President Obama Has Ended the War in Iraq

In 2008, in the height of the presidential campaign, then-Senator Obama made a promise to give our military a new mission: ending the war in Iraq.

As the election unfolded, he reiterated this pledge again and again -- but cautioned that we would be "as careful getting out of Iraq as we were careless getting in."

Last year, the President made progress toward achieving that goal. He brought an end to the combat mission in Iraq, and through the course of the past 14 months, more than 100,000 troops have returned to their families.

Now, that promise will be wholly fulfilled. Today, President Obama announced that the rest of our troops will be home by the holidays:

Over the next two months, our troops in Iraq—tens of thousands of them—will pack up their gear and board convoys for the journey home. The last American soldiers will cross the border out of Iraq—with their heads held high, proud of their success, and knowing that the American people stand united in our support for our troops. That is how America’s military efforts in Iraq will end.

But this moment represents more than an accomplishment for the President. It marks a monumental change of focus for our military and a fundamental shift in the way that the our nation will engage in the world:

The United States is moving forward, from a position of strength. The long war in Iraq will come to an end by the end of this year. The transition in Afghanistan is moving forward, and our troops are finally coming home. As they do, fewer deployments and more time training will help keep our military the very best in the world. And as we welcome home our newest veterans, we’ll never stop working to give them and their families the care, the benefits, and the opportunities that they have earned.

AMVETS, Veterans Community, Condemn DoD for Breaking Sacred Promise with POW/MIA Families

WASHINGTON (July 13, 2011) — President Obama is a strong supporter of our nation’s veterans, military and their families, as well as the families of almost 88,000 missing servicemen and civilians, yet some within his Administration do not share that same level of commitment.

They would instead disregard White House guidance and abandon a Presidential Commission that was created in 1992 by President George H.W. Bush and Russian President Boris Yeltsin — and supported by every American president since — to help determine the fates of Americans who disappeared behind the Iron Curtain. They would also recall a multiyear budget submission for the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), whose worldwide mission to recover and identify America’s fallen is stretched thin by manning constraints and laboratory space.

After nine months of broken promises, we cannot sit quietly and allow senior officials in the Department of Defense to redirect funding, transfer researchers and linguists, and jeopardize any possibility of mission success for the U.S.-Russia Joint Commission on POW/MIAs. The Defense Department had previously agreed to reinstate by the end of June what it had taken from the Joint Commission, but to date, DOD has chosen to ignore the policy and funding recommendations made by the White House Office of Management and Budget and the National Security Council.

Such actions will negate 19 years of slow but increasingly steady progress that has permitted U.S. investigators to access Russia’s central military archives and to interview potential eyewitnesses. Such actions will also contradict a show of support by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who last month appointed a new co-chairman and more than 30 commissioners to their side of the Joint Commission.

Ongoing DOD actions will make it nearly impossible for our government to locate information and/or remains to help determine the fates of hundreds, if not thousands, of Americans who may have perished in the former Soviet Union or in the lands of their allies during World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Cold War. The Defense Department’s actions will help ensure mission failure, which will render the Joint Commission expendable, all because DOD wants to control a Presidential Commission instead of strongly supporting it.

We also cannot acquiesce to a relook of JPAC’s budget, which in these austere fiscal times means reduced funding. Congress has mandated that JPAC begin recovering and identifying 200 or more MIAs annually by 2015. This is more than double their current success rate, and without increased funding, it will be an impossible goal to reach.

When President Obama spoke at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, he reminded us of the debt America and the entire world owes to our military — for their benevolence as well as their resolve. He honored the memory, service and sacrifice of those men and women who gave their all, and he offered assurances to thousands of Americans who continue to seek answers — the families of almost 78,000 missing and unaccounted-for from World War II, 8,000 from Korea, 1,680 from Vietnam, and one each from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the countless veterans who served by their side.

Our nation’s fullest possible accounting mission is a national priority that the president is committed to, a mission that other nations wish they could emulate, and a mission in which success can only be measured by recovering, identifying, and returning those we send to war back to their families and to their country.

On behalf of millions of members of our nation’s largest, oldest, and most influential veterans and POW/MIA family organizations, we call upon President Obama to immediately direct DOD to restore funding and personnel to the U.S.-Russia Joint Commission, and to protect JPAC’s proposed budgets. We also urge our fellow veterans and their families, as well as all Americans, to contact the president and their members of Congress to urge them to live up to our nation’s sacred obligation to never leave a service member behind.

