Brandt Erickson, Operation Recognition Coordinator

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Brandt Erickson, Operation Recognition
Coordinator William Conroy, Director Division
of Veteran Affairs Ralph Bozella, Chairman
Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs
Operation Recognition Providing High School
Diplomas to Colorado Veterans
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OPERATION RECOGNITION

•  A program to award high school diplomas to
  qualified World War II, Korea and Vietnam era
  veterans.

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Authority

• Operation Recognition is
• authorized by State law (SB-100) and is
  offered by the Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs
  in cooperation with the Colorado Department of
  Education and the Colorado Association of School
  Boards.

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ELIGIBILITY

• Upon request, a board of education may
  award a diploma to the honorably discharged
  veteran if he or she
• 1. Served in the armed forces of the United
  States at any time during
• WWII December 7, 1941- December 31, 1946
• Korea June 25, 1950 - January 31, 1955
• Vietnam February 28, 1961 - May 7, 1975
• 2. Left high school before graduating in order
  to serve in the U.S. armed forces.
• 3. Has attained the age of sixty years.
• 4. Has not received a high school diploma. (May
  hold a GED.)?
• 5. At the time of making the request, resides
  within the school district or
• 6. At the time of leaving high school to serve
  in the U.S. armed forces, resided within
  the school district.

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REQUIRED PAPERWORK

• Operation Recognition Application for the
  veterans school diploma.
• Copy of Honorable Discharge papers attached
  to the application.

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THE PROCESS

• Interested veterans and family members may
  contact
• O.R. Coordinator Brandt Erickson 303-745-5157
• The state or county VA officers
• The Veterans Affairs website http//www.dmva.sta
  te.co.us/viewpage.php?PageID32
• The website contains necessary information and
  the application form.
• Local school districts
• (School districts will have to work with O.R.
  Coordinators or VA to verify veterans
  qualifications and application.)?

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Any of the following organizations may cooperate
to create this opportunity for qualified veterans
in your community

• Operation Recognition Coordinator
• VA Service Officers
• School districts/high schools
• Veterans organizations
• Senior citizen organizations
• Other community service agencies.

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Steps to establishing Operation Recognition in
your community

• 1. Use the Operation Recognition information
  flyer to generate interest for the program in
  your community through the local press, senior
  center and veterans organizations.
• 2. Give the interested veteran the Operation
  Recognition informational flyer.
• 3. Review the guidelines ensuring that the
  veteran meets the qualifications.

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4.  Give the qualified veteran the Operation
Recognition application. 5.   Determine
the high school best suited for veteran to apply
for diploma top line on application. (Veteran
should have attended this high school or
replacement high school in past, or currently
live in that school attendance area). 6.
Veteran submits completed application to O.R.
Coordinator or VSO with honorable discharge
papers.
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• 7. Coordinator or VSO should review
  application and discharge papers to determine
  eligibility, then sign it.
•  
• 8. Coordinator or VSO contacts the principal
  and ask if he or she is interested in cooperating
  (refer to SB-100, show letter from CASB, press
  from other programs).
• 9. If necessary, provide Operation Recognition
  informational flyer and application to the
  principal via email or fax or U.S. mail.

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10. Coordinator or VSO submits verified
application to principal. 11. Principal,
veteran and VSO communicate to determine how the
school can provide diploma to qualified veteran.
(Schools have done this through special
graduation ceremony for veterans, or as part of
the senior class graduation.)? 12. Principal
contacts veteran to set up graduation diploma
ceremony. Coordinator, VSO and/or other veteran
organizations may be involved to credibility and
support.
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13. Principal awards diploma.
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OPERATION RECOGNITION CONTACTS

• NAME LOCATION PHONE ROLE
•  
• Brandt Erickson AL Post 1992 303-745-5157
  Coordinator
• William Conroy Director Colorado VA
  303-343-1268 VA Consultant
•  
• Ralph Bozella CBVA 303-589-3170
  Consultant