WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28 2012

Our teams were out in full force today! We were pounding pavement all over Capitol Hill, and we're seeing progress.

Check out our photos from the press conference, and all across Washington, on Flickr:

TUESDAY, MARCH 27 2012

Things are heating up on the Hill! We kicked off today with the release of our groundbreaking Member Survey,  revealing that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are facing significantly higher rates of unemployment and a lack of mental health support than previously reported by the government - nearly 17%. The survey, the largest of its kind to date published about Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, assesses a broad spectrum of employment, education and mental health issues impacting new veterans and their families.

Highlights of the Survey

To review the full results, click here.

Employment and Education

• IAVA members’ unemployment rate was 16.7%. This is significantly higher than the 12.1% average unemployment rate for Iraq- and Afghanistan-era veterans in 2011 as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

• Among the unemployed, 24% were unable to find a job that matches their skill level and 11% were unable to find a job that matches their education level.

• Almost half (49%) of unemployed members did not feel that employers were open to hiring veterans.

• More than half of our members are highly or somewhat interested in starting a business in the next 3 to 5 years or 6 to 10 years.

• Almost 30% of our members are using the New GI Bill. Among those who are not, almost 50% plan to use it or pass it to a dependent.

• Most rate their experience with the New GI Bill as excellent (35%) or good (41%), but 42% have found the processing slow and 34% had financial problems because of delays.

Mental Health

• Two-thirds of our members do not think troops and veterans are getting the care they need for mental health injuries, including combat-related stress or military sexual trauma.

• Thirty-seven percent of our members personally know someone they served with or another Iraq or Afghanistan veteran who has committed suicide.

• Ninety-six percent think counselors that understand military life and culture are very important (77%) or somewhat important (19%) in provision of mental health care.

• Almost one-third (31%) divorced or broke up with a long-term partner as a result of deployment and the return home. A quarter of those with children said their child had emotional problems (25%) or had problems in school (24%).

• Sixty percent do not think the military/Department of Defense is doing a good job of reaching out to troops and veterans regarding their mental health injuries and care.

• Less than half (49%) think the VA is doing a good job of reaching out to troops and veterans regarding their mental health injuries and care. Nearly 69% didn’t know or guessed incorrectly the name of the current Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Go behind the scenes with IAVA and Storm the Hill 2012: Visit our Digital War Room >

MONDAY, MARCH 26 2012

MEET IAVA'S DIGITAL STORMERS: Our behind the scenes advocates

Storm the HIll 2012 is shaping up to be a huge success, but it wouldn't be possible without our virtual support network, IAVA's Digital Stormers. An elite group chosen during our application process, the digital stormers are participating in our advocacy work through the power of social media, working from home and office sending our message to their friends, family and public officials, asking for their support. One of our digital stormers is Christopher Villatoro, a former U.S. Marine with eight years of active service from Whittier, California. This is his story:

"Throughout my time in the  Marine Corps, I have served as an Honor Guardsman at Marine Barracks  Washington, DC, Infantryman with 1st Battalion, 1st Marines and  Marksmanship Instructor at Camp Pendleton's Edson Range.

After I was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in June of 2008, (during the height of the recession), I found myself without a job or any proper training outside a military standpoint.  I went through numerous interviews over several months after my discharge, but was deemed unqualified for all the positions that I applied for because I lacked higher education.  At this point in my life, I felt extremely weak and vulnerable.  After speaking to a counselor at the Long Beach VAHospital in southern California, I was given proper guidance and knowledge of my benefits that I have acquired through my military service, such as the GI Bill, which was going to help me with my transition from the military to civilian life.  This is when I made my decision to obtain higher education, a goal that I felt was unattainable. Since my decision to go back to school in January 2009, I have graduated from Pasadena City College with an Associate in Arts degree in Behavioral and Social Sciences in June 2010; I am graduating from the University of California, Berkeley in May 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Public Policy minor; and I will be attending  Columbia University's School of Social Work in Fall 2012. After I  graduate from Columbia, I intend to continue to advocate for veterans  through numerous avenues, such as legislation, for the effective delivery of programs and services."

Go behind the scenes with IAVA and Storm the Hill 2012: Visit our Digital War Room >

SUNDAY, MARCH 25 2012

UPDATE, 8:45pm:

"We're not victims, we're veterans...We don't need a hand out, but a hand UP."

-Colonel David Sutherland, Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - Warrior and Family Support

IAVA's Storm the Hill Membership event took place this evening in DC, featuring panelists Colonel David Sutherland and Mrs. Holly Petraeus, Assistant Director for Servicemember Affairs for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and IAVA's Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff. With local area Member Veterans, the conversation focused on the challenges facing veterans when they return home, what can be done to bridge the civilian-military divide, and how veterans can protect themselves by utilizing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's services.

And that's not all - a surprise guest dropped by to end on a high note! Check out General David Petraeus with IAVA Member Veteran and Team Golf Stormer Megan O'Conner.

Want to know how you can help vets like Megan? Donate to fund our stormers during the week. Whether it's a single cab ride or a full week of expenses, your support is crucial to our goal of lowering veteran unemployment in 2012.

UPDATE, 12:35pm:

"A great career makes a great education."

Team Echo's Zoe Bedell and Waymon Williams, wtih Team Foxtrot's Tyler Tannahill listening hard to IAVA's media training presentation from our Communications Director Michelle McCarthy.

Storm the Hill can only be successful if we have your help. There are 12,000 lobbyists in Washington, and they have Washington's ear - and back pocket - 365 days a year. Without you, our vets are outnumbered. Click here to donate to fund the fight. Whether it's a meal, a cab ride, or sponsoring a vet for the entire trip, every dollar counts! And thanks to a generous IAVA donor, your donation will be matched dollar for dollar. Click here to donate today.

It's training day for IAVA and our Stormers! We have 28 vets, representing 2.4 million Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, on the ground in Washington DC, telling their stories and making a huge impact. Like our digital war room on Facebook to get exclusive behind-the-scenes access and be sure to join a team online. Show your support. Storm the Hill with Us.