About the Citrus College Veterans Program
The Citrus College Veterans Program began in January 2006 when Professor Dr. Bruce O. Solheim got together with a few veteran students and started the Citrus College Veterans Network (CCVN).
Dr. Solheim had noticed that more and more young veterans were returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and taking both his Vietnam War and World War II history courses. Taking the Vietnam War and World War II classes allows young veterans to safely explore the impact of war without dealing directly with their own traumatic experiences. These gateway courses help young veteran students begin to process their traumatic exposure experiences and prepares them for gaining insight, perspective, and healing.
In addition to starting the CCVN, we also started the Citrus College Veterans Book Fund and an annual Veterans Day celebration.
Manuel Martinez of the East Los Angeles Veterans Center brought the concept of a Boots to Books transition course for veterans to Dr. Solheim in January 2007. The Boots to Books course is now the flagship course for our Veterans Program and a model for the entire nation.