Joe Rasmussen

Joe enlisted in the Marine Corps in July 2001 between his junior and senior year of high school. Prior to the attacks on 9/11, he joined out of a sense of family duty, both his grandfathers served in WWII and his father served during the Vietnam War. Joe shipped to San Diego to attend Marine Corps Boot Camp in 2002 and served four years as an Aviation Ordnanceman on F-18’s. During his time on active duty, Joe completed over 40 detachments with VFA-106, traveling around the US and aboard several aircraft carriers. Joe returned to Wisconsin and enrolled at UW-Whitewater in 2007. After completing a Bachelor of Social Work degree he fulfilled his life-long dream of becoming a Badger when he enrolled in the UW-Madison Master of Social Work Program. His studies included two internships at the Madison VA Hospital, where Joe focused on learning to support veterans who are recently returning from active duty. Joe has the privilege to continue serving veterans as part of UW-Madison’s University Veteran Services.