Student Veterans at Fresno State

FRESNO, Calif. – Among the 24,000 students who attend Fresno State, there are some who stand out. Like Jordan Cody.

Cody is a 27-year-old student who is still deciding what he wants to major in.

He is also a U.S Marine Corps Veteran. Cody served for six years at Camp Pendleton. As an infantryman, he deployed twice to Afghanistan. He medically retired from the Marine Corps when he came home.

Cody’s time in the military was cut short by issues and injuries, but there are some experiences he will never forget.

“In July of 2010, I was 20 years old and I was on my first deployment to Afghanistan,” Cody says. “I was still a child, and I was still new to my job and to doing it all and fear was there, you know exhaustion was there and then something had happened in your life that could change everything about who you are, and something happened that day. In this particular day, some bad things happened and we made it out and we survived.”

Cody uses this moment as a way to remember that if you want something bad enough, you can make it happen.

Since retiring, Cody’s life has been filled with new experiences.

Last October, he and his family received a mortgage-free home from a non-profit organization.

“It’s kind of like winning the lottery,” Cody says.

A few months later, Cody went on to pursue his dream to get a college degree.

In January 2016, he became a Fresno State student and joined the Veterans Education Program.

The program was established in 2012 with the hope of connecting veterans and providing access to resources at Fresno State.

“When I transitioned out of the military, I knew I wanted to go to college and expand my education but I was a bit unsure of where to go and how to get it started. And so many questions and doubts that I had but my wife actually found this program,” Cody says.

Executive Director Dr. Daniel Bernard says seven veterans are now part of the program, and he hopes that number will continue to grow.

“The benefit is at the end of completing this program they will successfully matriculate into Fresno State as full-time undergraduate degree-seeking students,” Bernard says.

The program pays for tuition, books, and parking passes for veterans to take five courses. Veterans are in class with one other so they have smaller class sizes and a dedicated study area.

Cody has enjoyed being in the program because it has been a smoother transition with having other veterans in class.

“It’s the little subtleties about it that in a year long really like retrains your mind and who you are to be an active member in society,” Cody says.

There are big goals for this program.

“To grow and expand it, it’s to again continually provide those opportunities to the community and to individuals who maybe thought that Fresno State was never an option for them,” Bernard says.

The program may continue to grow, but it is already the best in Cody’s eyes.

“This is the premier veteran’s program in the nation,” Cody says.

Cody is grateful for the program, all who are in charge and to all who have donated.

“I’ve been very blessed.  I try not to bring it up or give off the wrong impression, but I have been very fortunate so far,” Cody says.