Mastering Leadership Concepts: Building Strong Relationships
Hispanic Heritage Month offers an opportunity to reflect on the values defining Hispanic culture and military life, with one key theme standing out—the importance of strong relationships. For both Hispanic communities and military members, friendship, family, and camaraderie bonds are central to well-being and success. In Hispanic culture, family and community are deeply ingrained values, where loyalty, mutual support, and interdependence foster strong connections that guide individuals through life’s challenges. Similarly, the military emphasizes brotherhood and the battle-buddy system, which serves as a lifeline during times of stress, uncertainty, and conflict.
These shared values of mutual trust, support, and resilience are crucial for service members navigating the complex transitions between military and civilian life. Understanding the significance of these bonds is critical to ensuring that veterans, active service members, and their families maintain mental and emotional wellness as they move forward. Efrain Sanchez Hidalgo’s work on friendship studies, rooted in his military experiences and cultural background, provides insight into the necessity of nurturing these relationships for mental health, highlighting how these bonds contribute to individual and collective success in any phase of life.
At Austin Peay State University, the Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA) Division honors this tradition, fostering a community where service members can continue building and strengthening the relationships foundational to their cultural and military identities.
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated annually from September 15 to October 15, recognizes the contributions, culture, and influence of Hispanic and Latinx Americans across various fields, including the military, education, arts, and sciences. This celebration holds particular significance for institutions like Austin Peay State University (APSU), where the Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA) Division plays a crucial role in honoring Hispanic heroes who have made impactful contributions in the military and civilian life.
The APSU MVA’s efforts to honor Hispanic heroes this month serve several purposes. First, they celebrate the legacy and service of Hispanic veterans and military personnel, whose courage and sacrifices are integral to the nation's history. Figures like Efrain Sanchez Hidalgo, a Puerto Rican military veteran and a pioneering psychologist, exemplify the dual contributions of many Hispanic Americans who have served in the armed forces and later achieved groundbreaking success in civilian careers.
In addition, the APSU MVA’s role in highlighting these contributions during Hispanic Heritage Month fosters a more profound sense of community and belonging among Hispanic students, veterans, and their families. This recognition helps ensure that Hispanic service members and veterans are represented and celebrated, showing students that their cultural heritage is honored and respected at APSU. By featuring Hispanic military heroes and promoting their stories, the MVA helps bridge the gap between military service and educational success, inspiring students to continue achieving beyond their service.
Hispanic Heritage Month at APSU also allows the university to spotlight the resources available to Hispanic veterans and their families. Through events, workshops, and outreach efforts coordinated by the MVA, Hispanic students and veterans are encouraged to connect with APSU's Latin Community Resource Center (LCRC), which provides additional cultural support. This collaboration underscores the importance of cultural identity in student success and mental well-being, ensuring that Hispanic students and veterans feel supported as they transition from military to civilian life.
Ultimately, the APSU MVA’s role in honoring Hispanic heroes during this celebration strengthens the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion while recognizing the Hispanic community's vital contributions to the military and society as a whole.
Military History and Contributions
Efrain Sanchez Hidalgo, a distinguished psychologist and military veteran, made significant contributions to both fields. Born in Moca, Puerto Rico, he served in the United States Army from 1941 to 1946, reaching the rank of Captain in the 65th Infantry Regiment, an all-Puerto Rican unit. His military service during World War II exposed him to the deep bonds formed between service members, and he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his leadership in combat. After the war, Sanchez Hidalgo pursued a PhD in psychology from Columbia University, becoming the first Puerto Rican to achieve this distinction in 1951.
His work in psychology, particularly his research on friendships and symbiotic relationships, provided foundational insights into the psychological need for connection, especially during life transitions. Specifically, his study focused on mutual interdependence. Sanchez Hidalgo's military experience informed his understanding of the importance of camaraderie and how the loss of these bonds during the transition to civilian life can lead to mental health challenges. His research highlighted the need for robust support systems for veterans re-entering civilian life, advocating for strong friendships and social networks to help maintain mental wellness.
