Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), is an advocacy group

Advocacy group

Advocacy groups use various forms of advocacy to influence public opinion and/or policy; they have played and continue to play an important part in the development of political and social systems...

 dedicated to United States veterans of the War in Iraq and War in Afghanistan

War in Afghanistan (2001–present)

The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...

. The group claims to be the nation's first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars and has more than 200,000 Member Veterans and civilian supporters nationwide. Founded in 2004 by Paul Rieckhoff

Paul Rieckhoff

Paul Rieckhoff is a veteran of the United States Army and the Iraq War. He is the Executive Director and Founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America . He served as an Army First Lieutenant and infantry rifle platoon leader in Iraq from 2003 through 2004. Rieckhoff was released from active...

, a First Lieutenant in the United States Army

United States Army

The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...

 who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, its mission is "to improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families".