Meet a Roadrunner: UTSA's Michael Huebner is committed to helping veterans
(Nov. 6, 2013) -- Meet Sergeant Michael Huebner, a veteran of the U.S. Army. He's committed to bettering the lives of his fellow veterans.
As president of the UTSA Student Veterans Association (SVA), he leads the premier advocacy organization for the nearly 3,000 student veterans, their families and service members at UTSA.
Michael ran for president of SVA because he is aware of the many needs and challenges veterans face when returning home.
"I know how a lot of veterans feel right after coming back home and to school," said Huebner. "I have been there, too. I have experienced PTSD and getting shot at in combat, then returning home from the black-and-white world of the military to a more grey world."
In 2004-2005, Huebner was stationed as a combat medic at Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan. He worked in the operating room and trauma center as both medic and non-commissioned officer in the radiology department.
"I saw everything you could possibly see in that operating room," said Huebner. "Blood, guts, gore and death in southern Afghanistan. There were a lot of sleepless nights."
As a result of his experiences, Michael developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When he came home, he found it difficult to continue working in the medical field. Often, he would get sick simply from walking into a hospital, but he knew he still wanted to help heal people.
It took him several years of counseling, therapy and support from his fellow veterans to get where he is today, Huebner said. When he enrolled at UTSA, he decided to pursue a psychology degree in order to learn to better serve veterans with PTSD.
For Huebner, being a part of the SVA is the least he can do to honor the service of his fellow veterans at UTSA. Next spring, he will graduate with honors. In the future, he plans to pursue his master's and doctoral degrees at UTSA, while continuing his work as an advocate for veterans.
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Do you know someone in the UTSA community with an inspiring story or trying to better the lives of their peers? Email us at social@utsa.edu, and we will consider your submission for our next installment of Meet a Roadrunner.
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REGSS Community Room (DB 3.202,) UTSA Downtown Campus