Life is Groovy at UWM for Student Veterans

Chances are that if you have visited the Union Concourse at UWM on an early morning, you have noticed that our union has a different flair than most.

Yeah, there are the students who appear to have just crawled out of bed and are looking for that first cup of coffee to get their day going. A few may be gathered at the surrounding tables, in their own little world, just trying to get up the gumption to go to class.

Anyone who has visited the concourse will tell you the same. This is how UWM differs from most:

“It’s that huge smile.”

“His laugh, man – he just welcomes you right there.”

These quotes are repeated time after time when you ask anyone who has walked by the Military and Veterans Resource Center where James “Groovy” Cocroft works.

Each morning, if not at the front desk of the MAVRC, visitors and students alike will find Cocroft in the concourse talking to someone. He may be assisting or just sharing laughs with someone; whatever it may be, you can be sure that he is making a difference in that person’s day.

MAVRC has its share of unique individuals who come through its doors, individuals who have a camaraderie of friendship and service. The camaraderie that exists within the veteran community is one of a brotherhood and sisterhood that does not see nationality, color or sexuality. It is a community of one, and MAVRC is that place where these individuals come together to bond and support each other.

Supporting over 1,000 students who are enrolled under the federal G.I. Bill and another several hundred on campus, UWM has the most student veterans enrolled than any other school in Wisconsin.

With that many students coming through MAVRC’s doors, Cocroft is a voice who finds time to help anyone that may need it.

“No matter how many people are stressed out around him, he’s always positive,” said Sam Rogers, a student veteran at UWM.

Early Milwaukee life and enlistment in the Navy

Cocroft was born on January 25, 1969. His folks instantly knew that he was just going to be a groovy kid, he says.

“Man, my Mom wanted to call me Howdy Doody because of my freckles,” Cocroft said when asked about his nickname. “But my aunt, she said they couldn’t call me that.” Now chuckling, Cocroft takes a minute to collect himself. “My aunt, she said I was just a cool kid. I was always happy. I was a groovy kid.”

Maybe it was those vibes that led Cocroft to joining the United States Navy out of high school in 1987.

“I know it sounds cheesy,” said Cocroft. “But, like the poster says, I wanted to see the world.”

And 20 years took Cocroft all over the world. From Egypt and the Middle East, back to the United States, Cocroft sailed the ocean blue.

He saw Hurricane Hugo shut Charleston Harbor down, and he served during the worst act of terrorism on American soil on 9/11, all during his 20 years in uniform.

“We didn’t know when we were coming back home,” said Cocroft, while reflecting back on his preparation for deployment to Iraq after the attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and D.C.

“We had been given liberty to say goodbye to our families, but we couldn’t leave more than 50 miles from the ship,” said Cocroft. “I had to get back home to Milwaukee. So, I snuck back for my 96 hours and flew home.”

“You know what’s funny, though,” Cocroft added while laughing. “I wasn’t the only one from the ship at the airport.”

Cocroft served the remainder of his 20 years and retired in 2007. Returning to Milwaukee, he felt a need in helping students at UWM.

Transitioning back to Milwaukee and life at MAVRC

“I wanted to help vets to navigate the pitfalls of the shifting sands of veterans’ benefits,” said Cocroft.

Cocroft worked in admissions at UWM for five years before becoming a student in the School of Information Studies.

Graduating in 2016, Cocroft stayed at UWM as an employee and began working for the Military and Veterans Resource Center on campus. Assisting hundreds of students, Cocroft has made an impact beyond the veterans themselves.

Cocroft explained how he has informed veterans of the new Wisconsin G.I. Bill and how its benefits affect not only them but their families as well.

“I was able to show a student since his dad had served in the military and he had lived in Wisconsin for over five years, his sisters had tuition covered because of their dad’s service,” said Cocroft.

With his employment at MAVRC, Cocroft has been able to share this and other insights with numerous people and their different walks of life.

Carlos Munoz is another of those employees who welcomes everyone to MAVRC.

A 15-year veteran of the Army and now a student at UWM, Munoz has a care for his fellow veterans that is displayed on his arms. Black ink has been tattooed on both of his forearms, but it is the number 22 that stands out the most to anyone who looks.

“It’s there to remember the 22 veterans, our brothers, and our sisters that we lose every day to suicide,” said Munoz.

Often working alongside Cocroft, Munoz has seen some of the caring and love for student veterans that Cocroft shares.“Not only has Groovy helped me with counseling,” said Munoz, “but there was one time, there was this guy that drove from Madison to see Groovy for help.”

This student veteran was having a hard time dealing with some issues and was seeking out help with not only school but with his mental health as well. Munoz went on to talk about how he and Groovy sat with this young man while trying to contact the office of Veterans Affairs for further help.

“He was suicidal,” said Munoz as he was trying to hold back his own emotions. “But Groovy was there, and he just talked to that guy. He cared so much for him. You know he’s like that with everyone, but it was good to have him there with that guy. He made a difference.”

“I try to be an example for other people,” said Cocroft. “It took me five years to get counseling for myself. I always blamed everybody else.”

Many of Cocroft’s peers are quick to talk about how much he of an impact he has on campus.

“He (Cocroft) has always been helpful,” said Joshua Lynch, a student veteran at UWM. “He will always help you no matter what.”

In the end we only get one crack at life and we need to make the most of it.

“Man, life is a blast,” said Cocroft. “It’s just fun, everything is just groovy.”