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Post by Swampy on Sept 3, 2012 9:43:51 GMT -5
Veteran groups are having trouble retaining those who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, because the current generation of vets just want to get on with their lives and put the war behind them. I believe in competition, like most conservatives, and, if the current organizations cannot attrack members, they should wither away. That said, those who fought in the current wars will still have common issues, and so they will get together and form their own type of veteran groups, which would be more relevant to their needs. IOW, so long as there are veterans, veteran organizations will not go away.
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Post by jerryfmcompushaft on Sept 3, 2012 10:50:19 GMT -5
One reason the Vets groups had trouble attracting Vietnam Vets back in the day was that we were definitely not accepted. When i walked into an American Legion post, all I got was ignored. The old WWII guys did not seem to want to admit that we were veterans too. It has since changed and I'm guessing that it has to do with both groups getting a bit older and more accepting, and the fact that the American Legion leaders saw the writing on the wall - accept RVN Vets or wither away and die. I haven't been in an American Legion of VFW hall in years so i don't know how it is today.
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Post by Swampy on Sept 3, 2012 16:02:20 GMT -5
If this organization is not meeting the needs of its members, let it wither away.
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Post by jerryfmcompushaft on Sept 6, 2012 10:42:26 GMT -5
Seems that a new group is trying to replace the American Legion and the VFW
WASHINGTON — In 2006, at the height of the Iraq War, staffers at the advocacy group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America practically had to beg reporters to cover their news conferences. Now, IAVA representatives are frequent cable news guests and regulars at hearings on Capitol Hill, where few if any veterans initiatives are passed without their blessing. They’re advertising stars, thanks to donated public service spots and a partnership with Miller High Life. IAVA events drew crowds at the Super Bowl and this year’s presidential political conventions, among dozens of other high-profile events. In just eight years, IAVA has transformed itself from an upstart veterans organization to a lobbying heavyweight and media favorite. For many Americans not connected to the military, they’ve become the face not just of the current combat generation but of all veterans. That infuriates their critics, who see IAVA as a small, unrepresentative sample of returning war heroes, a veterans group with an uncharacteristic liberal bent and a business model that emphasizes online communities over traditional outreach. They’re too loud. They take too much credit. They’re unwilling to wait for change. They’re too convinced that their unconventional strategies and overly aggressive approach are more helpful than what other advocates — and the Department of Veterans Affairs — are offering. At the center of it all is the group’s founder, Army veteran Paul Rieckhoff, whose oversized personality and “mission first” mantra have become intertwined with IAVA’s rise and stumbles. To many young veterans looking for a post-military career, he’s a role model. To critics weary of his grandstanding, he’s a villain. He’s a veteran celebrity, and unapologetic about his personal style. “When you’re out in front, you’re the one that’s going to take hits,” Rieckhoff said. “But that has been part of our strategy, to get our staff on TV and to keep the focus on our issues. We have a tendency to be a bull in a china shop. We think we have to be.” Read More here
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