Students discussed their time in the military and at the University of Dayton, how their military service has helped them, what they wish people understood about students like them, what they would tell similar prospective students, and Veterans Day.
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Roy "Trey" Bruner III retired from the U.S. Air Force as a master sergeant after serving a little more than 20 years. He was a member of the Air Force Special Warfare Tactical Air Control Party for four years and a combat controller for 16 years. He has been at UD since the fall of 2024.
How has your military experience helped you at UD?
The military taught me to prepare, follow through and take responsibility when I'm struggling. Preparation and rehearsal have provided me with the calm and clarity I need to be prepared for situations I can foresee and situations that could happen. Those habits helped me when I returned to college at 39. But my military experience didn't mean I automatically knew how to succeed in every class. My military experience also gave me perspective. I cared about doing well, but I understood I could work through a difficult assignment. I could ask questions, learn from mistakes and come back better prepared.
What do you wish traditional college students and faculty and staff understood about students like you?
I wish people understood having a lot of life experience doesn't mean we have everything figured out. I could be comfortable leading a team in a demanding environment and still feel unsure walking into a college classroom. I was starting over. I was learning how to be a student again while also being a husband, father and someone figuring out life after the military.
I enjoy being around traditional college students. We are at different stages of life, but I learn from them, too. I want to contribute and be part of the university.
My military background is a big part of who I am, but I'm more than that.
We talk a lot about the community at UD. Believe me, I've seen it. UD has one of the most unique on-campus environments of any high-level institution. Cherish it. Because you will miss it when you leave it, just as I miss the military and the community I was surrounded by there.
How has UD helped your adjustment from military service to college?
UD gave me a place to keep learning and a way to contribute after leaving a career that had defined much of my adult life. One of the best examples was my experience working with UD Athletics in strength and conditioning. I walked into the facility and explained I have a special operations background, I am studying health and wellness, and I want to help. The staff gave me an opportunity to join them and learn. For a year, I helped train athletes while learning from the coaches around me. I got to be a beginner again, but I also had something to offer. Having that connection to a team and working toward something together meant a lot to me.
UD also helped me believe in myself again, to own my confidence. Many times, I asked myself, "Why am I here?" "What is my purpose?" and "How am I going to use my time here?" I can't tell you I have the answers, but I'd argue that is why we're here in school — to explore our boundaries, go where we haven't gone before and learn. Learning who you are, inside and out, starts right here. I'm incredibly grateful UD gave me the opportunity to seek answers to these all-important life questions.
What would you tell prospective military students about the UD experience? For example, what is your elevator pitch to them to get them to UD?
I'd tell them there's a place for them at UD, even if they're older than most of their classmates or unsure how they'll fit in. UD is the most special university on earth. I grew up loving Notre Dame, and I never knew about UD until my family and I moved to Dayton, Ohio, when my wife got orders to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. It wasn't until I started researching universities in the area that I discovered UD and talking to (Director of Military and Veteran Programs and Services) Ron Johnson that I realized just how awesome this place is.
I came back to college at 39. I had plenty of military experience, but I still needed help with classes and had to figure out what came next. At UD, I found opportunities to challenge myself academically and get involved in something I cared about. UD has something for everyone. The staff, faculty and students have been beyond reproach.
My advice would be to show up, ask questions and let people know what interests you. Walking into the strength and conditioning facility and asking to help became one of the most rewarding parts of my college experience. You don't have to have your entire next chapter figured out before you begin. But you do have to show up. That's always step one.
What does Veterans Day mean to you?
For me, Veterans Day is a chance to be grateful for the people I served alongside and to think about how I carry that experience forward as a husband, father, student and teammate. Veterans Day makes me think about the people I served with, the families who supported us and the people whose service came before mine.
My father served in the Navy, so that connection to service was part of my life long before I put on a uniform. Two generations of Bruners have immense pride in our nation because we're all American and, ultimately, we all want what this country stands for: life, liberty and happiness.
