Paul Rieckhoff

Founder, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

Paul Rieckhoff is the Executive Director and Founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), a non-partisan non-profit group with over 100,000 members around the world. Since founding IAVA in 2004, it has become America’s first and largest Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans organization. Rieckhoff is now a nationally recognized authority on the war in Iraq and issues affecting troops, military families and veterans.

After graduating from Amherst College in 1998 with a degree in Political Science, Rieckhoff coached high school football, worked on Wall Street, participated in the rescue efforts at Ground Zero on 9/11, and served as an infantry platoon leader in Iraq from 2003-2004. In the spring of 2004, Rieckhoff became one of the first Iraq veterans to publicly criticize the war, call for better care for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and demand accountability from elected officials. In 2006 Rieckhoff also published Chasing Ghosts, a critically acclaimed account of his experiences in Iraq and activism on behalf of veterans.

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Our Soldiers Are Ready for Gays in the Military

The idea that there will be some sort of mutiny or resistance when “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is repealed is “ridiculous.”

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5 min

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Paul Rieckhoff

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Julian Assange Has Blood on His Hands

Some things need to remain classified, like the President’s travel schedule, the location of nuke sites, or the names of Afghan informants.

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4 min

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Paul Rieckhoff

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The Public Must Get Involved in Our Wars

There is a profound, troubling disconnect where we have essentially created a warrior class. That’s damaging to our social fabric and our nation. When you can send folks to war […]

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5 min

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Paul Rieckhoff

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Why the Suicide Rate Among Veterans Is Climbing

Our soldiers aren’t robots; they are tired and worn out, and when they return home, they are returning to record unemployment.

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4 min

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Paul Rieckhoff

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TBI Could Be the Next Agent Orange

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a signature wound of our current wars. It may have impacted hundreds of thousands of people who have cycled through Iraq and Afghanistan.

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5 min

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Paul Rieckhoff

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“The Hurt Locker” Is Not the Real Thing

Hollywood and the media portray veterans as either villains or victims, says the IAVA founder.

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3 min

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Paul Rieckhoff

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Veterans Aren’t All Rambo

We need to fight the stereotype that veterans are all ticking time bombs.

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4 min

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Paul Rieckhoff

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Veterans Are More Diverse Than You Think

The 2.2 million men and women who have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11 are a heterogeneous bunch, from different backgrounds both economically and politically.

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5 min

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Paul Rieckhoff

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Big Think Interview With Paul Rieckhoff

A conversation with the Iraq war veteran and IAVA founder.

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33 min

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Paul Rieckhoff