A picture is worth a thousand words, and two recent pictures tell very revealing tales about the state of Alabama's veterans affairs.
The first photo, captured Feb. 18, shows the grand opening of the new Alabama Veterans Resource Center (AVRC) during a choreographed ribbon-cutting ceremony. No representatives of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA), any veteran service organization, or any non-profit organization that serves veterans are in that photo.
Instead, it almost exclusively features politicians, some of whom did immeasurable damage to Alabama’s veterans in 2025 via their hasty push to pass SB67. That bill horribly politicized Alabama’s previously effective veterans affairs mechanisms in retaliatory fashion, which may explain the perceived need for this ostentatious photo op.
Curiously, the photo also puts the CEO of controversial Alabama Power front and center. Veterans are still trying to figure out what, if any, veteran expertise Alabama Power brings to this picture. Perhaps personal photo ops are needed to overcome public concern over the company’s alleged corruption?
Left to right: State Sen. Andrew Jones, Sec. of Workforce Greg Reed, Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, Gov. Ivey, Alabama Power CEO Jeff Peoples, Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, AVRC Director Alex Karagas, State Reps. Ed Oliver and Kenneth Pascal.
Many state veterans are scratching their heads regarding what this photo and its optics are REALLY about. No one seems able to explain what this center will actually do for veterans, how it will serve more than a handful of veterans willing to venture to Montgomery, how it will be funded (though millions in taxpayer dollars have already been spent), why it is not part of the ADVA, why its board is largely made up of non-veterans, and so on.
It would have been nice if the grand opening included some veteran involvement, but I find no community-based veterans in any event photo. Those who planned this event must be tone deaf to the messaging it sends to an already skeptical veteran community.
As a side note, I have been trying to get answers about this mysterious new AVRC and other issues involving state spending on veterans affairs. I have posed a series of questions to the ADVA on those topics, but thus far my questions have gone unanswered. So much for Ivey’s promise to make state government more transparent.
On Feb. 23, another photo celebrated a cake-cutting in Montgomery for the first anniversary of the River Regions Veterans Coalition (RRVC), a non-profit organization that serves veterans without a dime of taxpayer money, made up of dozens of public and private sector organizations. You can find that group photo here.
I see not a single politician in this photo, but I do see over 20 public- and private-sector organizations represented, and many, many veterans. Other event photos show senior officials from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, disabled veterans, spouses of veterans, and many from all walks of life who support veterans in so many ways.
The first anniversary of RRVC was a milestone. In its first year, a steady 30-40 government and private sector organizations participated in its efforts to disseminate information and assistance to veterans. RRVC has held large informational meetings every month featuring prominent guest speakers, with local chapters of veteran service organizations such as the Air & Space Forces Association, the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, the Marine Corps League, the Military Officers Association of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Vietnam Veterans of America in attendance. Government agencies such as the Marine Corps, the Alabama National Guard, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs have also participated, along with many private sector organizations.
Along the way, RRVC achieved non-profit status and completed notable projects such as food collections for Airman’s Attic at Maxwell Air Force Base, Operation Iron Ruck assistance, and the publication of an information book for kids that educates readers on Alabama’s military legacy. RRVC has also established information booths at numerous veteran-related public fairs around the state. ALL WITH NO TAXPAYER DOLLARS. The state has not even offered to assist RRVC in its efforts. Instead, it seems intent on using the new AVRC to supplant existing private-sector organizations effectively serving the state’s veterans.
The contrast in these two photos is amazing and indicates that our leaders just don’t get it when it comes to serving veterans. The private sector is much more efficient at helping veterans; indeed, veterans helping fellow veterans is the best means of serving this community.
1819 News CEO Bryan Dawson did a recent podcast focusing on how much more effective AND efficient the private (particularly non-profit) sector is and how it almost always offers better solutions than wasteful, misguided, state government programs. It never ceases to amaze me that our elected leaders, including alleged conservatives, continue to spout a mantra that they favor reduced government and support the private sector. Yet they never seem to follow through on that philosophy, especially when it comes to the veteran community. I am sure that some think they are helping the veteran community, but they are doing the opposite. Good intentions get good photo ops, but the road to Hell is indeed paved extensively by them … at taxpayer expense.
Troy Carico is a former infantry enlisted soldier (11B) and infantry officer with branch qualifications including counterintelligence (35E) and military intelligence (35D). He served with distinction in the U.S. Army for more than 22 years and is highly decorated and service-connected disabled. He also has prior service as a civilian intelligence officer for the Defense Intelligence Agency Great Skills Program and has served in numerous clandestine assignments throughout the world. You can find him on X @CaricoTroy, LinkedIn @Troy Carico, and Substack.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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