Blog post

IAVA Daily News Brief 01.24.12
Posted by Megan Hemler on January 24

Here are some of today's top stories and happenings at IAVA.  Prefer to receive real-time updates about major stories and legislation that IAVA is tracking? Follow us on Twitter @IAVAPressRoom and click here to get the News Brief delivered to your inbox every morning.

MUST READS

1) It's Time for the President to Prove He's Brady or Eli for Vets
As the President takes the spotlight tonight with the State of the Union address, Washington needs to remember the 2.4 million veterans who have served, writes IAVA Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff in Forbes. 2012 needs to be the year that Americans step up and support the newest generation of veterans. Read IAVA’s statement ahead of tonight’s State of the Union address.

2) In Urination Video, Behavior Unbecoming a Marine
War is a dirty business, writes Marine Officer and IAVA Legislative Associate Ramsey Sulayman in The New York Times At War blog, but that doesn’t mean Marines lose their professionalism when they fight. Marines abide by the mantra, “Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.” The four Marines in the Youtube video crossed a line when they desecrated the bodies of dead militants.

3) Troops find transition to civilian life complicated
A recent Pew survey suggests that new veterans struggle with the transition home more than veterans of earlier generations. The National Guard has recognized the shift and mandated that all National Guard Units attend a Yellow Ribbon Program within 45 days of coming home.

AFGHANISTAN

• Marine Maj. Gen. John Toolan, commander of coalition forces in southwestern Afghanistan, told USA TODAY the Taliban leadership has been weakened by infighting in recent months.

• The U.S. is preparing a major shift in U.S. strategy this year, when they pivot from leading combat operations to advising Afghan security teams.

IRAQ

• At least 13 have been killed and 62 wounded in four car bomb attacks targeting the Shiite population in Baghdad.

MILITARY AFFAIRS

• Ten thousand U.S. troops could leave Europe by October as the Pentagon complies with budget and force reduction restrictions.

• One of eight soldiers charged in the death of Private Danny Chen has been recommended for court martial.
• The government’s inefficient method of acquiring new medical equipment means that many service members aren’t receiving the care they deserve, writes Sally Pipes in Forbes.
• U.S. Special Operations Command is developing a voice-activated social media project as a weapon to shape the opinions and attitude of civilians in other countries.
  

NEW GREATEST GENERATION

• A grassroots Facebook group has organized the first “welcome home” parade for veterans of Iraq, set for this Saturday in St. Louis.
• With “don’t ask, don’t tell” repealed, a group of service members at Bagram Air Base have created an “It Gets Better” videothat gives advice to other gay and lesbian service members.

INSIDE WASHINGTON

• On Monday, a two lawmakers announced that they would introduce a bill designed to prevent for-profit schools from aggressively recruiting veterans.