American Sniper, the Oscar-nominated movie about an Iraq war veteran Chris Kyle, is everywhere. It has been the #1 movie in America for weeks, broken records for January releases, and generated conversations about our community in media across America.  The film is shaping public perceptions about the Iraq war and our members’ service, so it is vital that see it for ourselves, en masse.

That’s why we are very excited to offer our members the opportunity to see American Sniper on screens across the US on Wednesday, February 11th – FOR FREE. When Warner Brothers found out about the tremendous interest from our members — 20 had volunteered to host screenings in their area — they were happy to support us as a sponsor.

In all, 500 IAVA members will get to see this film. And they’ll get to see it with fellow veterans – friends, old and new, who can understand their unique perspective on this movie. We’ll also have support materials and trained member leaders on site in each city so that those in need of help can get connected to immediate crisis support, or longer-term case management services and other resources. In VetTogethers immediately following the screenings, members can decompress, share their experiences and talk about the film.

If you can’t make it to one of our screenings, or if you’ve already seen it, join us online at myIAVA.org for a Virtual VetTogether discussion on Wednesday, February 11th.

As the Field Director, watching the evolution of this program has been exciting. Our members are taking active roles as leaders, IAVA is growing a relationship with Warner Brothers, and we’re providing a direct benefit in the form of free tickets and a supportive community around one of the most important films of the year. I just can’t wait to see the pictures.