Blog Post

Daily News Brief 02.15.12
Posted by Jacob Worrell on February 15 2012

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) Building Better Houses For Wounded Soldiers

Enormous advances in medical technology means that more seriously wounded service members are surviving their injuries. As many wounded warriors remain active-duty, the military has pioneered ways to provide handicap accessible housing that is discrete and ergonomic.

2) Princeton Trails Columbia in Attracting Iraq Vets to Ivy League

At least 500,000 new veterans have taken advantage of the GI Bill since 2009, but select few have penetrated the ranks of the country’s most elite universities. Veteran enrollment at Ivy League schools is much lower than previous generations because so few Americans have served in the Armed Forces.

3) Choosing troops to attend Iraq War dinner no easy task

After inviting families of the fallen and top brass from every service, the White House has officially selected 64 Iraq combat veterans to attend a formal dinner on February 29. Vets were chosen to best represent gender, home state, rank and ethnicity. Click here to sign IAVA’s petition calling on the President and the Mayors to hold a National Day of Action for Iraq vets.

AFGHANISTAN

The United States and the Afghan government are close to striking a deal that would lay out military relations post-2014.
On Wednesday, NATO expressed regret for a coalition airstrike that killed eight young civilians.

IRAQ

An Iraqi politician who represents the Kurdish minority warns that threats against Exxon Mobil endanger Iraq’s economic recovery.
Gunmen stormed the house of a police officer Wednesday morning, wounding the officer and killing his wife and two young children.

MILITARY AFFAIRS

The Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal school has removed the unofficial motto,“Initial Success or Total Failure” for fear of slandering fallen service members.
Three Camp Pendleton Marines were killed and one critically injured after their car crashed into a tree in California early Tuesday morning.

NEW GREATEST GENERATION

IAVA Member Veteran 2LT Don Gomez remembers Valentine’s Day nine years ago, as his division was poised to invade Iraq.
A Marine Sergeant was shot and killed by a Los Angeles Deputy last Friday under suspicious circumstances.

INSIDE WASHINGTON