Newswise — George Washington University’s Veterans Campaign will host a boot camp for veterans interested in running for public office Feb. 11-12, 2011. Military veterans Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Representatives Chris Gibson (NY-20) and Timothy J. Walz (MN-1) will deliver keynote addresses at the workshop. The elected officials will provide first-hand knowledge of campaigning for public office and share how their prior military experiences influenced their decisions to continue a career in public service.

The first day of the workshop will feature panel discussions about the obstacles faced by veteran candidates, legal issues that apply to veteran candidates, bulletproofing a candidate’s service record and communicating with the veteran community. The second day of the workshop will provide information on how to run a campaign for elected office and examine topics such as messaging, campaign finances, field operations and new media.

“Our mission is to provide military veterans with the training necessary to campaign for all levels of elected office,” said Seth McCormick Lynn, the founder and executive director of GW Veterans Campaign.

The training will be held at GW’s Jack Morton Auditorium, located at 805 21st St. NW, Washington, D.C., and is open to the public. To register, visit: www.veteranscampaign.org/enroll. Attendance is limited to the first 200 registrants.

The February workshop will be the third training session that Veterans Campaign has offered since its inception in 2009. The last workshop was held at GW and resulted in the non-profit organization becoming a part of the university through its Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service. The newly formed partnership has created a means for students and veterans alike to continue to pursue public service opportunities.

The university has a long commitment to serving veterans and is one of the leading participants in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Veterans who qualify at GW receive about a 71 percent discount on full-time graduate tuition and a free undergraduate education. In 2010-11, GW has budgeted up to $2.8 million for the program, which will be matched by the Veterans Administration. This year, more than 260 GW student veterans are participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

Veterans Campaign is a non-partisan, non-profit organization housed at the George Washington University that trains veterans to run for public office. Started in 2009 by a group of student veterans, the organization encourages more veterans to continue their legacy of public service as elected officials by demystifying the process of campaigning for public office.

In the heart of the nation's capital with additional programs in Virginia, the George Washington University was created by an Act of Congress in 1821. Today, GW is the largest institution of higher education in the District of Columbia. The university offers comprehensive programs of undergraduate and graduate liberal arts study, as well as degree programs in medicine, public health, law, engineering, education, business and international affairs. Each year, GW enrolls a diverse population of undergraduate, graduate and professional students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and more than 130 countries.

To learn more about Veterans Campaign, visit: www.veteranscampaign.org.

To learn more about Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service at George Washington University, visit: http://www.gwu.edu/explore/campuslife/studentinvolvement/serviceengagement.