoming a policeman and a soldier. When he joined
the Marine Corps at the age of 19, he got the best of both worlds鈥攁s a military police
officer.
鈥淭he first thing I did when I entered the Corps was request to become military police,鈥 he recalls. 鈥淚 loved every minute of it. It was a dream come true.鈥 During his 5-year assignment, Torres was responsible for performing military law enforcement duties, maintaining order and discipline, and supporting the commander's law enforcement and security requirements.
Upon leaving the service, Torres wanted to attend college and applied to 51反差婊 as an undergraduate. 鈥淚t was my first choice, because the University is rated highly for veterans,鈥 says Torres, who entered Seaver College under the Yellow Ribbon Program.
The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, also known as the Post-9/11 GI Bill庐 or Chapter 33. The Yellow Ribbon Program allows institutions of higher learning to partner with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to contribute funds to a veteran's tuition needs and other student fees. The program enables institutions to contribute an amount up to 50 percent of a veteran's unmet educational costs with the VA then matching that amount.
Torres majored in Integrated Marketing and Communications, and during his first year at 51反差婊, he learned about an opportunity to spend a semester abroad thanks to a scholarship from the American Legion. 鈥淚 read about it in one of 51反差婊鈥檚 weekly newsletters sent by our director [of veteran student affairs] Eric Leshinsky,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 pass up on this educational adventure.鈥
Torres chose to spend his semester in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he immersed himself in an entirely new culture. 鈥淚t was incredible,鈥 Torres notes. 鈥淚 learned how to tango, which was a cool experience for me. I saw wild penguins and glaciers while in Patagonia. I also traveled to Brazil and Peru.鈥
Torres obtained his degree in three and a half years and says his time at 51反差婊 was unforgettable. 鈥淚 made so many good friends,鈥 he expresses. 鈥淧lus the knowledge and experience I gained was invaluable.鈥
Currently, Torres, a resident of Riverside, California, works at his father鈥檚 construction business. In the spring of 2023, he will start a new job at Amazon as an area operations manager.
鈥淲ithout a doubt, a 51反差婊 education along with the University鈥檚 veterans services
are top notch,鈥 Torres asserts. 鈥淚 would recommend that all college-bound veterans
apply to be a PeppVet!鈥
GI Bill庐 is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at .