Brandon Leon Newberry, Esq

Branch: USMC
Years Served: 2006-2014
Rank: Sgt
Military Occupation: 0351 and 0352
Twitter Handle: TBD

Tell us a little about you outside of the military: 

• •  After the military I became a Private Military Contractor working in Afghanistan until the fall. During this time I went to law School at Mitchell Hamline School of Law where I was also the President of the Veterans Association. In 2022 I was barred in Indiana and now have my own firm specializing in VA disability. My wife, who I have been married to since 2009, works as my paralegal. We have 7 children with another on the way.

Why are you joining the IAVA Cavalry? 

• • Working as a VA disability attorney I speak with so many veterans and hear their troubles every day. This is a way that I can become a voice for them and express every veteran’s concerns.

How did your military experience shape you to be the person you are today?

• • Being from the Marines I have learned to never give up and push through everything. I still use this thought process today with everything I do.

Which one of IAVA’s policy priorities do you believe is the most pressing? Why?

• • I believe the most pressing is the VA Health and Benefits reform. The reason is that to many veterans have long wait times for benefits, which has been causing financial distress, homelessness, and even suicide. On top of that the long wait times for medical care is leading veterans to end up giving up on their health, or just staying in pain. Which again, leads to financial distress, homelessness, and suicide.

Which one of IAVA’s policy priorities do you have the strongest personal connection to? Why? 

• • I believe the most pressing is the VA Health and Benefits reform. The reason is that to many veterans have long wait times for benefits, which has been causing financial distress, homelessness, and even suicide. On top of that the long wait times for medical care is leading veterans to end up giving up on their health, or just staying in pain. Which again, leads to financial distress, homelessness, and suicide. With a few of them to get their citizenship so they can get their families out of harm’s way as well. It has hurt many of us to have to leave them to be killed.