Military Appreciation Week Events at the University of Montana

On November 2, 2023, the University of Montana announced that it will celebrate student veterans and active military members with its annual Military Appreciation Week. The week kicks off on Saturday, November 4, as the Grizzly football team takes on Sacramento State for the annual Military Appreciation Game.

Prior to the game, the Montana Army National Guard will land a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter on the Oval at 3:30 p.m. Additionally on the Oval prior to the game, there will be military weapons and equipment on display. The UM ROTC Boom Crew will be on hand for pictures and the Grizzly Strong Club and Student Veterans Organization will conduct raffles.

Other events for the week include:

Coffee, Cookies and Conversation: 8 to 10 a.m., Nov. 6 and 8, University Center Atrium. This event will include two “Why, How and Where Griz Serve” events to showcase UM’s commitment to service in all categories – military, local and national. Stop by and put a pin on the Griz veterans’ map.
Warrior Walk: 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, at the M trailhead. UM student veterans and ROTC cadets will hike the M Trail together.
Military Appreciation Griz Hockey Game: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, Glacier Ice Rink. Student-athletes will wear limited edition military appreciation jerseys that are up for auction.

UM has 384 student veterans enrolled this fall. Since 2021, student veteran enrollment has increased at UM by 24%.

“It is our quest to be the most military-friendly university in the nation,” said UM President Seth Bodnar, an Army veteran and current member of the Montana Army National Guard. “Leading into Veterans Day, we will celebrate our student veterans and military-affiliated students for the contributions they bring to our campus. We encourage the community to join us at these events to learn more about these students and what UM is doing to serve those who served.”

UM will also launch a jointly branded merchandise line with Operation Hat Trick and a portion of the proceeds of each sale will support veterans’ organizations. The merchandise is available at the M Store, Universal Athletics, and the on-campus Go Griz Store.