June 2013 - Parks & Recreation - 53

squadron commander in New Mexico,
Alaska, Arizona and California. He is
now district director for Clear Creek
Metropolitan Recreation District.
" I did not go back to school for a
degree in parks and recreation, but
I did use my previous military experience to get my current position
in 2010, " Matthew says. " While this
is a very small recreation program
with just one recreation center, it is
in my dream location.
" Why did I choose recreation?
For me, recreation equals quality
of life, " he says. " As a former Air
Force services officer, that is what
my mission was all about - improving the quality of life for airmen and their families.
" Recreation is the cornerstone that
helps unite a community and give the
residents a sense of pride, " Matthew
continues. " If a community has rundown parks and recreation facilities, it
is not going to attract young, healthy,
active and vibrant families to the community. Bottom line, leading a community park and recreation program was a
perfect fit for my military experience. "
Jason Lang currently serves as
camp coordinator for Loudoun
County Parks, Recreation and Community Services in Virginia. It's
doubtful Lang would be where he is
without his four years in the Army
that included service in Iraq and
Alaska. He left the service with the
rank of sergeant in 2007 and soon set
out to add a master's degree in recreation leadership from James Madison University to his undergraduate
degree in political science.
" Serving overseas helped crystallize
my interest in public service, " Lang says.
" I met so many great families and children overseas who didn't have many of

the luxuries or even necessities we have
here in the states. I had always been a
part of parks and recreation during my
youth and felt it would be the best path
to continue my public service...and because I love to have fun! "

" If you can manage
processes, but you
cannot lead people, you
will not be as successful
as those who can. "
-Aaron Goodman,
Chief of Community Recreation,
U.S. Army Garrison,
Vincenza, Italy
While many veterans take advantage of the GI Bill to finance their
post-service education, Lang received
his education during active service.
" My undergraduate loans were paid
as a part of my military service compensation, " he says. " I was a teaching
assistant during my graduate studies,
teaching health promotion classes
along the way. "

Driving the Degree
The historic GI Bill, which followed
the end of World War II and assisted
waves of veterans in their education,
got an extensive overhaul during the
administration of George W. Bush.
Dubbed the " New GI Bill, " the
program increased assistance from
$40,000 to $90,000 and allows instate public universities to provide
full scholarships for veterans.
Dale Larsen, professor of practice
for the Arizona State University School
of Community Resources and Development, sees a significant correlation
between the GI Bill and increased
enrollment in the school. Nearly 300
veterans are enrolled in the college of
Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Nonprofit Studies. " We have more veterans
enrolled in our college than any other
ASU College - and this number continues to increase, " Larsen says.
" The numbers of enrolled veteran
students are increasing every year,
largely because of the fabulous benefit established in the GI Bill, " he says.
" The ASU College of Public Programs
houses four related schools: Parks,
Recreation, Tourism and Nonprofit
Studies (School of Community Resources and Development [SCRD]);

MWR personnel also organize arts programs such as theater performances by
service members and their families.

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