--- title: "This free program teaches aspiring veteran politicians how to run for office" date: "2025-07-15" modified: "2026-03-25" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/military-life/veterans-politicians-learn-run-public-office/" categories: - "Education" - "Military News" - "Veterans" tags: - "Veteran Employment" --- # This free program teaches aspiring veteran politicians how to run for office ![getty tulsi gabbard veteran politician]() *Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is a former city councilwoman, state representative, U.S. Representative and presidential candidate, who began her career as an enlisted medic in the U.S. Army. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)* Are you sick of Donald Trump and his cronies ruining this country with their divisive politics and disastrous spending? Or maybe you've had enough of the Democrats and liberals who will stop at nothing to stop the president's "America First" agenda. You might even see a new way forward for the country through socialism, libertarianism, or even Elon Musk's emerging America Party. **Also Read: [RED Friday returns as combat deployments ramp up]()** You might even be more aligned with the Peace and Freedom Party, the Green Party, a Libertarian, or any number of smaller, localized parties, like the Party for Socialism and Liberation of Florida, the Legal Marijuana Now Party of Nebraska, or Utah's Independent American Party. No matter what your political views might be, aspiring veteran politicians can learn how to run a campaign, raise funds, and earn votes at Syracuse University's [Veterans for Public Office program](). If you're already sold, [applications for the next cohort are now open](). ![veteran politicians]() *Daniel Inouye (right) was a World War II veteran and Medal of Honor recipient who represented Hawaii as a U.S. Senator between 1963 and his death in 2012. (Department of Defense)* Veterans are [much more civic-minded than their non-veteran counterparts](). They vote, volunteer, join civic groups, contact politicians, and engage their communities in greater numbers. But running for political office is far more challenging than it seems, even at the local level. There's a lot to consider. Who will manage your campaign? How will you interact with potential voters? Do you have the support of the local Democratic or Republican parties? Or is there another party you want to run with? Also: How in the world are you gonna pay for any of this? It might seem like a mystery to someone on the outside looking in, but that's what the Veterans for Public Office is designed to teach. The goal is to demystify this mysterious process in a practical, useful way—even if you don't know which office you want to run for. The [D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families]() (IVMF) is a bipartisan institution with the sole goal of helping service members, veterans, and their families improve their lives through research-driven programs and the thoughtful implementation of that research. It offers programs for female veterans, budding veteran entrepreneurs, and employers seeking veteran talent. Formerly known as "Veterans Program for Politics and Civic Engagement," the course is produced in partnership with Syracuse University's [Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs](). It's an inherently political program, but it isn't designed to flood the halls of Congress with one party or another; it's designed to help aspiring veteran politicians achieve their goals of leadership, creating policy, or all that "changing the world" we wanted to do when we first enlisted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEwSXZBzHQg The curriculum directs aspiring veteran politicians in one of two tracks. The first is the Ideation track, designed for military-connected people with a strong interest in serving in a public office. It helps vets understand the current political landscape without committing to launching a campaign. This track also helps participants determine their motivations and values, as well as which office might best suit their goals. The other option, the Campaign Planning track, is for candidates who are actively running for office or working to support a civic issue. It's an intense training focused on practicality: campaign strategy, messaging, fundraising, compliance with campaign laws, and team building. The goal is that trainees walk out with a clear plan for their campaigns. For more information about the Veterans for Public Office, [visit the IVMF's Training Program for Veterans and Military-Connected Individuals website](). If you're ready to get your campaign started, you can [apply for the next cohort now](). ### Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty - [Wounded Ukrainian soldiers with bionic arms want to return to the front lines]() - [Sig Sauer’s P320 banned by Chicago Police Department and other law enforcement agencies]() - []()[The US military used compressed air for vaccines for 30 years]() ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()