2005
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IAVA quickly became the leading voice of the post-9/11 generation of veterans.
IAVA kicked off our history of leading the conversation and winning for veterans with our fight to ensure that our troops are equipped with sufficient body armor.
Body Armor Debate
After reports surfaced of service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan purchasing their own body armor, IAVA called for streamlined body armor standards and a full-scale investigation by the Department of Defense.
Though public statements at the time claimed the troops all had state of the art body armor, a secret Pentagon study found that as many as 80 percent of the Marines killed in Iraq from wounds to the upper body could have survived had they had extra body armor. This report came to light in early 2006.
IAVA Films
IAVA has fostered meaningful relationships with the film and entertainment communities, partnering with and producing films that engage the veteran community and bridge the military-civilian divide. IAVA has also served as a producer on several documentary films.
In 2005, IAVA provided financial support, technical guidance, media outreach and more to The Sandstorm, a play written by, produced by and starring Iraq vet and IAVA member Sean Huze.
