BOOTS TO BOOKS

Instructor                                                                                                                             

Manuel Martinez, M.S., Counseling Therapist, East L.A. Vet Center
Email: mmartinez@citruscollege.edu
Office Phone: 323-728-9966
Office Hours: by appointment

Course Description

Boots to Books is a new course for all veterans and current military members (especially returning OIF/OEF veterans), their family members, friends, and supporters. The goal of Boots to Books is to assist the deployed, post-deployed, and veteran (DPV) student in making a positive transition from military to civilian life or from deployment to post-deployment life including college survival skills. This curriculum was developed to help the DPV student succeed in academics, work, family, and other social settings. The Boots to Books course will teach students interpersonal skills and techniques for managing Military Readjustment Transition Issues. The course will also help DPV students effectively manage military stress, combat reaction stress, operational stress, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Additionally, Boots to Books focuses on improving overall health, resilience, and readiness for deployed/post-deployed troops.

Course Objectives

1. transition from military to civilian life or from deployment to post-deployment life
2. Successfully adapt to college life
3. Understand problems veterans of previous wars have encountered
4. Understand problems veterans/troops of modern warfare are encountering
5. Develop coping skills to deal with operational stress, combat stress reaction, and learn early detection of PTSD
6. Learn anger and stress management and emotional regulation techniques
7. Learn problem solving, interpersonal, conflict resolution, assertiveness and other skills to enhance the college, work, home life of the DPV student
8. Apply effective study skills for this class and other college courses

Required Reading

1. On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College and in Life by Skip Downing

2. Additional readings are in the form of handouts that will be provided by the instructor

Recommended Reading

1.      After the War Zone: A Practical Guide for Returning Troops and Their   

Families by Laurie B. Slone and Matthew J. Friedman

Basis of Grading

50 points              Class participation/Attendance/Quizzes
100 points            Four (4) in-class assignments (worth 25 points each)
100 points            Midterm exam
100 points            Final exam
175 points            Seven (7) take-home assignments (worth 25 points each)

90 % = A
80 % = B
70 % = C
60 % = D

Assignments/Tests

Class participation is determined by your active role in-class activities. There will also be random quizzes based on your textbook reading.

In-class assignments will involve writing a few paragraphs on a particular subject in class.

The Midterm and Final exams will consist of questions requiring short narrative answers and will be open book and open notes.

Take-home assignments will be based on specific course material and will require short essay responses. These assignments should be typed.

Extra credit assignments will be available.

Schedule

Policies

1. Think ahead, turn work in on time.  NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED unless you can provide documentation of your severe injury, illness or other uncontrollable event or circumstance.
2. Please be aware of and review the Citrus College guidelines on academic honesty.
3. Please feel free to express yourself; just do so with respect for others.
4. Be prepared.  If you have a home or work situation that is interfering with your study-time, let me know early so we can work something out.
5. All take-home and in-class assignments will be explained in class. You must be in attendance to get these assignment prompts.
6. ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE TYPED EXCEPT FOR IN CLASS ASSIGNMENTS

Note: If you need course adaptations and accommodations because of a disability, or if you have medical information you need to share with me, or if you need special arrangements, please notify me as soon as possible.