News

Brandi Bell spent three and a half years ensuring that the Air Force had what it needed. Now, she’s making sure fellow veterans at SCC have what they need.

Bell, a surgical technology student, served as a logistics airman with the 19th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas.

“I made sure supplies got where they needed to go,” she said. “Airplanes got the parts they needed, and service members got the deployment gear they needed.”

She also served on the base honor guard, and spent much of her time in the classroom, as the Air Force stressed the importance of education.

“Once I got out of the military, it was a little hard,” Bell said. “The jobs I ended up with were kind of dead-end, so I knew that I needed to get an education.”

That brought her to SCC, where she aims to finish the surgical technology program and begin working immediately, then return for her first assistant certification.

Outside of the surgical suite, Bell is the president of the Student Veterans Organization, which supports veterans as they transition from service to the classroom. She encourages other veterans to join for help navigating life as a student as well as their benefits.

“Just to have another veteran who could tell you, ‘Hey, you can go to the VA and get this, they offer this kind of benefit that you earned,’” Bell said. “It’s not something you’re begging for, or taking away from someone else.”

The group of about 20 members hosts meetings and events for both veterans and students who want to be involved. For Veterans’ Day, SCC hosted events all week, including a listening session where veterans shared their stories, and a group played taps at 11 a.m. on Wednesday to recognize the armistice that ended World War I.

“When [veterans] see other people taking pride in their service, or being appreciated, they feel the same,” Bell said. “So the attitude can become contagious."

Damon Bennett
Activities Information Director
402-437-2077
dbennett@southeast.edu