The Harvard Alumni Association's more than 50 Shared Interest Groups (SIGs) bring together tens of thousands of alumni across the globe around common interests, whether it's a cultural identity, a student activity, a professional field, or something else. Whatever your passion, there's a SIG for you! To help you find your SIG, the HAA presents “What’s Your SIG?”—a series of conversations with members of different SIGs about what these dynamic communities mean to them.
From colonial militias to the modern military, generations of Harvard students, alumni, faculty, and staff have served in a long Crimson line that extends back to the earliest days of the University. The Harvard Veterans Alumni Organization (HVAO) seeks to build upon that decorated history by raising awareness of Harvard's tradition of military service and promoting connections among veterans on campus and in the alumni community.
HVAO President Jonas Akins AB '01, MBA '12, who served six years in the U.S. Navy between stints as a student at Harvard College and Harvard Business School, discussed Harvard's relationship with the military and how the SIG is helping to strengthen ties between the two institutions.
What inspired you to get involved with the Harvard Veterans Alumni Organization?
The military wasn't much of a presence when I was an undergraduate, but when I came back to go to the Business School nine years later, the whole landscape had shifted. The relationship between Harvard and the military, and the awareness of military service as a real option for Harvard students, was significantly different. The secretary of the Navy came for a big signing ceremony [to bring the Navy ROTC program back to Harvard], and President Faust hosted an orientation for student veterans. Those were very public displays of the University's recognition of the value of military service, and it was huge for those of us on campus to feel welcomed by the administration. So I decided to get involved, first with the Armed Forces Alumni Association at the Business School and then with the Harvard Veterans Alumni Organization.
Who are your members?
We've found that the alumni community is very interested in what's happening on campus and in connecting with people who have been affiliated with the military and with Harvard. The SIG has allowed people who wouldn't otherwise have the chance to connect to find each other. We have members from the classes of the '40s and '50s all the way up to people who just graduated in May. We have representation from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, as well as most of the Harvard Schools.
What do you enjoy most about being part of this community?
Having the chance to talk to people from across Schools and generations and branches of the military is very enjoyable. It was also a lot of fun to introduce President Faust at the reception for an exhibit about Harvard and the military in Pusey Library. That continued the trend of the administration taking a more active role in publicly appreciating the contributions of veterans, and it has been nice to be able to support that.
How has it benefited you personally or professionally?
There is a sense of satisfaction that comes from connecting two institutions that mean quite a lot to me. The primary mission of the SIG has always been strengthening the ties between Harvard and the military, and finding ways to build on that long history and to foster a sense of community among veterans on campus and in the wider world. It's been very gratifying to play a role in that.
Why should alumni consider joining HVAO?
If you served in the military and you've spent any time at Harvard, we're an organization that is designed to make the most out of that connection. And if you haven't but still feel that the connection between two of the premier institutions in American society is important, we also encourage your participation.
