NEW YORK, NY July 27, 2016 — Today, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) and Founder and CEO, Paul Rieckhoff were highlighted as a part of  Ward Carroll’s party convention coverage in We are the Mighty. The article highlights the complex role of veterans in the current divisive political atmosphere and encourages veterans to take an active role in the political process.

If the 13 years of running Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America has taken an emotional and physical toll on founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff, he doesn’t show it. Watching him in action at the Democratic National Convention this week in Philadelphia is a study in determination and attention to detail. No bypassing staffer is too junior to be engaged, and no veterans issue is too trivial to be addressed.

“My big takeaway in the wake of these two conventions is we have to find ways to be united and focused and we have to find ways to multiply our impact,” he says. “If veterans alone are carrying water for veterans’ issues we will lose.  We’re just too small. There aren’t enough of us.”

Rieckhoff went on to discuss the the bi-partisan nature of veterans, a community that has traditionally been starkly independent:

“The conventions have been fascinating to watch,” he says. “I think what’s happened in the last four years is both parties realize that veterans make good populism.”

“We’re some of the only people who can go to both conventions and understand both sides,” he says. “That’s the powerful position for us whether it’s gun control, immigration, Islamophobia, gay rights, marijuana, or whatever. We can be a unique bridge builder between both sides. The Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter movements are great examples. The veterans community is on both sides of those.”

For all of the impact potential veterans might have, Rieckhoff is also mindful of negative stereotypes that exist among the civilian populations, something he blames in large part to “media laziness.”

“The only description the media had of the Dallas shooter was that he was African-American, and he was a veteran,” he points out. “Why? Because they have to file a story quickly and those were the only two things they could verify. That accelerated media cycle perpetuates lazy reporting. And when you have a vet who fits the stereotype they run with it.”

Rieckhoff concluded with the reminder that the “new greatest generation” is poised to become an integral community in the United States going forward:

“In 10 years, disproportionally CEOs are going to be veterans, candidates are going to be veterans, entrepreneurs are going to be veterans,” he says. “And that’s going to be exciting to watch.”

IAVA representatives are attending both party conventions to push political leaders, delegates and American voters to support veterans of the recent wars.  IAVA’s assessment of both candidates positions on veterans issues can be found here.