Impacts of War

Tell Your Story

Howdy,

Most of the gang was together this weekend in the Northern Virginia area. We enjoyed hanging out with LTG Sami Sadat’s Afghan United Front to remember 15 August. Subsequent articles will cover more of that event.

Every single one of us at GCV has been impacted by war.

Kate Kovarovic

served in support of Operation Allies Welcome. She’s seen some of the Taliban’s handiwork. She’s supported Afghan female protesters and constantly champions Afghan women.

Noelle S.

has supported multiple operations, deploying to the region a few years back. War has impacted Noelle as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in the United States Air Force (USAF).

Sara Davidson and Natalie Stossberg have over thirty years of service in the USAF. Sara deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve (Iraq), and Natalie has also deployed and served in various (impressive) capacities.

We have numerous Afghan refugees writing, editing, and speaking out about the impacts of war.

Our goal at GCV+F (among many others) is to elevate the forgotten voices of war. We need our Afghan combat veterans, especially those who were impacted by the fall of Kabul, to tell their stories. This will not only inform a largely oblivious public but also help heal.

I write to heal. That’s why I’m so prolific. It really helps.

I spent time this weekend with so many people affected by war. I hung out with

Aqsa Rahmani

and her father, Colonel Abdul Rahman Rahmani. Aqsa is joined by Helai and our newest author, Fatima.

We need those affected and impacted by war to start telling their stories for two reasons: a) to heal themselves and b) to inform the public by making it on the record.

That’s why I want to give you a little pitch about Operation Recovery’s latest program.

As we approach the 3rd anniversary, we recognize this is an incredibly difficult time for many of us.

This project is aimed at documenting the sacrifices made by veterans and civilians during the collapse of Afghanistan, as well as recording related atrocities (coming soon).

More importantly, it provides an outlet for all of us to tell our stories and have our experiences acknowledged.

As veterans who served in Afghanistan or individuals who worked directly with Afghan allies, your firsthand experiences are crucial to this project. We're collecting data through a comprehensive survey to capture the full impact of your service and support. You can contribute your invaluable insights here: https://www.impactsofwar.org/survey

The information gathered will be used to support legislative initiatives, inform congressional hearings, and advocate for veterans' interests and justice. It's a chance to make sure these often-overlooked stories are heard and can drive real change.

You can find more details about the project on:

https://www.impactsofwar.org/

Do yourself a solid.

Afghan evac veterans: please take the survey.

This is a great program that I’m so excited about. I went ahead and completed the survey above. It took 10 minutes.

Donate to OperationRecovery’s fantastic program. Seriously, folks, if you’re looking for a good cause to help Afghan veterans, this is it.

Do yourself a solid.

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Aqsa’s Back

I got to hang out with Aqsa this weekend. It’s ok to be jealous. That’s how I roll, people. She’s an amazing girl with a gift. And we will elevate her voice as hard as possible because what she says matters.

Every day, my dad would drive my mom to her English classes. For over two years, he did this, watching her learn and grow. And when she finally learned enough English, she didn’t stop there. She started working at a school in Arlington for five hours a day. But what did she do with her earnings? She sent every penny back to Afghanistan to our relatives who couldn’t find jobs.

And then there was driving. Learning to drive was another big challenge for my mom. I could see how nervous she was, but just like everything else, she didn’t let that stop her. She practiced and practiced until she finally got her driver’s license. The best part about this one is she drove her own car for the first time yesterday, and I couldn’t stop smiling because I was so proud of her.

Mom, if you’re reading this, I want you to know that I am so, so proud of you. You’ve shown me what it means to be strong, to never give up, and to keep going even when everything feels impossible. I’m proud to be your daughter, and I hope one day I can be as strong as you are.

I love you, Mom.

I read every word Aqsa writes because it gives me a unique perspective and motivates me.

Do yourself a favor.

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Sara Davidson!

Ok, peeps, we brought on my former Senior Enlisted Leader (AKA, the real adult in the room), SMSgt (retired) Sara Davidson, to talk about life in the military and her unique story serving in Iraq. I’m honored and happy to have her on our Grumpy Combat Veteran + Friends team. You’ll see more of Sara as she and Natalie Stosberg launch their upcoming podcast, Service Unplugged.

We’re also on Twitter and YouTube. (I’m not great with social media, but we should be bringing on an intern soon).

We’re working hard to give you some unique insights into war. There are a lot of sites that bring in all the people with fancy PhDs and stars on their lapels. That’s all fine and good, but it’s just as important to learn from the people who implement their policies. That’s the real truth, not just some academic theory.