In the News
Today, the Army released information about suicide among soldiers in December 2011. In December, 11 active duty soldiers and five reservists not on active duty potentially committed suicide; 278 soldiers in total may have committed suicide in 2011. This is 27 less than in 2010, which saw the highest amount of Army suicides in recent history, and the numbers dropped particularly among the reserve component.
In the News
IAVA released the following letter today calling for an investigation into the death of Sgt. Joseph Bitet, one of our members, a former intern and a dear friend to our team.
In the News
On behalf of our national membership, IAVA released the following statement today expressing outrage over a video of U.S. service members desecrating the corpses of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan:
Opinion
Our troops are many things to many people. Heroes, parents, diplomats, victims, villains, victors. But as the GOP Primary races roll through New Hampshire this week, there is one thing that all of America must understand they're not: political props.
Opinion
The Christmas cards I’m sending this year feature a photograph of two Border collies and several ducks in a snowbank. The dogs and the ducks appear perfectly at ease and content in each others’ company, and a caption above the picture reads, “And on Earth, Peace.” I love the picture and the reference to Luke 2:14. But, it has occurred to me that the picture might not actually be compatible with its quoted Scripture. Border collies are not, after all, lions who lie down with lambs. Rather, Border collies are defenders of lambs against lions.
Opinion
I returned home from a trip to Georgia just in time to watch the breaking news online as the last US troops left Iraq and closed the gate behind them. Closed that rust white symbol of the end of a war. It never made it to the top of the “news pulse” on CNN’s website, which seemed about right to me.
Legislative Dispatches
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released unemployment data this morning that showed that 13.1% of new veterans were unemployed in December, spiking up from 11.1% in November. These numbers mean that approximately 248,000 Iraq- and Afghanistan-era veterans were looking for work last month. December’s numbers bring the average unemployment rate for 2011 to 12.1%, making 2011 the fourth year in a row that the average annual unemployment rate has grown for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Legislative Dispatches
Today, Congress put politics aside and sent their first jobs bill to President Obama for his signature. VOW to Hire Heroes Act easily passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 422-0. We expect the President to sign this bill in to law as soon as possible, so that veterans can get back to work. See IAVA's statement here.IAVA's Statement
Legislative Dispatches
Today, the Senate passed what will likely be the first jobs bill to reach President Obama’s desk. By a vote of 95-0 the VOW to Hire Heroes Act was passed and sent to the House of Representatives for a final vote.
In the News
Today, the Army released information about suicide among soldiers in December 2011. In December, 11 active duty soldiers and five reservists not on active duty potentially committed suicide; 278 soldiers in total may have committed suicide in 2011. This is 27 less than in 2010, which saw the highest amount of Army suicides in recent history, and the numbers dropped particularly among the reserve component.
In the News
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.
In the News
IAVA released the following letter today calling for an investigation into the death of Sgt. Joseph Bitet, one of our members, a former intern and a dear friend to our team.
