Page 6 - MGA Today - Fall 2016

Dee Lindsey, MGA’s executive director for Veteran and Military
Services, meets with Air Force veteran and Middle Georgia State
student Jonathan Almendras in her office at VECTR. MARYANN BATES

The center is located in Warner Robins in a One case involved a Navy veteran – a single
bright, newly built facility not far from Robins Air dad to two children – who was left homeless after
Force Base, but Ross and others repeatedly someone he trusted convinced him to relocate to
emphasize that VECTR exists to serve veterans Warner Robins, then stole his money and
throughout Georgia. No comparable center exists disappeared.
anywhere else in the nation.
The veteran somehow learned of the 21st
“VECTR breaks down silos,” Dr. Christopher Century Partnership, a collaborative that works to
Blake, Middle Georgia State’s president, said at enhance the military value of Robins Air Force
the facility’s grand opening. “It relies on Base and the region. He called that office and
community engagement – not only engagement shared his story with someone who immediately
across 29 state colleges and universities and 22 thought to contact Ross for help.
technical colleges, but on the federal, state, local
and non-profit agencies to whom our staff will be VECTR “triaged” the situation, and in short
able to refer veterans in need.” order Volunteers of America and several Warner
Robins churches worked together to provide food
In its first month of operation, VECTR served and find housing for the family and enroll the
more than 1,100 veterans and their family children in school. The veteran is now employed
members. Of those, nearly 80 began the process of and starts Central Georgia Technical College’s
enrolling in a college or university, about 40 (CGTC) aircraft structural technology program in
received job-placement assistance and another 30 January.
were connected to community resources to help
with emergency situations. “That’s a pretty good illustration of VECTR,”
Ross said. “We’re not a stand-alone organization,

“VECTR exists to serve veterans throughout Georgia.
No comparable center exists anywhere else in the nation.”

6 MIDDLE GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY