Opinion

Support the Troops: Hire Them!

Three years ago, I got an email from an Iraq veteran from Arlington, Virginia named Joe Tryon. His wife, Melissa, also a disabled combat veteran, was undergoing treatment at Walter Reed. Joe and Melissa are 1 of the more than 115,000 dual-military couples today. Together, they faced countless bureaucratic hurdles and endless red tape as they fought to get Melissa the care she had earned.

March 17

Posted by:
Paul Rieckhoff

Reflections from Fort Hood on Seven Years in Iraq

There's a place in central Texas where valor runs deep and life is deeply connected to something known as "warrior ethos." It's also an area known for its warm greetings, wide open spaces, exceptional football and damn good music. And, it's a far cry from the nearby SXSW festival taking place this week where hash tags rule the land. No, it's not home to Facebook or Digg, but Fort Hood-one of the largest active-duty military bases in the world.

March 5

Posted by:
Paul Rieckhoff

GI Bill 2010: A Quick Update

I’m in California this week, checking in with IAVA’s members in San Francisco, LA, San Diego and then off to Texas, all huge veteran hubs, but I wanted to give a quick update on where things stand with the new G.I. Bill.

February 8

Posted by:
Paul Rieckhoff

Casey's Story: War Was Half the Battle

Former Army Specialist Casey Elder is trapped in a story without a conclusion. It began in 2004, the moment an IED struck her Humvee in Baghdad, slamming her hard enough to dislocate her shoulder and cause permanent joint and nerve damage.

October 28

Posted by:
Paul Rieckhoff

Rock Band OAR Asks America to Open Up Your Arms And Focus on What Matters

Last week, I heard a baffling statistic. More Americans followed news of the runaway balloon than coverage of the war in Afghanistan. With this noise clogging the media landscape, it’s hard to get the general public to pay attention to anything important, much less understand the tremendous sacrifices of the 1 percent of Americans serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fortunately, some extremely talented musicians are working to change that.

October 28

Posted by:
Paul Rieckhoff

Rock Band OAR Asks America to Open Up Your Arms—And Focus on What Matters

Last week, I heard a baffling statistic. More Americans followed news of the runaway balloon than coverage of the war in Afghanistan.

October 22

Posted by:
Paul Rieckhoff

Historic Day: Obama Signs Advance VA Funding into Law

Since 2004, Rey Leal has been fighting. He's fought on the streets of Fallujah; for mental health care in south Texas; and in Washington, for a solution to years of late veterans' health care budgets. Today, Rey and millions of veterans have won their fight.

October 1

Posted by:
Paul Rieckhoff

Congress Gets Paid, Veterans Get Shafted

Every year, Congress needs to pass 12 appropriations bills by October 1st to keep the federal government up and running. If lawmakers don’t meet this deadline, the government operates on temporary funding or shuts down.

September 22

Posted by:
Paul Rieckhoff

“Immeasurable Courage and Uncommon Valor”— Sgt. First Class Jared C. Monti

Courage, sacrifice, hero—three words thrown around carelessly these days. Politicians that cross party lines to force compromise on the divisive issues of our day are labeled “courageous.” A professional athlete that makes a bold play, leading his team to victory is deemed “heroic.” An actor who forgoes a big paycheck for the summer blockbuster to work on a small budget documentary is seen as making a “sacrifice.” Don’t get me wrong, these acts are worthy of admiration. But for a nation at war, using these terms irresponsibly does a big disservice to those that serve.

September 11

Posted by:
Paul Rieckhoff

Eight Years Later: Why Is There Still A Hole at Ground Zero?

Do you remember where you were during our generation’s defining hour? When the towers fell and the Pentagon was ablaze, our nation took pause. Now eight years later, it seems that we are still standing still, frozen in time, and as a country, still waiting for the healing to begin.