About VoteVets.org Action Fund
VoteVets.org Action Fund is a pro-military organization founded by Veterans of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan to be the voice of the 21st century patriot. Our mission is to ensure that today’s soldiers have the necessary resources to successfully complete their missions abroad and the support they deserve when they come home.We are committed to winning the war on terror and preserving the strength of our military.
Our national security is in the hands of a volunteer military, and those of us who choose to serve do so with a great deal of pride. Success abroad, however, is contingent upon support at home. We are only as effective as our resources, and without the essential provisions we are limited in what we can accomplish.
Throughout our nation’s history, our military has been regarded as the best in the world.Without intervention, however, our military’s celebrated strength and effectiveness is being put at risk—along with the safety and well-being of the men and women who proudly serve their country.VoteVets.org Action Fund works to maintain our military’s renowned excellence by supporting our servicemembers in three principal ways:
ADVOCACY
VoteVets.org Action Fund’s goal as a public policy advocate is to strengthen the U.S. government’s commitment to issues that affect the safety and well-being of the men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces—both those serving today, and those who have recently fulfilled their terms. VoteVets.org Action Fund is committed to raising concerns regarding the state of the military’s preparedness as well as the services available to today’s Veterans. As an organization, we are extending our message to Veterans, soldiers, concerned citizens, and government officials, alike, in the interest of gaining recognition of and support for the rapidly increasing demand for improved resources and benefits.
IN COMBAT
Ensure that every member of the Armed Forces has up-to-date equipment.
- According to a poll commissioned by VoteVets.org Action Fund, nearly half of all Veterans (42 %) report that their equipment did not meet the military standard of being at least 90% operational.
- Among the equipment challenges faced by troops, several have reported that vehicles are not fully operational.35% of Veterans say that their trucks were not up-armed at all and 10% say that the trucks were up-armed with scrap metal.
Minimize the negative impact on soldiers and their families resulting from over-extension and “stop loss” orders.
- 20% of respondents say that their unit was extended past its original time frame.
- 63 % of all Iraq or Afghanistan Veterans think that the Army and Marine Corps are over-extended at this time, including 67% of Army and Marine Veterans and 66% of Veterans who have experienced ground combat.
Keep our military strong – the best in the world – by maintaining high recruitment standards and reasonable recruitment policies.
- Despite recent news that the military has reached recruiting goals, the reality is that recruiting standards have been consistently lowered so that the military may meet its goals.
- A 2005 Army directive allowed for the retention of soldiers that would otherwise face early discharge because of alcohol, drug abuse, unsatisfactory performance, weight issues, etc.
AT HOME
Fully fund the Department of Veterans Affairs, so that every Veteran seeking care has fast and convenient access to it.
- 23% of Veterans say that their family experienced economic hardship because of their military duty (25% percent among Army and Marines Veterans).79% of all Veterans agree that National Guard and Reserves ought to have the same access to Tri-Care as active duty men and women.
- One in four Veterans has experienced recurring nightmares since returning and 26% of Army and Marines say that they have felt more stress now then before they left for war.
- According to the Independent Budget (a budget reviewed by every major Veterans group in the United States), the VA has been consistently under-funded by billions of dollars.This has resulted in the closing of VA clinics, limited medical equipment, and long delays before receiving medical care.
Paid for VoteVets Political Action Committee. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. VoteVets Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization which primarily focuses on nonpartisan education and advocacy on behalf veterans and their families. VoteVets Political Action Committee is a federal political committee which primarily helps elect Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran candidates and educates about veterans and military issues aimed at influencing the outcome of the next election.