Dear Members of Military Families Speak Out,
Iraq Veterans Against the War have always been an organization we are proud to support, and proud to call our allies.
They are about to launch their first strategic campaign – Operation Recovery: Stop the Deployment of
Traumatized Troops.
As military families, we know this story well. We have seen our loved ones sent back to war without adequate care for physical or mental injuries – care that they needed and deserved.
Because of our stories, we can play a vital role in this campaign. Right now, we are looking for a few people who can speak directly to the issue of redeployment of troops that are suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and Military Sexual Trauma (MST). If you are willing to write a short account of your story (anonymous or not), or be interviewed about this issue, please contact National Organizer Nikki Morse at nikki@mfso.org.
In addition, we can play a role by filling out the IVAW Pledge of Support. They have a goal of reaching 2,000 by October 7th when they publically announce their campaign. In the coming months we will be identifying additional ways to help build this campaign. Signing the pledge is the first way you can be part of it.
More information about the campaign, as well as the link to the Pledge, are found below. Please help build MFSO’s support for this vital campaign! Let us know you want to be involved, and if you have personal stories about this important issue.
Nikki Morse, Organizer
Military Families Speak Out
347-703-0570 (cell)
(Below is the latest email from Iraq Veterans Against the War about
the campaign)
On October 7, the 9th anniversary of the Afghanistan War, Iraq
Veterans Against the War will announce our first-ever strategic campaign, Operation
Recovery: Stop the Deployment of Traumatized Troops. As a loyal
supporter, we are letting you know about our plans before we make them public.
Join our campaign now by making a Pledge of Support.
Thousands of troops are being sent to war despite suffering from
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and Military
Sexual Trauma (MST). Many of us within IVAW have faced or are currently facing
deployment as we try to recover from the severe trauma we have already
experienced.
While we recognize that we must stop the deployment of all soldiers
in order to end the occupations in Iraq and Afhganistan, we see the deployment
of soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injuries, and
Military Sexual Trauma as particularly cruel, inhumane, and dangerous. Military
commanders across all branches are pushing service members far past human
limits for the sake of ‘combat readiness.’ We cannot allow those
commanders to continue to ignore the welfare of their troops who are, after
all, human beings.
Because you are a trusted supporter, we are asking you to make a
commitment to help us end this systemic abuse of GIs’ right to heal, which only
furthers the cycle of dehumanization and destruction of these wars.
Sign the Pledge today.
By signing this pledge of support, you can stand with us in
solidarity and affirm:
Service members have the right to heal.
Because the military is desperate for warm bodies in the field, and
the VA doesn’t have the resources to serve all those in need, too often service
members are conveniently denied care or access to quality mental health
screenings. We say, service members with PTSD, TBI, MST, and combat
stress have the right to high quality health care. They have the right to
seek care and pursue treatments in the best interest of their health and
well-being.
Service members have the right to receive
medical care and advice from medical professionals.
A commander’s orders always supersedes the opinion of military
medical professionals when it comes to the well-being of our troops. We
say, no military authority shall override the advice of medical professionals
regarding the health of service members.
Service members who experience PTSD, TBI, MST,
and combat stress have the right to exit the traumatic situation and receive
compensation and immediate support.
Too often, service members are forced to redeploy back into
dangerous combat, or train in situations that re-traumatize them. We
say, individuals suffering from trauma have the right to remove themselves from
the source of the trauma. Service members who are not physically or mentally
healthy shall not be forced to deploy or continue service.
We will support service members standing up for their right to heal,
and we will stand against those responsible for violating them.
Will you stand with us? Sign the Pledge today.
We know that without the repeated
use of traumatized soldiers on the battlefield, the occupations in Iraq and
Afghanistan could not continue.
Those responsible for the deployment of traumatized soldiers will do
everything they can to hide the truth, but through our Operation Recovery
campaign, IVAW is prepared to make demands and back them up with collective
action.
For the past nine months, we have been developing this campaign.
In the coming weeks, we will let you know of specific ways to get involved.
Start today by signing the Pledge of Support.
We can’t do this without you.
Sincerely,
The Campaign Team
