Dennis Pracht

Name: Dennis Pracht
City/State: Centralia, IL
Branch of Service: Army
Dates of Service: 11/13/2000 – 11/29/2011
Last Rank Held: E6
Military Occupation: 11B – Infantryman
Current Occupation: Full Time Student
X: NA
Instagram: NA
Facebook: alex.pracht.39

Dennis outside of the military:

Outside of the military, I have been dedicated to several academic endeavors, including multiple Associate’s, 2 Bachelor’s, and soon a Master’s degree. I’ve studied Criminal Justice, Sport Security Management, Psychological & Brain Sciences, Neuroscience, and Forensic Psychology & Criminology. I am actively involved with several Veterans organizations, including the VFW, MOPH, DAV, and American Legion in the surrounding communities. My goals are always to move towards real progress for Veterans across all conflicts and to ensure these brave men and women are taken care of in every way they can be. Away from those areas, I enjoy being a father to an amazing soon-to-be 15-year-old daughter (Adysen) who recently graduated from 8th grade and is heading into her Freshman Year of high school. She keeps me constantly busy with her various activities as she is a multiple sport athlete involved in soccer, softball, track, volleyball, and basketball. When I actually have some free time to myself, I enjoy the outdoors, camping, fishing, hunting, and hiking. Golf is my true passion and I try to play as often as I can. I remain busy, but am always vigilant when it comes to Veterans.

Dennis on joining the IAVA Cavalry:

The IAVA Cavalry is an exceptional program that allows Veterans and Military Servicemembers to engage in policies and other priorities that are essential to past, present, and future Veterans, their families, and those that have helped us during conflicts in various ways. I am proud to become a part of this because of the personal commitment I have made to ensuring these men and women have a voice. There are many Veterans out there that have sacrificed their lives, bodies, and minds for this country and the least I can do is to repay the debt to these individuals as they have helped me through dark times. Being able to engage policymakers, politicians, and other advocates concerning Veterans and Military Affairs is an honor that I am happy to accept. My hope is to play any part I can in making the lives of our brave men and women better, more accessible, and easier. Those that have come before us, are currently serving, and those that have departed the military service have many obstacles in various facets of medical, educational, and employment. Being able to lend a hand and a voice to these brave individuals will be the honor of my life. I look forward to the engagement!

How the military experience affected Dennis’s personal growth:

Before I joined the Army back in late 2000, I was lost and potentially on a path that might have led me to adverse encounters with the criminal justice system. Once I made the decision to join and left for Basic Training, I knew my life had changed forever. The discipline, motivation, physical fitness, and other great attributes that comes with serving in the military has taken me from that lost, confused boy to a well-disciplined, confident, and successful man that I represent today. Throughout the 11 years I served, including combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, I met hundreds of amazing people from all over the world that gave me perspectives I would never have seen or experienced otherwise. These experiences and individuals taught me humility, respect, discipline, and a sense of humble intentions that I carry with me today. I know I would never have been successful in academia and honestly life in general without my military service. For all those that make an impression on me, I will never forget how you have made me who I am today. Simply put, the military saved me from myself. Today, I am a loving father, advocate, academic, and Veteran.

IAVA’s policy priorities that are the most pressing:

As a combat veteran, I have defended democracy overseas, but I am deeply concerned about its current state at home. When nearly three-quarters of IAVA members say they are dissatisfied with how our democracy functions, that tells me we need to step up and protect what we served to defend. We also need to repeal or reform the outdated military authorizations from 2001 and 2002. Those missions have ended, yet the legal framework remains, putting future service members at risk without proper oversight. Veterans like me have also felt the profound impact of the opioid crisis. Many of us are searching for better solutions to manage pain and trauma. There is strong support in our community for access to cannabis and psychedelic therapies, and it is time for national policy to reflect that. Lastly, we cannot forget our Afghan allies. They stood beside us in war, and we owe it to them to fix the broken visa system. These priorities are personal. They are about keeping our promises and doing what is right.

IAVA’s policy priorities with the strongest personal connection for Dennis:

Of all of IAVA’s priorities, I feel the strongest connection to supporting our Afghan allies. During my deployment, I witnessed the courage of the men and women who stood beside us in dangerous conditions. They placed their lives and families in danger so we could do our jobs and return to ours. Their dedication, loyalty, and selflessness saved American lives and helped shape the outcome of many missions. I carry the memory of those partnerships with deep respect. We made a promise to protect them, and keeping that promise is a matter of personal honor and moral responsibility. Fixing the visa system and ensuring their safety is the least we can do. They were there when we needed them, and leaving them behind would betray everything we stood for while in uniform. Now it is our turn to act.