Center for Military Veterans, Service Members and Families

Our Mission and Obligation

"We Lead By Example"

"We Love Our Students"

"We Provide the Finest in Customer Care"

Our Culture

"We Work and Find a Way to Succeed"

 

QUINLAN-HAMMOND HALL OF HONOR

 

Concrete is being poured	The slab is setting
Steel beams are being placed	The construction continues

USM Military Students Welcome You to Our Campus

 

Testimonials

 

We are a Military Caring University

Student-Veterans and Military Family Members are special at Southern Miss. With a drive to succeed in civilian life, Our Military Students possess core values such as loyalty, duty, respect, honor, courage and commitment. At Southern Miss, we honor such values by supporting Our Military Students in all their endeavors. The drive these students display makes us proud of their Service to Our Nation and tenacity in the classroom.

USM is nationally recognized as the top Military Caring University across the State of Mississippi and has earned designation as a Purple Heart Institution. In addition, Military Times has rated us as a number 9 “Best for Vets” institution across the Nation.

Such recognition and designation recognize USM’s continued extraordinary commitment to caring for and providing engaged assistance to support Military Veterans, Service Members and their Families.

Our Center staff provide guidance and support as our Military Students move through the admission process, on to graduation and career placement. Our Student Veterans learn and grow in an environment dedicated to their unique perspective. This level of attention successfully attracts Military Veterans, Service Members, and their Families to pursue their academic and professional development interests at The University of Southern Mississippi.

Apply Now to Be a Golden Eagle!

 

“At Ease at USM”

​

• Who are you? Woodrow Stelly III (I go by Stelly)

• What is your background? 

  a.  Where do you call home? I've lived in so many different places and moved so much that I really don't have a specific place that I call home, I would say that my home is the United States.

  b.  What branch did you join? I was in the U.S. Army, Ordnance Corps.

  c.   When were you in the Military? I Served from May 2006- April 2015

  d.   How long did you stay in the Military? I was in the military for about 9 years.

  e.   What did you do in the Military? I was primarily a Tank Mechanic (91A), but I also was in recovery (H8), and an instructor. I've worked on just about every vehicle and piece of equipment that the Army owns!

• What is your proudest Military moment? My proudest military moment would be when, as an E5, I started a program on my last deployment that earned over 20 Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medals (MOVSM) for my company, and helped setup and conduct a Spur Ride for a partnering unit, to help them earn their Silver Spurs so that they could set themselves apart from their peers. I also earned my Silver Spurs with this same unit prior to the deployment and became a member of the Buffalo Soldiers 1-10 CAV.
• What are some of your hobbies? My hobbies are reading, playing video games, staying active, drawing or coloring, and anything that my daughter makes me do. 
• How do you deal with stress? (Please share your methods) To relieve stress I go for walks on the trace, play a new video game or color. I also go on dad-daughter dates with my daughter because those always make me happy.

Campus Resources 

Counseling and Consultation Services 

Southern Miss Student Counseling Services

Business Hours Phone: 601-266-4829
After Hours Phone: 601-606-4357

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 

Call: 800-273-8255 (ext. 1)

Text: 838255

Support Services

USM Military and Veteran Student Services: 

Call: 601-264-4629 

VA Vet Success on Campus: 

Call: 601-264-4629

Office of Disability Services: 

Hattiesburg Campus: 601-266-5024 
Gulf Park Campus: 228-214-3302

 

USM Student Honored with the Prestigious General George C. Marshall Award

Tue, 02/16/2021 - 11:02am | By: Van Arnold

University of Southern Mississippi (USM) student-veteran Cadet Ryan Dean has been selected as a U.S. Army General George C. Marshall Award winner recognizing him as the top USM Army ROTC cadet within the class of 2021.

Dean is a military veteran, member of the Mississippi Army National Guard, and Army ROTC cadet majoring in business management. As an Army veteran, he attends USM via his Post 9-11 (Chapter-33) GI Bill. He maintains an overall 3.8 grade point average while working as a VA work-study employee, and caring for his family of four.

While attending USM over the past few years, Dean dedicated all his academic efforts to not only learning business management, but also earning a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. In doing so was also selected to serve as the USM Army ROTC Corps of Cadets Command Sergeant Major.

“I am gladly representing the University, Army ROTC, and Center for Military Veterans, Service Members, and Families, accomplishing my goal of being a distinguished military graduate and now a George C. Marshall Award winner,” said Dean.

Dean is expected to graduate with his degree this year in May, receive his commission as a Second Lieutenant, and serve in the Army Aviation branch.

“Ryan is a once-in-a lifetime young man who has set a high standard within our program and all of U.S. Army Cadet Command as the leadership example for others to follow,” noted USM Army ROTC Professor of Military Science Lt. Col. Walker Nordan. “He will no doubt prove to be an exceptional army officer, and in doing so, we look forward years into the future watching him lead from the front, and progress in what will prove a wonderful future.”

General George Catlett Marshall served as one of the great American statesmen of the 20th century. He played a crucial role in international affairs from 1939 to 1951 -- the years that shaped the second half of the century. Until 1945, he was in the military service of the United States. As Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army from 1939 to 1945 he was, in the words of Winston Churchill, the “true architect of victory" in the West European arena of World War II.

The young men and women such as Cadet Ryan Dean who are honored this year will continue the legacy of service established by Gen. George Catlett Marshall. In 1976 the Army Chief of Staff and the George C. Marshall Foundation agreed to memorialize the accomplishments of the man Sir Winston Churchill called the “Architect of Victory” in World War II with the Marshall Award. As a result, the General George C. Marshall Award serves as a unique method of honoring the achievements of the top Army ROTC cadet from every college-level campus.

Dean is married to his wife, Racheal, and they have a daughter (Nora) along with a new baby girl (Everlee). 

Department of Veterans AffairseBenefits