With the November general election drawing ever closer, one organization is seeking to get veterans interested in politics by either running for office, serving as a campaign staffer or working for an elected representative.
Founded in 2013 by Emily Cherniack, New Politics has as its goal getting more military veterans interested in pursuing a political career, said communications director and Marine veteran Gabriel Ramos.
“Service members have this dedication to service and want to help their communities,” he said. “Veterans should get involved in politics because they’ve served their country. They know what’s needed to bring folks together.”
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Following his five-year stint in the Corps, Ramos earned his college degree and was considering his career options when he attended one of the organization's workshops for those interested in politics.That eventually led him to his current job.
“I knew immediately I wasn’t interested in being a candidate,” he said.
The organization's flagship program, Answering the Call, is a series of five virtual workshops designed to help veterans, service members and their family members discern if a career in politics is right for them. Its Staffing School is a 3-daty workshop focusing on communications, field work and fundraising discussions.
“These folks have this dedication to want to do something,” Ramos said. “They have this bias towards action. We are able to hone in on that and shift the way they think about politics.”
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The workshops also ask attendees to consider what their core beliefs are and what is going to keep them grounded as they pursue a political career either as a candidate or staff member.
“Politics is another form of service, another form of serving your communities and being in touch with the people around you,” said Ramos.
It may be difficult for veterans to think about a political career because while on active duty they have to obey many regulations that bar them from being politically active, he continued.
“Overall, I think people are hungry for leaders that will put country over party, service over self,” he said. “Veterans have that mindset.”
To learn more about New Politics, visit here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com
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