By ALICIA BARBER Contributing Reporter

When Jeffrey Hopson returned from duty in Iraq with brain, knee and ankle injuries, his plan to start a medical services program for veterans seemed impossible.

But then a physical therapist told the 39-year-old Marine Corps veteran about the UCLA Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans With Disabilities.

“I’m so looking forward to being involved in a face-to-face forum with professionals who can shed light on the industry,” he said.

Called EBV, it is a free, three-part business management course for disabled veterans of the post-9/11 generation. The program started last year at Syracuse University, and then expanded to Florida State University; Texas A & M; University; and UCLA, where it’s based at the Anderson School of Management. Sixteen students entered the residency phase at UCLA in July with an online tutorial in business fundamentals so that those without college degrees could get up to speed. The group was scheduled to begin a weeklong classroom session Aug. 2 with UCLA professors. After the program, veterans will have a year of mentorship.

The goal is to teach students to see a business idea through its launch. That kind of opportunity fulfills the need for independence that many vets desire after their service, said Alfred Osborne Jr., senior associate dean of the Anderson School. Most important, it’s the best way for them to start new lives.

“Most of these are young people,” Osborne said. “It’s important that after this they have some hope in their future because they’ve got the rest of their lives to live.”

Steven Yeschin, 25, came home in 2004 with kidney failure after serving with the Marines in Iraq. His choices seemed limited to going back to school or joining his dad’s brokerage business. He joined the program hoping to learn how to run the company, not just work there as an employee.

“I need a more macro than micro approach. I like the independence,” he explained.

The Anderson School already has business-minded vets lined up for next year’s class.

“If they recognize a niche or opportunity that they can pursue, then we will help them realize their dreams of a little bit of economic freedom,” Osborne said.