I'm proud of my 20 years in the Air Force, but what stays with me most is the trust between teammates and the responsibility we had to one another. I also think about friends we've lost and the families who continue to carry that loss. Because while Veterans Day is not Memorial Day, the teammates we lost have families who cannot think about this day without thinking of the loved ones they lost.
I've taken off the uniform, but I still want to be useful and contribute to the people around me. I still value service, and I hope to always serve my fellow Americans in some way.
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Maran Mascaro, a second-year University of Dayton law student, served in the U.S. Army for six and a half years. She was a paralegal and volunteered as her unit's public affairs representative during a deployment.
How has your military experience helped you at UD?
My military experience has helped me at UD in many ways. Learning to be comfortable with uncertainty and adapting to changing circumstances are essential skills in the military and have translated well to law school. I also have learned the importance of recognizing your strengths and using them to contribute effectively to a team, which is just as valuable in an academic environment. Overall, the resilience, flexibility and grit I developed during my time in the military have served me well as I've returned to academia.
What do you wish traditional college students and faculty and staff understood about students like you?
Some veterans may be older than their classmates or feel as though they're somehow behind because they're starting college later than their peers. I would encourage traditional students, faculty and staff to keep an open mind and recognize there's no single path to higher education. Everyone brings different experiences and perspectives to the classroom and those differences are worth welcoming.
How has UD helped your adjustment from military service to college?
The staff at UD's Military and Veteran Programs and Services has been incredibly helpful, particularly when it comes to navigating military education benefits and figuring how to pay for school. I'm also involved with the UD School of Law Veteran and Military Advocacy Group. Having a supportive community of fellow military-connected students has been a huge boost. It's nice to have a place where people understand that part of your background and can relate to your experiences.
What would you tell prospective military students about the UD experience? For example, what is your elevator pitch to them to get them to UD?
UD recognizes there isn't a one-size-fits-all path to academic success. As a hybrid law student, I appreciate UD is dedicated and intentional about providing a meaningful academic experience for students with different backgrounds, experiences and responsibilities. I think that commitment to traditional and nontraditional students makes UD a great place to pursue your goals, no matter where you are in life.
What does Veterans Day mean to you?
Veterans Day always has been a day of reflection for me. There is something deeply moving about people willing to sacrifice for the greater good, often in ways others may never fully understand. I think about the people I served alongside, the experiences we shared and the paths that lead people to serve. Beyond recognizing sacrifice, it's also important to remember the commitment, resilience and sense of purpose that service represents. Every person in uniform is an individual with a unique story, and those stories deserve to be recognized.
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Christian Mathes served in the U.S. Marine Corps for five years as a radio operator and Marine security guard, reaching the rank of sergeant. This is his first semester at the University of Dayton.
How has your military experience helped you at UD?
My military experience has helped me with discipline, focus, being able to adapt to different teaching styles, and multitasking between school and work. Leadership taught by the military has helped me tremendously because I'm usually the first person to lead a group project and help delegate tasks to those who don't understand our class assignments. Overall, there are many skills the military builds on that help someone have the confidence to be a better student.
What do you wish traditional college students and faculty and staff understood about students like you?
In terms of how faculty perceive student veterans, I would hope they understand how much other life experience we have, and we are a bit more mature than younger college students. We can provide more services to help learning than they realize.
How has UD helped your adjustment from military service to college?
UD Military and Veteran Programs and Services has helped tremendously, and I don't just mean the free Keurig coffee it provides, which is essential! The ability to print papers at no cost to the student veterans is a huge commodity and helps. Lastly, the community and resources are amazing and help students get the right answers or get in contact with someone who knows. This takes a lot of stress off the student and allows them to focus on work and not other unforeseen circumstances.
What would you tell prospective military students about the UD experience? For example, what is your elevator pitch to them to get them to UD?
I would tell future student veterans UD has a great student quality of life, and the gym is sick!
What does Veterans Day mean to you?
Veterans Day means we are extending extra time and consideration toward those who have served our country and sacrificed time and energy toward the goals of protecting democracy and the country.