Blog Post

IAVA Daily News Brief 12.9.11
Posted by Jim Drury on December 9 2011

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) The Unsung Heroes of War – Our Families

With the end of the Iraq War in sight, America needs to double down on its commitment to military families, writes IAVA Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff.  The end of the war in Iraq is a defining moment for the veteran community and an emotional time for service members and their families. IAVA’s new report “Unsung Heroes” explores some of the issues military families will face as their service members return home. Donate today and help the nation’s military families make the transition back to peacetime.

2) On War and Faith

A new study by the Pew Research center concludes that religious service members are more likely to experience a smooth transition back to civilian life than their non-religious peers. Entitled The Difficult Transition from Military to Civilian Life, the study bases its conclusions on a survey of 1,853 veterans, including 710 post-9/11 veterans. The study also documents other factors that improve the chance for a smooth transition home, including the service member’s level education, whether they experienced combat and whether they served as an officer or an enlisted.

3) The Legacy of the Iraq War

On Thursday, IAVA Senior Legislative Associate Tom Tarantino appeared on CNN and spoke about what the end of the Iraq War means to service members and their families. "Coming back from combat is a process for everyone," Tarantino said, and the vast majority of service members are able to rise to the challenge with the support of family and friends. Read IAVA’s new issue report “Unsung Heroes” on the state of military families.

AFGHANISTAN

• After a daring escape attempt in September, Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl has been recaptured by the militants that are holding him hostage in Pakistan.

• On Friday, four Afghans were killed by a suicide bomber as they prayed in a mosque.

• Militants in Pakistan attacked and destroyed at least 22 tankers carrying fuel for NATO troops.

IRAQ

• The U.S. military held its last formal press briefing in Baghdad on Wednesday, 3,185 days after the American invasion.

• The State Department is taking over security and reconstruction projects in Iraq after the departure of the U.S. military.

MILITARY AFFAIRS

• The Army-Navy game will be played for the 112th time on Saturday, and IAVA will be on site with a pre-game tailgate.

• Defense Secretary Panetta says that he is comfortable with the Air Force’s handling of the Dover Air Force Base scandal, where the remains of service members were found to be improperly handled.

• Iran has aired footage of what appears to be a U.S. spy drone, but many analysts are calling it a fake.

• After his lawsuit against the producers of the Hurt Locker failed, an Iraq war vet is being forced to pay the defendants' $187,000 in attorney fees.

• Watch former Army Sergeant Daniel Rodriguez as he journeys from wounded warrior to aspiring athlete.

• The police officer killed in Thursday’s tragic shooting at Virginia Tech was an Army veteran and a father of five.

INSIDE WASHINGTON

• President Obama will mark the end of the war in Iraq with an appearance at Fort Bragg next week.

• A bizarre controversy has ensnared White House and Pentagon officials as they try to update language in the Uniform Military Code of Justice to exclude a reference to bestiality.

A wide-range of views, positions, and publications are represented in these articles. These views, positions and publications are not endorsed by nor do they necessarily represent the views of IAVA.

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