Statement on the Tragic Shooting Incident at Camp Liberty

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 11^th, 2009

Statement on the Tragic Shooting Incident at Camp Liberty  

NEW YORK – Today, on behalf of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for the veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff issued the following statement in response to the shooting of U.S. troops by a fellow U.S. service member at a clinic inside Camp Liberty near Baghdad, Iraq:

“The events at Camp Liberty today are a great tragedy.  The friends and families of those killed have suffered a terrible loss, and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.

Unlike during the Vietnam War, today’s military is a professional, all-volunteer force.  There have been only five cases of intentional fratricide by U.S. service members in Iraq.  But these incidents, however rare, draw public attention to an important issue: the enormous stress on our armed forces.  Many troops are under great psychological strain and are not receiving the treatment they need.  Over 600,000 troops have served more than one combat tour since 9/11.  Military suicide rates have hit record highs every year since 2003.  Much more must be done to address troops’ psychological injuries before they reach a crisis point.”

IAVA recently launched a nationwide Veterans Support Campaign to provide support and critical mental health resources to new veterans and their friends and family.  Veterans should visit www.CommunityOfVeterans.org, a social network exclusively for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and friends and family should visit www.SupportYourVet.org.

To arrange an interview with IAVA Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff or another Iraq veteran, please contact Chrissy Stevens, (212)982-9699 or Chrissy@iava.org.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (www.IAVA.org) is the country's first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and has more than 125,000 veteran members and civilian supporters nationwide. Its mission is to improve the lives of this country's newest generation of veterans and their families.