In keeping with its name, Concerned Veterans for America (CVA), is an organization comprised of veterans and military families dedicated to fighting for the freedoms at home that they fought for in uniform.

"We want to be honest brokers in the conversation and say we've been there, so we understand," said Pete Hegseth, CEO of CVA.

Hegseth, who was deployed with his National Guard unit to Afghanistan when CVA was founded in 2012, came to the organization ready to work.

"I am not in Washington, D.C. to make friends but to make changes for our country," Hegseth said. "At CVA we talk about a wider range of issues. We are going to be respectful but also aggressive."

Those issues range from the seemingly minor, yet important task, of ensuring that military have their ballots counted in elections to veteran unemployment. With unemployment rates for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans being significantly higher than for the general population, CVA maintains that adequate opportunities are not being delivered.

"We work specifically towards the veteran angle with regard to unemployment, but at the same time, we look at it in a macro sense in order to further changes that might create more jobs across the board," Hegseth explained.

Indeed, much of CVA's advocacy is focused on large-scale tasks, like regulating excessive government spending, balancing the budget and backing more responsible leaders for office. They also have put a spotlight onto the Department of Veterans Affairs in an effort to make that system more reliable and effective for users.

Despite being headquartered on the East Coast, CVA is seeking veterans nationwide that want to work for the cause. Anyone who is interested can sign up for a strike team on their website and within 48 hours, they will be contacted by a CVA field representative who will talk about what they want to do to help.

"This is very grassroots, but it is also a definite way for veterans and family members to get involved and take action, not just receive a newsletter," Hegseth said. "You will be asked to actually do something and your ideas will be heard."

In fact, volunteers run most of CVA's operations, and while Hegseth is open to adding bodies, he is adamant about not poaching members from other similar veteran organizations.

"Our challenge is to make sure our volunteers are being used, so our growth model is less about numbers and more about finding people who are truly passionate," Hegseth said.

One such ardent spokesperson is Jane Horton, a gold star wife who has pledged to help further CVA's agenda in the wake of Spc. Christopher Horton's untimely death.

"On September 9, 2011, when I was notified of Chris' death, my first thoughts were how I couldn't believe this man gave his all for me, so I decided to live it for him. Not just him, but the many others who have given their blood so that our country can remain free - so that we can continue to live the lives of security, prosperity, and joy that is unique to America."

Horton believes that CVA works hard to advocate for veterans who have bravely served overseas and deserve the best once they are back at home, whether they are still uniform or not.

"I chose to join CVA because they understand and stand for the same spirit of service and sacrifice that my husband gave his life. If America can just get a little piece of that patriotism, if they can just remember the sacrifice that made them free in the first place, I think they can and will be a forever-changed nation," Horton said.

To get involved with CVA and its mission, visit concernedveteransforamerica.org/action.