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Iraq Veterans Against the War has become About Face: Veterans Against the War. About Face can be found at aboutfaceveterans.org

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Telling Our Stories

published by Matt Howard on 02/14/13 1:17pm
Posted to: 
Staff

IVAW Members are speaking out about their experiences in the military. They are shedding light on the stigma around mental health care, the economic factors that motivated their enlistment and the questionable methods of waging war in our current era.

LA Chapter President Cameron White spoke about the economic drivers compelling our foreign policy, the usage of drones, and questionable practices at Guantanamo Bay with 'The Young Turks' recently. "We have suspended habeas corpus for those that aren't U.S. citizens...our country is by and large numb to that...we need to reevaluate that values system and how we treat people that aren't U.S. citizens whether they are combatants or not" said the former Marine. 

 
Curtis Sirmans, member of IVAW's Volunteer Organizing Team just recently separated from the Army and described the challenges of asking for medical care from the military to HuffPost Live. "Soldiers are encouraged by their lower level leadership and their peers not to get help because of stigma. If you go to get help you get chastised by your peers. It really discourages people from getting help", said the former Infantryman. Curtis is now a committed leader in IVAW and has been instrumental in our testimonial collection process at Fort Hood. Check out the clip here.
 
Bay Area Chapter leader Jason Matherne also had an opportunity to speak to Huff Post Live recently and described the economic circumstances motivating his enlistment in the Navy. Jason said "I came from a working class family...I paid off my [college] debt by serving. A lot of people I served with were in the military because they were trying to get money for college or paying back money for college." Jason explained that the current enlistment model is at its root an economic draft "You have recruiters going into neighborhoods on the low side of the socioeconomic scale promising everything under the sun..." The video is here.
 
We are getting the word out there that other veterans and service members are not alone in this fight! Stigmatization for seeking care for mental health, and recruiting practices that target working class communities and communities of color have no place in our society.  If you are a Post 9/11 veteran that wants to speak to these issues and more, let us know at media@ivaw.org.
Aaron Hughes's picture

Published in the Wisconsin State Journal

Jean Sweet: U.S. should fund social needs, not war Dear Editor: I remember the horrors of World War II when my fiance served in the army in the Pacific. He fought in the battle of Okinawa but it took 50 years before he...

A special offer from Military Families Speak Out

A special offer from Military Families Speak Out: We are pleased to offer all members and supporters of Iraq Veterans Against the War 4 free postcards that we will hand-deliver to President Obama, your two Senators and...
Aaron Hughes's picture

Call to Action - Stand in Solidarity March 19th: Madison, Wisconsin

Iraq Veterans Against the War calls on all veterans and peace organizations to mobilize to Madison, Wisconsin on March 19th, the 8th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, to stand in solidarity with workers...

International Women's Day - Statement of Solidarity with MST Survivors

International Women's Day - Statement of Solidarity with MST Survivors March is Women's History Month and we want to honor the contributions our female service members and veterans make everyday. Today, we celebrate...

IVAW in Military.com story on Wisconsin protests

Vets Sound Off on Wisconsin ProtestsMarch 04, 2011 Military.com|by Bryant JordanSome veterans' organizations are adding their collective voices to the ongoing protests in Wisconsin, including one group that has called on...

We Are Public Employees Too!

Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) calls on all U.S. military service members to refuse and resist any mobilization against workers organizing to protect their basic rights. IVAW stands in solidarity with the...

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