Mutual Interdependence
Efrain Sanchez Hidalgo's research on symbiotic relationships between friends offers a detailed framework for understanding how strong, lasting friendships are established. His study emphasizes the importance of mutual interdependence, which is the idea that both individuals in a friendship must support one another meaningfully. Here are the key elements outlined in his research:
By focusing on these core elements, Efrain Sanchez Hidalgo’s friendship study provides a blueprint for understanding how strong bonds are formed and maintained over time. His insights into emotional reciprocity, reliability, and shared experiences are crucial for individuals, especially transitioning service members, to establish lasting friendships that support mental and emotional well-being.
The Critical Role of Strong Relationships
Efrain Sanchez Hidalgo's work on friendship studies and the importance of human bonds highlights that mental health is as crucial as physical health, especially during life transitions. For transitioning service members and those continuing their military careers, maintaining behavioral and mental wellness is essential to overall success and well-being. Whether transitioning to civilian life or advancing within the military, having stable relationships and a strong support system can ease the emotional burdens and enhance personal resilience.
The importance of mental health cannot be overstated in either context. For those leaving the military, the loss of structured environments and close camaraderie increases the risk of mental health issues such as PTSD and depression. Meanwhile, for those continuing in service, the demands of military life—frequent deployments, high-stress environments, and separation from family—can take a similar toll on their mental well-being. Hidalgo's research reminds us that both groups benefit from nurturing strong, supportive relationships.
Behavioral and mental health services like counseling, peer-to-peer support, and group therapy are invaluable tools for both transitioning veterans and active service members. Hidalgo's work emphasizes that no one should face these challenges alone. With the right support systems in place, service members can maintain their mental health while navigating the complexities of both civilian life and continued military service.
Resources for Service Members and Veterans at Austin Peay State University
Navigating the demands of military life, whether transitioning into civilian roles or continuing in service, can be challenging. Austin Peay State University (APSU) offers many resources to support veterans and active service members. The APSU Counseling Center provides mental health support tailored to the unique needs of military personnel. At the same time, the Latin Community Resource Center (LCRC) offers cultural support specifically for Hispanic service members, veterans, and students.
In addition to these services, APSU’s Military and Veterans Affairs (MVA) Division is fully equipped to guide service members, veterans, and their families, ensuring access to resources that meet their individual needs. Whether transitioning to civilian life, seeking academic support, or balancing the demands of continued military service, the MVA is dedicated to supporting each individual's personal and professional goals.
Whether it’s assistance with mental health services, academic support, or building new social networks, the MVA is here to help. We are committed to helping service members, veterans, and their families find the right resources, whether continuing their military careers or entering civilian life.
Please contact the APSU Counseling Center, the Latin Community Resource Center, or the Military and Veterans Affairs Division for assistance. Together, we can help build strong support systems, ensuring that all service members and veterans thrive, regardless of the path they choose.
References
Sa?nchez Hidalgo, E. S., & University of Puerto Rico (Ri?o Piedras Campus). Colegio de Pedagogi?a. Oficina de Evaluacio?n. (1977).?Presencia y permanencia de Efrain Sa?nchez Hidalgo. UPR, Colegio de Pedagogi?a, Oficina de Evaluacio?n.
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The Military-Affiliated Professionals Program
The MAPP provides all manners of career service to the military-affiliated students of Austin Peay State University. This population is estimated to be about one-third of its total student population.
In addition, the MAPP extends its services to all service members, veterans, military and veteran spouses, and military and veteran family members, regardless of their affiliation with Austin Peay State University.
Services can be provided virtually or in person under the MAPP. Let us know your needs, and we will tailor our services to meet them.
Austin Peay State University's commitment to our service members and veteran communities remains unmatched.
To take advantage of the services offered by the MAPP, contact us at,
Call or text: 931-221-7930
Email: [email protected] .
If you would like to donate to our program, visit https://give.apsu.edu/ . Select Newton Military Family Resource Center Fund of Excellence. The Military-Affiliated Professionals Program falls within that category.
Austin Peay State University
At Austin Peay, we proudly serve you during your academic career. We are invested in your success and have created a division dedicated to our Military-Affiliated Students and their families. The Military and Veterans Affairs Division comprises several offices and resource centers trained to help you fully utilize your education benefits. From offering condensed 8-week courses through the Austin Peay Center at Fort Campbell to getting career advice from our Military-Affiliated Professionals Program, we are ready to support your success.
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