By: Kier Turpin, Alumni and BS in Information Technology
Where to Begin (Slight Introduction)
Washington Week—where do I even start? Honestly, I went into this with a lot of nerves. I had no idea what to expect, and I certainly didn't feel confident enough to set up meetings with Senators and House Representatives to advocate for veterans' benefits. My whole thought process was that this would be a good leadership learning experience—a chance to see the legislative process live.
A major part of the experience was the "Press Briefing" (I’m still not sure why they called it that) given to us by current administration officials. Before I dive in, let me say this: I’m going to share my personal opinions throughout this recap. I understand some parts may or may not offend people, and I have no intention of doing so, but I’m giving you my experience raw and uncut. I’m not trying to be a literary genius here, but this is my honest SVA (Student Veterans of America) Washington Week story.
Getting Settled
I arrived a day early because I wanted to be sure of two things. First, I wanted to get to know the area so Elmore (my service dog, whom I sometimes call "El") and I could find a good route to walk and play when we weren't tied up with the schedule. Second, I haven’t worn a suit since 2021. I wasn’t sure if mine still fit, and I wanted time to buy new clothes if I had to. Surprisingly, they all fit rather well.
The hardest part of the week was putting on that suit and finally seeing myself. For some, that’s a good thing, but for me, it was complicated. I used to be a guy who worked in property management, but after several life-changing events, I’ve realized I’m not that guy anymore. I’m not a "suit-wearing" guy; I’m a very chill, business-casual guy. Give me jeans and a t-shirt, a polo, or a sweater any day. If I could wear sweats, I would.
Once I accepted the suit, I headed to meet my fellow veterans at the SVA headquarters. I did manage to get lost—walking eight long blocks in the wrong direction because Google Maps thought it would be funny (I seriously believe technology has a sense of humor). I eventually arrived at the headquarters, located right across from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (literally where the money is printed). After checking in, El and I headed to the third floor, and I immediately thought, "OH SHHH...".
The SVA Community
The best part was the greeting from the SVA staff and seeing John Harris from our chapter, who lives in the area. I met familiar faces I’d seen at NATCON and immediately felt at home because of the community we have as veterans.
They had an interesting map where you could place pins: red for where you were stationed and blue for your SVA chapter. John added a pin for our chapter, and I placed three pins for my two bases and the embassy where I was stationed. Surprisingly, not a single other person there had been stationed at Nellis or with the 820th RED HORSE in Las Vegas. I also learned there are SVA chapters overseas, which blew my mind regarding our reach for networking, resources, and even future travel.
Advocacy in the Senate
After meeting the interim President and other veterans, we headed to the Senate to begin the meetings. I met with Senator Sanders’ representatives since I live part-time in Burlington, Vermont. Along with John and El, I met the 2025 SVA Member of the Year and the Chapter of the Year from Saddleback University.
Then, the most amazing and terrifying thing happened. We were given talking points, which usually helps with the nerves, but suddenly I was designated to speak first. My brain was screaming, "MF say WHAT?!" but I just went with it.
The cool thing is that you can set up meetings with your state officials anytime; it’s simpler than most people think. However, the sad part was realizing that because we are advocating bipartisanly, we are often trapped in the same political games—you can talk about "this," but you can't talk about "that". You want to help all veterans, but you can’t always call them out on why certain bills haven't passed in 20 years even when both sides claim to agree on them. Thankfully, the representatives asked if there was anything we wanted to bring up outside of the talking points, and it felt good to actually say what was on my mind.
Day 2: Hearings and Briefings
The second day was intense. It kicked off with one of the most informative events: attending a hearing on the Senate floor. If you’ve ever seen the Godfather II testimony, it was just like that. It was surreal, but also discouraging. Many representatives or staff weren't there, and it felt like "lip service" by the end. Except for one Senator who came in late and actually asked real questions about why veterans have to retrain on skills they already mastered in combat—that gave me some hope.
After the hearing, we headed to a lunch hosted by TikTok. Despite some initial confusion with the email invitations, it was an awesome insight into how the company is helping with veteran issues. We heard from Tammy Barlet, Corey Boatwright, and others who have been serving veterans for years. It was a long day for El and me, and for some of the other veterans, it was even longer.
The Last Day: The White House and Press Briefing
The final day was packed, starting with a tour of the White House. It moved fast—like hopping a bus for one block—but it was cool to see the rooms and artwork you usually only see on TV, like the Green, Blue, and Yellow rooms.
Later that same day, we had the press briefing from top administration officials. It was exciting at first, but that’s where the "lip service" really kicked in. We weren't allowed to ask anything political, and the officials mostly gave us their bios without explaining how they could actually help with veteran services. It was still an honor to hear their stories, and we even saw the iconic hallway with the blue sign you see in movies and on TV, but it felt like they were holding back for legal reasons.
The Takeaway
Reflecting on the week, I really wish the event had been five days instead of three. However, I know that’s difficult given the nature of how we are notified about hearings and when we are actually granted the opportunity to have a voice on the floor.
The main thing I took away was learning where I fit in and what role I want to play. I learned that I don’t want to just stand by and complain; I want to help make a change. It scares me to step out of my comfort zone, but if you signed that contract and did your job, you shouldn't have a problem putting a target on your back for your fellow veterans. We need to fix the system so nobody has to deal with political BS just to get the benefits they were promised.
This week, I finally figured out why I still wear my dog tags. It’s because even though I’m out of the service, I’m still at war—I’m at war with our systems and policies. I don’t necessarily want to be the "face" or a leader, but if needed, I’ll step up.
I don’t want to wear the suit, but I am going to fight.