A campus veterans’ organization exists to support UW-Platteville students who have served in the military.

One of the biggest reasons for veterans to join the UW-P Veterans Club may be surprising.

“The biggest thing is untangling the red tape of the VA system,” Cody Brigman, sophomore broad field science education major, said.

“There’s so many different variances on what you qualify for and what you don’t,” Robert Quillen, junior electrical engineering major and president of the Veterans Club, said.

The club has about 30 to 40 dues-paying members, Quillen said. Members include someone from just about every branch of the military.

The group tries to stay active in the community as much as possible, Quillen said. They help with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Steak Feed, send packages overseas and have been cleaning the VFW roof of snow. They are also trying to organize a veterans only gathering at UW-P.

The group works as a support system for veterans.

“They’ve been through the same experience and they can relate,” Quillen said. “It’s hard for a lot of regular college students to recognize where we come from.”

The group can also help members deal with the age difference they may face with their peers.

“You’re looking at a bunch of people who are between the age of 24 and 26 and they’re freshmen,” Brigman said.

Members don’t have to be actual veterans to join, Quillen said. “You just have to have served.”

“Veterans don’t have to be a part of our club if they’re too busy, but we’re still there to help,” Allen MacCaulay, sophomore building construction management major, said.

A recognizable contribution by the organization isn’t hard to find in Platteville.

The group painted the Veteran’s Club house, which Quillen owns, with green and black paint in a camouflage pattern for homecoming last fall.

Paint’s not cheap, so the current scheme is staying for a while, Quillen said. He confirmed it won’t be updated to the Army’s digital camouflage pattern anytime soon.

The club meets at 6 p.m. every other Thursday in Ulrich Hall classroom 10. Their next meeting is tonight.