On Thursday, IAVA Membership Coordinator appeared on MSNBC’s The Dylan Ratigan show and discussed the impact of traumatic brain injury and multiple deployments on the veteran community. A TBI survivor, Colgin described what it was like to bounce back from a TBI and he challenged the stereotypes that have lumped 2.4 million Americans with the actions of one individual.
On Monday, March 19, IAVA Membership Coordinator Nick Colgin appeared on CNN Newsroom and spoke about the recent incident out of Kandahar and what it's like to serve in Afghanistan. Colgin served in Operation Enduring Freedom as a medic with the 82D Airborne Division.
"Coming home is hard for any soldier," he said, but the public should be careful not to jump to stereotypes and confuse the actions of SSG Bales with other veterans of Iraq or Afghanistan.
On Monday, March 19, the CEO of Mission Continues Eric Greiten and the Executive Director of IAVA Paul Rieckhoff appeared on the Charlie Rose Show and spoke about the state of the U.S. military. There's been major strain on American forces after ten years of war, including strain on military families. Less than one percent of Americans have served in Iraq or Afghanistan.
On Sunday, March 18th, IAVA Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff and Board Member and author Wes Moore joined NBC's Meet the Press for a special roundtable discussion on the strain the war in Afghanistan is placing on U.S. troops in the region.
On Thursday, March 15, IAVA Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff appeared on MSNBC and spoke about the "crazy vet" stereotype that has reemerged after last Sunday's incident in Kandahar, where 16 civilians were killed allegedly by an Army Staff Sergeant.
On Wednesday, March 14, IAVA Deputy Policy Director Tom Tarantino spoke about the quality of mental health care provided to American service members and veterans. While the U.S. military is incredibly good with treating physical injuries such as gunshot wounds, there is a stigma associated with treating invisible injuries like post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
On Tuesday, March 13, IAVA Deputy Policy Director appeared on CNN Newsroom and spoke about the incident in Kandahar which claimed the lives of 16 Afghans. The Army Staff Sergeant accused of killing the Afghans reportedly suffered a traumatic brain injury, but Tarantino cautioned that "correlation and coincidence doesn't necessarily equal cause."
On Tuesday, March 13, IAVA Deputy Policy Director Tom Tarantino appeared on CNN International: World Report and spoke about mental health screenings in the military and the recent incident in Kandahar, where 16 civilians were killed allegedly by an Army Staff Sergeant.
"This generation of veterans has been incredibly resilient," Tom said. "I think it's important that we don't let this one incident stain the honor and the service and the sacrifice that American men and women have faced when serving overseas."
On Wednesday, February 29, the President and the First Lady hosted 87 veterans of the Iraq War at the White House. Among the guests was Jason Hansman, OIF veteran and Membership Director at IAVA.
Watch Jason discuss the White House dinner and IAVA's push to celebrate all veterans of Iraq.
On February 7, IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff discussed why veterans of Iraq should be celebrated with a 'Welcome Home' parade. The Mayor of New York City and the Department of Defense have opposed a parade while U.S. troops remain in Afghanistan. The White House is honoring 200 Iraq veterans and their city with a state dinner on February 29.
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