Bill helps UC vet go to college
By Paul Greulich, Staff Writer
Elizabeth resident Pablo Timpson has become the first United States Marine veteran to attend Kean University under the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. This bill, approved by Congress in 2008, allows an expansion of benefits in the G.I. Bill for military veterans serving after 9/11.
In August 2009, recipients became eligible for tuition support, which is based upon the highest in-state tuition charged by an educational institution.
Timpson, 23, served for a total of four years, attaining the rank of sergeant. He completed one tour as a machine gunner in Fallujah, Iraq, for seven months, and a second tour as a Scout Sniper in Ramadi, Iraq, for nine months. His time spent in Ramadi proved to be an intensely stressful period, as American troops suffered heavy casualties.
Timpson worked 24 to 48 hour shifts, depending on the mission or task given.
“We lost 12 Marines in my
battalion and so many more were wounded that we stopped
keeping count,” he said.
His job was ensuring the safety of others, Timpson said.
“We serve the greater good for everyone else,” he said. “I never saw the situation as good or bad. The way I saw it, it was a way of life.
“You have to adapt to your environment in order to succeed.”
The mission of scout snipers was to “take out” high value targets with precision fire and to gather and report information on enemy activity. Timpson said.
“Information is power,” Timpson said. “Our job was to paint a better picture of what kind of people were there and what kind of weapons they had, so other friendlies would know what to expect and what to prepare for.”
Elizabeth resident Pablo Timpson has become the first United States Marine veteran to attend Kean University under the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. This bill, approved by Congress in 2008, allows an expansion of benefits in the G.I. Bill for military veterans serving after 9/11.
In August 2009, recipients became eligible for tuition support, which is based upon the highest in-state tuition charged by an educational institution.
Timpson, 23, served for a total of four years, attaining the rank of sergeant. He completed one tour as a machine gunner in Fallujah, Iraq, for seven months, and a second tour as a Scout Sniper in Ramadi, Iraq, for nine months. His time spent in Ramadi proved to be an intensely stressful period, as American troops suffered heavy casualties.
Timpson worked 24 to 48 hour shifts, depending on the mission or task given.
“We lost 12 Marines in my
battalion and so many more were wounded that we stopped
keeping count,” he said.
His job was ensuring the safety of others, Timpson said.
“We serve the greater good for everyone else,” he said. “I never saw the situation as good or bad. The way I saw it, it was a way of life.
“You have to adapt to your environment in order to succeed.”
The mission of scout snipers was to “take out” high value targets with precision fire and to gather and report information on enemy activity. Timpson said.
“Information is power,” Timpson said. “Our job was to paint a better picture of what kind of people were there and what kind of weapons they had, so other friendlies would know what to expect and what to prepare for.”
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