Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

06/23/2026

America 250: Built on Service

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, IAVA is celebrating the veterans who continue serving their communities long after their time in uniform.

Through America 250: Built on Service, members are invited to take action, share their stories, and inspire others through service.

Now through July 4, complete at least one action and share your experience. Members who complete five or more actions will be entered to win an IAVA challenge coin and mystery swag package.

Post photos or videos, tag , and use .

Ways to participate include:
• Volunteering in your community
• Mentoring a fellow veteran
• Advocating for veteran issues
• Recruiting new IAVA members
• Recognizing veterans making a difference
• Supporting the veteran community through fundraising and events

Service doesn't end when the uniform comes off. Through advocacy, leadership, and community engagement, veterans continue building a stronger America.

Join the challenge. Share your impact.

06/23/2026

What happens when artificial intelligence becomes part of the process of determining veterans’ benefits and care?

In a new article for Small Wars Journal, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Cavalry member Ryan Gurganious examines the Department of Veterans Affairs’ growing use of AI and the questions it raises about fairness, accountability, and the future of veteran services. As the VA looks to modernize its operations, Ryan argues that efficiency should never come at the expense of the human element that has long defined the department’s mission.

Read Ryan’s article in Small Wars Journal and learn more about the challenges and opportunities AI presents for veteran care: https://smallwarsjournal.com/2026/06/16/the-va-and-artificifial-intelligence/

Explore how VA and artificial intelligence can enhance veteran care while balancing bureaucracy with human compassion.

06/22/2026

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) CEO Dr. Kyleanne Hunter and Director of Membership and Communication Jerritt Lynn recently joined veterans Dale Hamby and Jan Hamby on the Cloth of the Nation podcast for a conversation about finding purpose, building community, and continuing the mission through advocacy.

In Episode 11, The Next Mission: Advocacy After Service, they discuss the realities of transitioning from military to civilian life, why veteran voices must remain part of the national conversation, and how advocacy empowers veterans to create meaningful change long after they leave the uniform behind.

Thank you to Dale and Jan Hamby and the entire Cloth of the Nation team for providing a platform that highlights the experiences, leadership, and continued service of veterans in communities across the country.

LISTEN TO FULL EPISODE HERE: https://play.prx.org/listen?ge=prx_16758_fdf0755b-2881-4554-9aff-67c19461ff46&uf=https%3A%2F%2Fpublicfeeds.net%2Ff%2F16758%2Ffeed-rss.xml

NPR

06/19/2026

When Congress takes action, it's not always through a traditional bill. Lawmakers also use different types of resolutions to address everything from government funding and constitutional amendments to budget frameworks and ceremonial recognitions.

Two of the most commonly used—but often misunderstood—are joint resolutions and concurrent resolutions. While both require approval from the House and Senate, they serve different purposes and have very different outcomes. In some cases, a joint resolution can become law, while a concurrent resolution cannot.

Understanding the difference can help you better follow the legislative process and what Congress is actually voting on.

06/19/2026

On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free; a day now recognized as Juneteenth.

The fight for freedom has always been shaped by those willing to serve. During the Revolutionary War and Civil War, African Americans fought for a nation that had yet to fully recognize their own rights and liberty. From the battlefield to the home front, their courage and sacrifice helped shape the story of America.

This Juneteenth, we honor the resilience, service, and contributions of generations of African Americans who fought for freedom, and continue to strengthen our communities today.

06/18/2026

Service takes many forms, and for some veterans, it becomes a lifelong commitment to building stronger, more connected communities.

A Citlalmina Xochitl Rios, Marine Corps veteran and IAVA Cavalry Member, continued to serve through education, storytelling, and community building. As a teaching artist, she helped young students explore photography and printmaking. As a Campus UnLonely Facilitator, she created opportunities for meaningful connection and belonging among fellow students. She also served as Historian for the Marine Corps League's Cpl. Stanley L. Moore Detachment #159, preserving the stories and legacy of those who served.

