Membership FAQ
You can use our online application to join now.
The chain of command doesn’t tell you about it but, you have rights. You can join and participate in IVAW.
Membership Eligibility:
Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) is a group of men and women who have served or continue to serve in the U.S. military since September 11th, 2001. We are calling for:
- Immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces from Iraq; and
- Reparations for the human and structural damages Iraq has suffered; and
- Full benefits, adequate healthcare (including mental health), and other support for returning servicemen and women.
IVAW welcomes all post-9/11 veterans and active duty servicemen and women from all branches of military service, National Guard members, and reservists who support this mission to join our ranks.
Please provide verification of service
A copy of one of the following (feel free to black out personal info such as social security number) must accompany your membership form:
- DD 214
- Military Photo identification
- Unit Move Order indicating service dates and locations
- Medal, award, or certificate of recognition
- Paperwork from Veterans Administration
Information on proof of service:
- If you are interested in joining IVAW but do not have a copy of your proof of service (DD-214), you may request a copy from the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis via form SF-180. For more information, please visit http://www.archives.gov/st-louis/.
- Iraq Veterans Against the War is committed to protecting the integrity of our organization and reserves the right to verify all members' service records by submitting a request to the Official Military Personnel Files under the Freedom of Information Act.
- Forging and presenting a military or naval discharge certificate (DD-214) is a federal offense, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $100,000 fine.
If you are eligible, please use our online application or download our membership form (PDF) and send it to our office today!
By becoming a member, you are not obligated to the organization in any way at all. Your participation in the organization and our events is in your hands. However, now that you have joined the family, we will look forward to meeting you and will contact you to invite you to events.
Some things to expect as a member of IVAW:
- Connection to hundreds of veterans across the country and around the world
- Invitation to IVAW events (meetings, rallies, activities, etc.)
- Requests to speak with the press
- Requests for participation in special projects with artists, students, etc.
- Requests to participate in/speak at local events
- Supportive network of others like you who understand and care about you
- Training (media, public speaking, organizing, internships, etc.)
Want to know more about joining?
I haven’t been to Iraq. Can I join?
Yes. Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) is open to anybody who has served in the military (Active Duty, National Guard, and Reservists) since September 11th, 2001. Military members who are currently serving can be guaranteed confidentiality.
I signed a contract. I can’t join Iraq Veterans Against the War.
Wrong. Military regulations allow troops to engage in “local non partisan political activities.” Joining IVAW is a non partisan political activity. What you can’t join are organizations that advocate or engage in racial, gender, or ethnic hatred or organizations that advocate or use unlawful violence. See Army Regulation 600‑20.
If I join IVAW, do I have to speak in public or go to demonstrations?
No. You can participate as you wish. IVAW has movie screenings, closed meetings, BBQs, troop outreach events, and members can participate in peer counseling. Demonstrations and public speaking are only part of what we do.
I have friends in Iraq right now and I don’t want to be a blue falcon.
The businessmen, politicians, and generals who sent our friends to Iraq are the blue falcons. IVAW is supporting the troops to come home alive. It’s our government that is sending troops into harm’s way for no good reason.
I'm against the war but no one else in my unit feels the way I do.
IVAW is an organization to meet with people who feel the way you do.
My chain of command says to stay away from IVAW.
Your chain of command should check the regs. They can’t prohibit you from joining a lawful organization on your own time.
Do the right thing.
There’s a difference between doing something right and doing the right thing. The National Guard and Reserve are fulfilling their call of duty and executing the mission. But that doesn’t mean the mission the government ordered us to do is right. Do the right thing and join IVAW to bring our comrades home now.
You can join IVAW
Army Regulation 600‑20 paragraph 5‑2 b authorizes soldiers, including national guard and reserve, to participate in local nonpartisan political activities. IVAW is local and does not participate in partisan political activities. But soldiers are not authorized to: (1) Wear a military uniform or use any government property. (2) Allow participation in IVAW to interfere with, or prejudice, military duties. (3) Imply that the Army has taken an official position on, or is otherwise involved in, the local political campaign or issue. Not in the Army? Check out http://www.veteransforpeace.org/files/pdf/GI%20Rights_Updated2009.pdf.
You have the right to attend peaceful demonstrations on your time
This right is explained in Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 1325.6.
You have the right to say & write (mostly) what you think
But there are some limits here. You can't call the President, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, or other high government officials what article 88 of the UCMJ calls “contemptuous words” like “fascist,” “thief,” murderer,” “tyrant,” “fool,” and “gangster.” You can, subject to these and other limitations, write, publish, and distribute things like newspapers, leaflets, and web pages. It all has to be while you’re off duty and without using military paper, ink, computers, phones, or other supplies or equipment. See Army Regulation 600-20 Appendix B for further explanation. Not in the Army? Check out www.veteransforpeace.org/GIRights.pdf.
When your command ignores the rules
You don't have to be in the military long to find out that commands sometimes ignore the rules. There are several ways to challenge this sort of thing. Let your fellow troops know the deal. Keeping quiet and hoping your chain of command will listen to reason usually doesn't work. They have their ways to mess with soldiers-informal harassment from superiors, poor performance evaluations, bad recommendations, and bogus disciplinary charges. But you can find ways to mess with them too. We don’t have to tell you how. But let your comrades know your situation. Show your friends that you don't deserve the bad treatment and that your protest activities were the real reason the command developed an attitude and took action against you. Form a network of support around you for whatever actions you take. The other thing you can do is get support from organizations like IVAW, Veterans for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, or Gold Star Families for Peace. It always helps to have organizations that can mobilize people or media to back you up. Finally, you can complain through the IG, the chain of command, or get some legal assistance through a military counselor and/or an attorney who's familiar with military law.
Use it or lose it
Some advance preparation is the best way to use these rights; knowledge is power. And using your rights is important for you, for others caught in a bad war, and for all of us.
For more on GI rights
Check out www.veteransforpeace.org/GIRights.pdf (currently down) and check the regs cited in that leaflet.
Join IVAW
IVAW is open to Active Duty, National Guard and Reservists who have served since 09/11/2001. You are not alone.