Opinion

11/11/11- Not Just a Funky Date

Stephen Colbert, Brian Williams, Norah Jones and…Aaron Mankin? In a night full of stars, it was the humble kid from Arkansas who stole the show.

October 21

Posted by:
Paul Rieckhoff

As War in Iraq Ends, Suits And Jobs Are What We Need, Not Yellow Ribbons and Unemployment Checks

Inspired by Tuesday’s Huffington Post Game Changers Awards and the success stories of some of my fellow Game Changers, I woke up Wednesday eager for progress in the veterans’ employment movement. For once, I didn’t have to wait very long.

September 11

Posted by:
Paul Rieckhoff

Moving Forward

I was at Ground Zero ten years ago and remember it well. Too well, really. I remember the blue sky. I remember a gigantic plane engine sitting calmly on a street corner like a piece of modern art. I remember the rubble. I remember the bucket brigades. I remember the lifeless faces and bodies. I know I’ll Never Forget and I’m not the only one.

July 19

Posted by:
Paul Rieckhoff

VOW to Hire our Heroes

Lost in the headlines about the mind-numbing debt ceiling debate and Japan’s Women’s World Cup victory, the unemployment rate for new veterans jumped to 13.3 percent in June, four percentage points higher than the national average. Last time we polled IAVA’s membership, they reported close to 20% unemployment.

January 18

Posted by:
Paul Rieckhoff

Lame Duck Turns Mighty for New Vets

The Oregon Ducks came up short against Auburn this week, but December’s lame duck delivered for vets. You may have missed it while buried in a blizzard or trapped in a holiday food coma, but Congress came through big-time for vets during the lame duck session.

November 2

Posted by:
Paul Rieckhoff

From Combat to Capitol Hill: The New Vet 27

This week’s election marks the end of an epic, historic campaign season that included witches, rallies for sanity, the Tea Party and a journalist handcuffed by a campaign. From Whitman to Reid to Miller, candidates have spent more than ever, fought more than ever and given us an election cycle of firsts.   But there is another first no one is really talking about: the surge of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans running this year.   This week, 27 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan will seek national office.