ABOUT
Compass Corps is a statewide service and learning program that helps college students gain real experience while improving how South Dakota supports veterans, service members, and military families. The program is led by Community Action for Veterans (CAV) and supported through AmeriCorps.
Each year, Compass Corps places college students in fields such as social work, counseling, and health sciences within campuses, healthcare systems, and community organizations. Compass Corps members complete about 450 hours of supervised service during the academic year. Through this experience, they learn how to support military-connected people while helping their placement sites strengthen outreach, improve access to care, and build local partnerships.
WHAT COMPASS CORE MEMBERS DO
Compass Corps members take on meaningful, hands-on projects that create lasting impact. Some assist with campus programs for student veterans. Others help hospitals and nonprofits connect veterans and families to mental health care, benefits, or other community services. Some work within CAV’s main office to coordinate outreach, gather data, and assist with statewide initiatives.
Their service focuses on three key goals:
*Helping veterans and families find the right resources.
*Creating opportunities for peer support and community connection.
*Increasing cultural understanding among providers and organizations that serve the military community.
IMPACT
Compass Corps bridges the gap between education and community service. Students learn by doing, gaining professional skills and insight that shape their future careers. Veterans and families benefit from more accessible, connected, and culturally informed support. Partner sites expand their ability to reach and serve the community. Together, this work strengthens South Dakota’s network of care for those who serve and their families.
WHY IT MATTERS
Many veterans and military families in South Dakota live in rural areas where services are limited or difficult to find. Compass Corps helps close these gaps by placing trained students directly in the places where veterans already go for help, such as campuses, hospitals, and local organizations. Each placement adds capacity, builds trust, and creates a lasting point of connection for military families seeking support.
PROGRAM BENEFITS
Compass Corps members receive a modest living stipend and an AmeriCorps Education Award at the end of their service term, which can be used toward tuition or student loans. More importantly, they gain meaningful professional experience, guided supervision, and the opportunity to serve those who have served our country.
OUR VISION
Compass Corps grows both people and communities. It gives students the opportunity to learn through service while strengthening the systems that care for veterans and military families across South Dakota. Each Compass Corps member finishes the program with practical skills, a stronger sense of purpose, and a lifelong commitment to community and service.
