Operation Recovery Teach-In

This Veterans Day, learn about Iraq Veterans Against the War's Operation Recovery campaign and how you can help stop the deployment of traumatized troops. We will be hosting a discussion on the campaign and how you can become involved.  We will have a report-back from Ft. Hood given by one of our IVAW members who just spent over a month organizing at Ft. Hood, TX. 

IVAW's Veterans Day Background Info and Call to Action:

Iraq Veterans Against the War and Operation Recovery recognize the sacrifices of all service members with special emphasis on women.  Women service members and veterans are disproportionately affected by combat stress, sexual assault, harassment and sexism.  Moreover they are subjected to scrutiny above and beyond their male counterparts; yet still they thrive, overcoming these obstacles to become powerful leaders in the movement to demand recognition of service members’ right to heal.  For too long women service members and veterans have gone unrecognized for their sacrifices and hardships in the military. Iraq Veterans Against the War is fighting to change that by highlighting women’s experiences in the military and demanding that General Campbell improve conditions for women at Fort Hood.  

Operation Recovery took the fight for service members’ Right to Heal to Fort Hood, Texas in May 2011. With help from our national network of members and supporters, our local and visiting organizers at Fort Hood sent over 600 emails to General Campbell urging him to meet with Operation Recovery organizers to discuss a plan to improve the care of wounded service members.  

After numerous failed attempts to meet with the new base commander, General Don Campbell, we decided to organize directly with soldiers around their Right to Heal.  Over the past five months, Operation Recovery organizers at Fort Hood have met with hundreds of service members and their families to gather personal stories and share resources. We’ve been building strength and are ready to take action.  

On Veterans Day 2011, we take our stand.  

We will expose the injustices done against service members and veterans, including violations of their Right to Heal. We will confront issues politicians and military officials like General Campbell refuse to address: Post Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury, Military Sexual Assault, and rapidly rising rates of suicide amongst veterans and service members.  And we will demand responses.  

Our Call To Action:

Service members and veterans have the Right to Heal from injuries seen and unseen. Medication alone is not enough to heal most injuries.

Service members have the right to receive medical care from medical professionals. Military leadership should not have authority to ignore professional health care advice.

Service members have the right to exit a traumatic situation. Studies show that exposure to trauma has a compounding effect, worsening problems with each exposure.