Veterans for America

VFA News Analysis: June 12, 2009

The Army suicide rate, compounded by stress and multiple-deployments, too little pre- and post-deployment care and a stigma against seeking help, leapt even higher in May — more than doubling April’s rate of suicides. At least 17 suicides were reported…

News Analysis: May 12, 2009

Five US service members were gunned down by a fellow soldier at a counseling center on an American military base near the Baghdad airport. This is the sort of worst-case scenario that VFA has long feared: untreated stress and psychological…

News Analysis: May 1, 2009

For those who have yet to realize how heavy the burden of deployments, war and sacrifice fall on our military families, consider 6-year-old Jase Spargur. Jase accepted his dad’s Silver Star this week, because his dad died nearly a year…

News Analysis: March 12, 2009

A day after the nation heard that many of our injured troops recuperating at Warrior Transition Units were being punished for minor violations — including one soldier suffering serious combat-related sleep problems being punished for being late to morning call…

News Analysis: February 3, 2009

Afghanistan is not comparable to the Vietnam War, said Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “Afghanistan is much more complex,” he said. For one thing, there are the complications of enlisting more European support and…

News Analysis: January 28, 2009

Tune in today to National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation to hear VFA’s Directory of Policy Jason Forrester discuss PTSD and the psychological fallout of war. He will also talk about the ongoing debate over whether the Purple Heart should…

News Analysis: December 31, 2008

We say goodbye to 2008 and hope 2009 brings relief to our burdened troops and military families stretched thin and laid low by two wars. This is especially true for the war in Iraq, which was not at all mixed…

News Analysis: December 24, 2008

While the brass at Fort Lee, Virginia, was extolling the post’s Warrior Transition Unit, eyes in the audience were rolling. Our wounded troops deserve more than “another dog-and-pony show” when it comes to their health and recovery. Despite claims made…

News Analysis: December 9, 2008

Another day, more news of deployments for our nation’s citizen-Soldiers, who are paying an unduly heavy share of the price of current administration deployment policies. More and more Guard forces will have to deal with mental health problems in their ranks.

A consensus is growing…

News Analysis: November 11, 2008

Today is Veterans Day, when we honor our heros who have served and continue to serve for all of us.  Yet everyday we must continue working to ensure our nation’s support for our troops, veterans and their families is worthy of…