//signed//

James B. King, National Executive Director, American Veterans
Barry A. Jesinoski, Executive Director, Disabled American Veterans
Herb Rosenbleeth, Col., USA-Ret., Executive Director, Jewish War Veterans of the USA
Michael A. Blum, Executive Director, Marine Corps League
Ann Mills-Griffiths, Executive Director, National League of POW/MIA Families
Peter S. Gaytan, Executive Director, The American Legion
Robert E. Wallace, Executive Director, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.
Richard F. Weidman, Executive Director for Policy & Government Affairs Vietnam Veterans of America

Contact information:
AMVETS, Jay Agg, 301-683-4035; DAV, Thom Wilborn, 202-314-5221; Jewish War Veterans, Herb Rosenbleeth, 202-265-6280; Marine Corps League, Mike Blum, 703-207-9588; National League of POW/MIA Families, Ann Mills-Griffiths, 703-465-7432; The American Legion, Craig Roberts, 202-263-2982; VFW, Joe Davis, 202-608-8357; and Vietnam Veterans of America, Mokie Porter, 301-585-4000

ATTENTION MD/VA/DC Job Seekers: DC VA MEDICAL CENTER HOSTS JOB FAIR FOR VETERANS, ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY AND THEIR SPOUSES

DC VA MEDICAL CENTER HOSTS JOB FAIR FOR VETERANS, ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY AND THEIR SPOUSES



WHAT – Washington DC VA Medical Center Compensated Work Therapy Program is sponsoring a free job fair for Veterans, active duty military personnel and their spouses. Interviews may be conducted on site. Some of the participating employers are FBI, USDA, Homeland Security, SOC Enterprises, Computer Science Corporation, CW Resources, America Works, US Secret Service, ABLE Forces, and the National Housing Corporation Learning Center.

WHEN – Monday, July 11, 2011; 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

WHERE – Washington DC VA Medical Center, Abraham Lincoln Auditorium, 4th Floor, 50 Irving Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20422

WHO – Veterans, military personnel and their spouses.

WHY – To link Veterans, military personnel and their spouses seeking employment with employers who have vacant positions.


The Compensated Work Therapy Program (CWT) is a Department of Veterans Affairs clinical program designed to prepare qualified Veterans for employment. The CWT Program is sponsoring this event as a community service effort and to provide direct support to Veterans, military personnel and their families in the DC metropolitan area in locating employment.

Parking at the DC VA Medical Center is limited. All Job Fair attendees are encouraged to use public transportation. Free shuttle service is available to and from Brook land/CUA, McPherson and the Columbia Heights Metro Stations. For more information on DC VA Medical Center shuttle service visit: http://www.washingtondc.va.gov/PatientInformation/transportation.asp



If you have questions, please contact the Office of Public Affairs, 202-745-4037. For directions to the Medical Center please visit the Medical Center website at http://www.washingtondc.va.gov/

AMVETS to Give Oral Testimony at Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Oversight Hearing

Today, at 2:30 PM EST, Ms. Christina M. Roof, AMVETS National Acting Legislative Director, will give testimony during the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Oversight Hearing entitled, “Arlington National Cemetery: An Update from the New Administration.”

The Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, has legislative, oversight and investigative jurisdiction over compensation; general and special pensions of all the wars of the United States; life insurance issued by the Government on account of service in the Armed Forces; cemeteries of the United States in which veterans of any war or conflict are or may be buried, whether in the United States or abroad, except cemeteries administered by the Secretary of the Interior; burial benefits; the Board of Veterans' Appeals; and the Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims.

In June 2010, the Army released a report from its inspector general that found widespread problems at the Arlington National Cemetery, including 211 graves that were unmarked or mislabeled on cemetery maps and at least four urns that had been unearthed and dumped in landfill piles. The probe also found that cemetery officials with limited expertise in federal contracting regulations and little outside supervision improperly paid millions of dollars to companies that failed to create a digital database of the cemetery's records. Since that time, a new administration has taken charge of the cemetery's affairs and are now conducting a hearing to solicit feedback from and share updates with those the cemetery's former mismanagement directly affects - veterans and their families.

During the hearing, Ms. Roof will share AMVETS' views and recommendations regarding the Army Office of the Inspector General's detailed investigation into the activities of Arlington National Cemetery last year.

Here is an excerpt from her prepared statement:

"AMVETS was saddened and upset over the numerous disgraceful wrongdoings the IG outlined in their report. Furthermore, AMVETS is still at a loss for words as to how Arlington National Cemetery's sacred grounds could have ever been so blatantly mismanaged in a way that showed absolutely no respect or care for the remains of this nation’s fallen heroes. While AMVETS is eager to read the IG’s follow-up report to the investigation, we still believe that we must voice the concerns, recommendations and problems experienced by our membership last year, if only in an effort to give our members the comfort of knowing their experiences are understood. Moreover, AMVETS believes that it is important to preface our statement with the fact they we are not aware of all of the improvements already in place at Arlington National Cemetery, as we too are awaiting the Army’s new report. However, the concerns we share with you today are still just as important and personal as they were one year ago."

