John Kerry, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, is getting some help from fellow veterans in Iowa in his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.

At a monument honoring 855 Iowans killed in the Vietnam War, Kerry announced the creation of a Veterans for Kerry Committee led by Democratic state Sen. Steve Warnstadt. A member of the Iowa National Guard, Warnstadt said the group could be a potent force in the state's leadoff precinct caucuses Jan. 19 in light of the nearly 300,000 veterans in Iowa.

Kerry used the appearance to continue his criticism of President Bush's national security policies.

"George Bush has proven that the presidency is not the place for on-the-job training in national security," the Massachusetts senator said Tuesday.

Kerry has argued that his military service makes him the best Democratic candidate to counter Bush on defense and foreign policy issues.

"It is very clear that national security is going to be a major issue in this race because our country needs to be safe," Kerry said. "The approach of this administration in Iraq, in my judgment, is outside of common sense and outside of the value system of the country."