Passionate about art, poetry, and alternative forms of education, Citlalmina is committed to helping others share their stories while bringing diverse perspectives into spaces where they have too often been missing.

Veterans continue to strengthen their communities in countless ways. Citlalmina's work is a powerful reminder that leadership and service can take many forms.

06/18/2026

🚨 WE NEED YOUR HELP 🚨
Congress is considering legislation that pays for new veterans’ benefits by cutting or restricting benefits for other veterans.

The Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (H.R. 9237 / S. 4744) would:
▪️ Cut or eliminate future disability compensation for many veterans with tinnitus and sleep apnea
▪️ Increase costs associated with certain VA home loan benefits
▪️ Set a dangerous precedent by using changes to VA disability ratings as a budget offset

Veterans should not be forced to choose between supporting one group of veterans and protecting the earned benefits of another.

📢 Make sure your Members of Congress know the true impacts of this hurtful bill and tell them to VOTE NO on H.R. 9237 / S. 4744 when it comes to the Floor.

TAKE ACTION NOW: https://iavaaction.secure.nonprofitsoapbox.com/opposepoisonpillpayfors

06/17/2026

Tomorrow at 7 PM ET, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) CEO Dr. Kyleanne Hunter will join Common Defense's emergency briefing, "What's Really Inside the Take Care of America's Veterans Act," to discuss what this legislation could mean for veterans and their families.

IAVA opposes the Take Care of America's Veterans Act (H.R. 9237) because it would fund new veterans' benefits by reducing or restricting earned disability compensation for other disabled veterans. The proposal specifically targets veterans living with service-connected tinnitus and sleep apnea, while also increasing VA home loan funding fees—another example of shifting costs onto one group of veterans to pay for benefits for another.

Veterans should never be forced to sacrifice the benefits they earned through service, nor should they be asked to shoulder additional costs, in order to fund benefits for others. Beyond its immediate impact, the bill sets a troubling precedent that could open the door to future reductions in other earned benefits.

Whether you're looking to better understand what's in the legislation or you're concerned about its potential impact, join us tomorrow evening to learn what's at stake for veterans and military families and how you can help protect earned benefits.

RSVP HERE: https://commondefense.us/actions/emergency-briefing-tcava/

Join our emergency member briefing to get the facts, understand what's at stake, and learn how we can organize to protect the benefits veterans have earned through their service and sacrifice.

06/17/2026

Military service doesn't end when a veteran hangs up the uniform, it evolves.

For Navy veteran Manny Gomez, that continued service became Vetphoenix, a veteran-led nonprofit dedicated to supporting justice-involved veterans, helping them navigate reentry, housing instability, trauma, and the challenges that can follow military service.

Drawing from his own lived experience, Manny transformed adversity into purpose, building an organization rooted in a simple but powerful principle: Leave No One Behind.

Through peer support, advocacy, research, and systems-change initiatives, VetPhoenix is working to ensure that veterans who often fall through the cracks are given opportunities to rebuild, reconnect, and thrive.

Their work is a reminder that leadership takes many forms. Some veterans continue serving in classrooms, some as first responders, some as business owners, and others by creating pathways of hope and opportunity for fellow veterans facing their toughest battles.

Service doesn't stop. It simply finds a new mission.

06/16/2026

Last week, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) participated in a private screening of The Plastic Men, a film that explores PTSD, moral injury, and veteran su***de with honesty and urgency.

Following the screening, IAVA Director of Policy & Advocacy Jessica Finucan joined actor Aaron Dalla Villa in a discussion centered on the importance of continuing to speak openly about mental health challenges in the veteran community. The conversation underscored how sustained dialogue helps reduce stigma and keeps attention focused on the realities many veterans face after service.

The discussion also emphasized the need for continued progress in effective, evidence-informed treatments, including the responsible exploration of alternative therapies as part of a broader mental health care toolkit.