IAVA's Senior Policy Advisor Todd Bowers, a Purple Heart veteran who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and Nick Colgin, an Afghanistan veteran and currently working in IAVA's Membership Department, joined Rachel Maddow to discuss veteran unemployment and Nick's story being shared by the President. You can see the President's speech on combating veteran unemployment here.
IAVA's Senior Policy Advisor Todd Bowers, a Purple Heart veteran who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, had the opportunity to represent IAVA's more than 100,000 members at the closing ceremony today in Washington, D.C. Afterwards, Todd spoke to CNN about the unique role that the doctors, service members and caregivers at Walter Reed have played over the past decade in the lives of the thousands of wounded veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
IAVA Deputy Executive Director Todd Bowers joined ABC7 in Washington, DC to discuss the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and how the policy reversal will be implemented. IAVA was the only major VSO to come out in support of repeal. You can read our statement here.
Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan say it’s great when people thank them for their service, but even more valuable would be the country paying attention to the two wars and the hardships veterans face upon returning home. IAVA Deputy Executive Director, Todd Bowers, and spokesman Scott Spaulding comment on the receptions they received when they came home.
IAVA Deputy Executive Director Todd Bowers joined Tamron Hall on MSNBC to discuss the accused killings of three Afghan civilians by American troops. Todd is recently back from a deployment to Afghanistan, his fourth deployment as a Marine.
IAVA Deputy Executive Director Todd Bowers was a guest on Countdown with Keith Olbermann to discuss General Petraeus' comments about how the planned Koran-burning in Florida can harm American troops overseas.
IAVA Deputy Executive Director Todd Bowers was a guest on PBS NewsHour to discuss the new attention given to the dangers of IEDs with the increase in troop deaths in Afghanistan. Ray Suarez spoke with Marine Staff Sgt. Bowers as well as retired Army Col. Peter Mansoor.
IAVA Deputy Policy Director of Public Affairs Todd Bowers weighs in on "The Hurt Locker," emphasizing the desire of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to be portrayed accurately in Hollywood. By using accurate accounts, says Todd, viewers would be given a clear understanding of what it's like for troops to be in a combat zone, and what they're going through.
To read IAVA's Newsweek piece on the film, click here.
IAVA Deputy Policy Director Todd Bowers joined PBS NewsHour to share his thoughts on the military offensive in southern Afghanistan one week into the operation. Bowers discusses his own experiences in Afghanistan and relays the challenges that troops face launching counterinsurgency efforts in densely populated areas.
IAVA's Todd Bowers, Deputy Policy Director for Public Affairs, was among the marines cited in this AFP piece on recruitment shortages facing the Afghan National Police. Bowers was cited for his efforts to forge closer ties with local elders.
