Thank you for helping the troops win. The troops really do need you, America. Troops Need You is implementing the plan for victory in Iraq and Afghanistan. But this plan does not come from Potomac Politicians, Pentagon Princes or even Baghdad Bureaucrats. This plan comes from the troops themselves. Major Eric Egland (Reserve) wrote 'The Troops Need You, America: Six Ways to Help Them Win,' based on the collective wisdom of the hundreds of combat innovators he patrolled with as a counter-terrorism advisor in Iraq and while on operations in Afghanistan. Right now, Troops Need You is implementing the most critical pillar of the plan: Step 3 -- Give Deployed Tactical Commanders the Resources They Need.
Major Egland saw first-hand in Iraq and Afghanistan that the troops are well equipped to engage in combat, but need the American people to equip them to engage communities. Soldiers and Marines have proven that providing tailored responses to local needs--whether medical supplies, water filtration systems or enough sports equipment to start a soccer league--builds trust and makes the people more willing to stand up, so our troops can stand down and come home--victorious.
Ideally, the federal government would get the aid to the troops on the ground. But, for various bureaucratic reasons that are unlikely to change quickly, this is not happening. So, it is up to the American people to get involved and make an even larger impact by helping the troops directly--before time runs out.
By donating and telling others about Troops Need You, you can do your part to continue the proud American tradition of mobilizing in direct support of our troops in harm's way. Success in Iraq is vital to our own national security, so it is up to us to unite and meet the demand of the dozens of combat battalions who need our help.
Let's help the troops succeed!
Donor Guide:
Recommended Mission Support Levels:
Family Ground Force: $26 (50¢/week)
Frontline Ground Force: $39 (75¢/week)
Company Ground Force: $52 ($1/week)
Recommended Operation Support Levels:
Battalion Command: $100
Regimental Command: $250
Division Command: $500
Corps Command: $1,000
Major Eric Egland
eric@troopsneedyou.com
Troops Need You
P.O. Box 387
Roseville CA 95661
1. Can the U.S. still succeed in Iraq?
Yes. Our troops have made incredible progress and need our help, both in Iraq, to consolidate the recent gains, and Afghanistan, where the situation has gotten tougher. We must succeed in both areas. However one feels about the decisions to go to war, we must agree that the consequences of failure will cause serious harm to our nation.
2. Can the American people actually help win in Iraq?
Yes, but many feel limited to care packages and bumper stickers. Major Egland started Troops Need You after seeing first-hand in Iraq and Afghanistan how our troops needed resources to build community. By mobilizing and contributing together, the American people are directly supporting the troops and helping them succeed.
3. How can an average American help the troops win?
By supporting Troops Need You, every American can enable us to continue focusing on helping our troops directly, by delivering the resources they need to win. At the same time, we push for common-sense changes in Washington DC so our troops will be better prepared to meet tomorrow’s challenges.
Stable governments and secure communities are the key. That’s why Troops Need You helps the troops improve security by giving them what they need to win over local communities. Locals want a voice in their government and a safe place to raise their children. As troops build trust by providing for local needs, locals respond by taking responsibility for security and getting more involved in their government—involvement that is essential for the success of fledgling democracies.
5. What is the fundamental problem?
Troops Need You connects the American people with their troops fighting for freedom abroad in a uniquely effective way. Many billions are being spent for aid, but mostly on giant, bureaucratic projects that either never get built or become targets once they are. Meanwhile, the troops on the ground have little to no resources to deliver tailored solutions to meet local needs. On the home front, Troops Need You offers Americans a way to shift from being spectators and become team members, to go beyond care packages and bumper stickers and get more involved and invested in victory. That way, public support for the troops will remain stronger than the inevitable next wave of negative media headlines. So by mobilizing Americans to deliver exactly what the troops on the ground need, we are building a bridge between the defenders and the protected.
We need to listen to the commander of units at the lowest echelons, such as battalions, because they face the localized insurgency every day and know what is really going on in their neighborhoods. If we don’t start listening to the troops, and changing the way we support them, we may lose in Iraq. The Troops Need You, America explains the status quo, what needs to change, and how you can make it happen.
The changes outlines in the book, “The Troops Need You, America” explain what needs to be done differently, not only in the battlefield but also in Washington DC. Most tangibly, Americans can deliver exactly what the troops need to win over locals.
8. Is The Troops Need You, America your plan?
Major Egland put it on paper, but it comes from the troops themselves. The plan involves six steps that represent best practices in Iraq and Afghanistan, and exemplify what our amazing troops and leaders have already done. But despite our pockets of success, a flexible adversary continues to simply shift operations to more permissive environments, so we need to apply the models of success more broadly. Major Egland is honored to serve as scribe, messenger and advocate.
9. What about financial accountability?
Troops Need You is committed to financial accountability. In fact, in our first year over 90% of all funds collected went directly to supporting the troops. We run lean because everyone including Major Egland is a committed volunteer so there are no salaries or paid “consultants” that weigh down some other organizations.
For example, a leading national watchdog accountability group (www.CharityWatch.org) and ABC News exposed how 13 national veterans charities, rated “F” by CharityWatch.org, collected $475 million in donations over the last two years but over 70% went to overhead costs. In the most egregious case, one charity gave only 2% two the troops while the president and his wife took salaries of $500,000, plus lavish travel and expense accounts! Just like the American people, Troops Need You is appalled by this type of exploitation.
Once Troops Need You grows enough meet the minimum financial requirements for full audit and review, we will apply for certification from AIP and the nationally-recognized Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, found at http://www.EFCA.org.
Until then, we promise strong financial accountability and are proud of our strong start as demonstrated by keeping overhead to less than 10% in the first year as reported to the IRS.
While some veterans charities unfortunately look more like jobs programs, Troops Need You was founded to help our nation win wars—nothing else.