CEAT student offers relief efforts in the aftermath of hurricane Matthew
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
It is no secret that Oklahoma State University has a long standing commitment to the armed forces of the United States. One of the many ways the university supports those who serve is to offer a military leave of absence. This policy allows servicemen and women who are also students to be absent from the University for active military duty without penalty to admission status or grade point average and without loss of institutional financial aid
Lt. Berek Dostie, a graduate student in the master of science in engineering and technology management (MSETM) program enrolled in online courses within the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology (CEAT), was recently able to capitalize on OSU’s commitment to the armed forces when he was unexpectedly deployed to Haiti to serve as part of the ongoing relief efforts in the aftermath of hurricane Matthew. Lt. Dotsie was able to withdraw from coursework with no penalty and will be able to pick up where he left off next semester after he returns to port.
The ship on which Lt. Dostie is stationed, the USS Iwo Jima, was deployed as part of the United States’ Joint Task Force Matthew relief effort. This task force sees military assets not currently engaged in official operations redirected to Haiti for logistical support of the ongoing disaster relief efforts.
The USS Iwo Jima is a Wasp-class assault ship who, under normal operating conditions, deploys around
30 helicopters as well as 2 air-cushion hovercrafts to support combat groups such
as
the 500 member 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in their deployments through transport and logistical deliveries.
This specialized amphibious support design enables the USS Iwo Jima and its crew to play a vital role in Joint Task Force Matthew.
Over 400 flight-hours were logged in Haiti by the USS Iwo Jima’s air group, delivering some 600,000 pounds of humanitarian supplies directly to an estimated 100,000 Haitians. This type of humanitarian relief work is not unknown to the USS Iwo Jima and her crew; she served in a similar role in 2005 off the coast of Louisiana after hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans and again in 2010 after tropical storm Thomas battered Haiti.
OSU’s commitment to and understanding of the unique requirements of active duty students, such as Lt. Dotsie, ensures that those in the armed forces don’t have to postpone or give up on their education in order to serve.
Story by Drew Slattery
RELEASE CONTACT: Chelsea Robinson | CEAT Marketing | 405-744-5831 | Chelsea.l.robinson@okstate.edu
Oklahoma State University is a modern land-grant university that prepares students for success. OSU has more than 36,000 students across its five-campus system and more than 25,000 on its combined Stillwater and Tulsa campuses, with students from all 50 states and around 120 nations. Established in 1890, Oklahoma State has graduated more than 260,000 students who have been serving Oklahoma and the world for 125 years.