Veterans know firsthand the effects war can have on a country and the people who serve it, which has caused the escalation in Iran to hit close to home for multiple of the veteran students at LBCC.
For many connected to the military, the developments are more than headlines, they are personal.
With the longevity of the war still uncertain, veterans, active service members and their families are once again confronted with a familiar feeling of worry.
Rachele Ross, a financial aid specialist and certifying official in the Veterans Service Office, said that concern is constant for those with ties to the military.
“The worry never leaves, especially if you have family members in the service,” Ross said, recalling the anxiety that comes with waiting between reports of casualties and the moment you can confirm a loved one is safe.
At Long Beach City College, where veterans from multiple generations attend classes, that concern is shared across a wide range of experiences.
“It is a matter of perspective,” Ross said. “We have veterans as young as 22 all the way to 80… from Vietnam to current conflicts. Every vet comes out a different person.”
Despite those differences, she said the impact of new conflicts is nearly universal.
“Does it affect every single vet? Yes.”
Along with the worry that the war in Iran has caused for Veterans is the frustration that it and other news in general creates.
“I hate to even watch the news nowadays, because it’s always just something that infuriates you, something that raises your blood pressure,” said Air Force Veteran and LBCC alum Steven Tucker.
LBCC student and Navy veteran Joshua Vidal echoed that idea, noting that the effects of conflict extend beyond those currently serving.
“I think any conflict can affect people. Going in, coming out of the military, or even while you’re in,” Vidal said.
He added that the uncertainty surrounding new conflicts often brings concern for those who may be deployed.
“Anytime there’s a major conflict, you’re going to be worried about your fellow Americans being put in those situations,” Vidal said.
For many veterans, those concerns are tied not only to current events but to the relationships formed during their service.
“That brotherhood, that sisterhood, is a different beast,” Ross said. “You might not have seen someone in years, but when something like this happens, the first thing you do is check on them.”
Those connections are reflected in conversations happening daily inside the Veterans Service Office, where students gather between classes.
“The conversations are always happening,” Ross said. “But now they’re more focused on what’s going on right now instead of just what happened before.”
Air Force veteran Steve Tucker said new conflicts often bring immediate thoughts of those currently serving.
“I think about the service members and their lives, the things that happen to them,” Tucker said, pointing to the risks service members face and the lasting impact those experiences can carry.
Even for those no longer in uniform, the emotional weight of conflict remains.
