Single Dad and US Marine Veteran Graduates From USF After Suffering PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury

Student Veterans Cliff McAfee University of South Florida PTSD

By Joel Brussels , Parent Herald Aug 10, 11:24 am

Photo: (Photo : JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images)

A veteran of the United States Marines graduated from the University of South Florida (USF) after overcoming incredible odds, proudly showing his three kids that age does not matter when it comes to education.

Cliff McAfee served in the Marine Corps for a dozen years. He later moved to the state of Florida from Pittsburgh to be closer to his kids, and got his associate's degree at Pasco-Hernando State College, according to News Channel 8.

According to a spokesperson for USF, McAfee's professors encouraged him to continue his education and based on his passion to help and care for others, they recommended he major in interdisciplinary social sciences with concentrations in anthropology and sociology.

McAfee suffered PTSD and traumatic brain injury while serving in the Marines

McAfee transferred to USF but had a difficult time juggling classwork as a single dad, as well as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a traumatic brain injury from his time serving in the Marines.

The USF spokesperson said McAfee then found the support and camaraderie he needed through a group of veterans he met in the USF Office of Veteran Success. He became the vice president of the USF Student Veterans of American chapter. McAfee also conducted research with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Student Accessibility Services, in regards to online classes as well as recording devices.

USF said McAfee aims to reduce the stigma that is often associated with student veterans and accessibility services. He will pursue a master's of education in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in college student affairs this coming fall.

Characteristics of student veterans

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a total of 669,922 Veterans used VA education and vocational rehabilitation benefits to further their education in 2018. Compared with traditional undergraduate students, veteran students are older and twice as likely to have a job off-campus. They also have a considerable amount of life experience before starting postsecondary school.

So what are the characteristics of student veterans? Only 15 percent of them are the traditional age of college students. Most student veterans are ages 24-40 and 47 percent of them have children. Around 47 percent of student veterans are married and 62 percent of them are first-generation college students.

Of veterans who started using VA education benefits in 2017, 52 percent were enrolled in an undergraduate program, 24 percent in a two-year school, 9 percent in a graduate program, and 15 percent in a vocational, technical, or nondegree program. Three-quarters of student veterans are attending school full time.

So what are the main reasons why veterans are enrolling in higher education? They want to increase their career opportunities, develop new skills, learn to apply their military skills in civilian life, and to improve the quality of life for themselves and their families.