Ms. Roof went on to say that the happenings at the cemetery were a direct result of mismanagement, outdated technology and a blatant insubordination of Army Regulation 25-30,issued in 2006. Many AMVETS members are concerned whether their loved ones are being properly cared for at the cemetery and what measures have been taken to prevent further problems and confusion.


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AMVETS at the White House for Roll-Out of "Joining Forces"

Yesterday AMVETS National Acting Legislative Director Christina Roof joined President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, the nation's top military brass and leading veterans' advocates at the White House for the roll-out of a new program by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to serve military families called "Joining Forces."

Joining Forces is the latest in a string of initiatives from Obama and Biden designed to meet the needs of military men and women and their loved ones who have borne the burdens of war for nearly a decade.

During the announcement, Obama said she felt that Americans were grateful for the sacrifices America's military families have made over the years, but that many civilians were simply disconnected from the rigors of military life.

Retired U.S. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal was tapped by the White House to head the new initiative, designed to help Americans connect with military families and offer support while their loved ones continue to defend the American way of life.

The fledgling "Joining Forces" Web site currently includes an overview of the program, ways for Americans to become involved, and a link where visitors can send personal messages to troops.

Roof said she was honored to represent AMVETS at such a critical announcement and looks forward to working with the White House and her colleagues in veterans' advocacy to support the initiative.

Below is the official White House video explaining "Joining Forces":



(Photo: President Barack Obama discusses the importance of serving America's military families during yesterday's roll-out of "Joining Forces" in the East Room at White House. Photo by Christina Roof. Video: Official video explaining "Joining Forces," courtesy of the White House, released.)

Live from Capitol Hill: House to Hear Testimony on SCRA Violations

This morning, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs is hosting a hearing on recent allegations that J.P. Mortgage Chase, one of the nation's largest mortgage lenders, violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, or SCRA, when it charged military families inflated interest rates and even foreclosed on 14 families. To view video of the hearing, Click Here.

AMVETS National Deputy Legislative Director Christina Roof is on hand for the hearing where military families wrongfully charged by Chase are scheduled to deliver testimony along side J.P. Morgan Chase Executive Vice President for Consumer Practices Stephanie Mudick.

To view a complete list of witnesses and to read their prepared remarks, Click Here.

Under SCRA, deployed service members may not be charged more than six percent interest on mortgages for the duration of their service. When families petitioned Chase for the requisite adjustments, the bank was unable to accommodate the requests, continuing to overcharge families, resulting in 14 evictions.

Chase acknowledged the error in January, saying they had erroneously collected more than $2 million, which the bank planned to immediately return to affected families. The bank also said they would work to return the 14 foreclosed families to their homes.

When news of the wrongful charges and foreclosures broke, AMVETS National Commander Jerry Hotop called the bank's actions "absolutely appalling," and called on Congress to act quickly to ensure this violation was not indicative of a broader problem within America's financial industry.

“That J.P. Morgan Chase could let this happen indicates to AMVETS that this could be a systemic automation problem across the industry or even a standard business practice,” said Hotop. “Our nation’s leaders must step in to ensure that our military families are not exploited further.”

To read AMVETS' full reaction, Click Here.

Stars & Stripes reported on the cold reception Chase received from members of the committee. Committee members said they knew of other examples of SCRA violations with major financial institutions and promised further hearings down the road to ensure veterans received the protections to which they are entitled under the law.

White House to host Cmdr. Hotop, Top Veterans' Advocates to Discuss Military Families

This morning, AMVETS National Commander Jerry Hotop will head to the White House, alongside President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Dr. Jill Biden, for an update on the Presidential Directive on Military Families.

AMVETS and the nation's other leading veterans' advocates are eager to hear details on the study commissioned in May through the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs and additional federal agencies on how to best engage and support military families.

The study, which was announced last May, set out to identify key military family concerns, review private and public programs designed to support military families to identify positive outcomes, develop options to integrate military family concerns into strategic and budgetary priorities, examine federal policies and programs to offer opportunities to military families, identify ways to leverage skills of military family members, and strengthening feedback mechanisms for military families to voice their needs and concerns.

American Veteran will follow this morning's announcement closely, with reaction from Cmdr. Hotop and more details this afternoon on the blog.

To read the official White House announcement of the review, Click Here.