FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Eric Schmeltzer
January 24, 2006
212-982-9699

NEW YORK - Today, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is formally launching the first and only online community-building site, based on the popular modules used by Friendster and MySpace, exclusively for Troops and Veterans of those wars. IAVA's TroopNet allows Troops and Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) to post profiles and pictures, search for others based on a number of criteria, link to "buddies," and privately message others signed up to the site.

TroopNet can be found at IAVA's website (www.iava.org). Already, more than 600 Veterans of OIF and OEF have profiles set up.

"You cannot overestimate how important it is for men and women coming home from war to talk with others who had the same experience," said Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director of IAVA and a Veteran of the war in Iraq. "In the past, Vets were limited to meeting other Vets at a VFW hall, if they were lucky enough to have one around. With this new technology, finding another Vet to talk to, who has been through the same war as you, is never more than a click away."

TroopNet is already getting rave reviews from Veterans of the current wars.

"TroopNet mixes helpful and fun," said Bobby Yen, an Iraq combat Veteran. "You can meet and make new friends, and talk to people who have been there and understand what you've been through. It's a great idea and something that all vets of OIF/OEF should check out."

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is the first and largest group for Veterans of those wars and the civilians who support them.

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