Blog Post

Don't let them forget us this election season
Posted by Paul Rieckhoff on October 22 2012

IAVA's mission is clear: to better the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. And with your support, we've built the most effective, innovative veterans support group in America.

We focus on four key program areas critical to empowering the New Greatest Generation: health, education, employment and community. We military folks love acronyms, so we call it HEEC.

All of our programs deliver transformative change through what we call our "3 A's of Impact": game-changing Assistance (connecting vets with each other and our HEEC programs), powerful Advocacy (fighting for better HEEC policy in Washington) and innovative Awareness (making sure America remembers our vets and knows why we rock).

We work every day to make sure America does not forget about our service members, veterans and their families. From the south side of Chicago, to your local TV station, and through the maze of Twitter, IAVA sends the message that vets are not a charity, we're an investment. 

But the candidates running for office this year at every level, from every party, are not getting the message. In the debates, you heard nothing about the issues that matter to us most. After 10 years of war, you heard more about Big Bird than you did about veterans. The candidates all seem more interested in fighting each other than fighting for us. After every debate, the democrats and republicans clamber to claim victory, but only one thing is for sure--our veterans and their families lost. 

At IAVA, we think we can change that. Download IAVA's short, smart, non-partisan Voter Guide now and make your voice heard. Print it out at work, forward it to your friends at school, post it on your Facebook page, talk about it with your family at your dinner table. And if a candidate comes asking for your vote in the next two weeks, USE IT. Don't let them off the hook when they say “I support our troops” and pose for a photo. Ask them the tough questions:

How will you create jobs for veterans? How will you lower the skyrocketing suicide rate? How will you ensure our women warriors receive the support they deserve? Will you protect the New GI Bill? Will you demand reform the VA?

That's what we need to know. And IAVA's Voter Guide makes it easy for you to find out. 

Paul Rieckhoff is IAVA's Founder and Chief Executive Officer and works out of our New York City headquarters. Follow him on Twitter at @PaulRieckhoff.

Get Involved

In just the last year, IAVA has connected hundreds of veterans with employers through innovative career fairs, helped over 10,000 veterans go to college on the New GI Bill, and provided mental health support to over 50,000 veterans—all at no cost to Member Veterans. Programs like these are only made possible through your generous support. Fight for those who fought for us and help us keep these resources and benefits completely free for new veterans and their families. DONATE >>

Not an IAVA member yet? What are you waiting for?! IAVA Member Veterans get access to exclusive career fairs, events and tickets. Join up today--membership is free and all you have to do is submit proof of OIF/OND/OEF status.

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