A "Veteran" after dropping out of boot camp? Where do you draw the line?

Honorably serving and SATISFYING your contractual obligations in relation to your service agreement is the line for me. If you couldn't even complete your initial term then you don't fall into a veteran category in my book. I'm not trying to take that away from those who fell short. I see it as not insulting those who served, bled, and died in service to this country. A person who couldn't even complete training has no right to stand among this group. Reality check.

No

Would you consider a person a Marine if he dropped out of boot camp? I certainly know the answer to that.

I would say no. Do you have a degree if you almost have one but are one course short? No. You either graduate or don't. Is someone who volunteers at a soup kitchen once a volunteer? Is someone who goes to church for a few months a Christian? Do the ascribe to the Christian principles?
People who earn titles like Marine, Ranger, Saper tabs, SF, etc. get pretty upset when someone fakes their tabs or make a false claim. Would someone who has a dishonorable discharge be considered a veteran? I suppose it would consider the circumstances as why they received the discharge.

Hmm. That is a really interesting question. I think a whole lot of folks would say no, but to a certain extent I almost think yes.

It would probably depend a whole lot on what happened.

As an aside, consider this: I enlisted Marine Corps Infantry. I was accepted to the Naval Academy and was released from my obligation. I never showed up to boot camp because I was at the academy. Granted I never set foot there so there's no doubt that I am not a Marine, but I do tell people I enlisted (very careful to make sure they know the whole story though) at times when it comes up. Obviously not the same, but something to consider. The reason the person didn't finish may have an impact.

If someone was permanently disabled in bootcamp I would be really hard pressed not to call them a Veteran. On the same token, if they were processed out for discipline issues or couldn't perform at all, I would be less inclined to consider them a veteran.

Not at all. If the individual fails to complete basic training, that individual is considered to be a washout.

Are you fucking kidding me?
If a student attends high school, but fails to meet the requirements for graduation, do they deserve a diploma?

HELL NO!

General rule of thumb is 181 days. Usually at the completion of training (to include technical training).

By Florida Law to be considered for Veteran entitlement one needs to complete more than 180 days of Military Service which does not including Tech, AIT or any other school to be considered a Veteran. That is the black and white law for those who want the glory but couldn't earn it themselves. Many are chosen but few march to the end...

I am with you. Dropping out for a sprain? I think it comes down to the effort put in. I have a cousin that did not make it through basic, that I still consider a Veteran. He did not give up. He was unable to meet the physical requirements, he could not pass the push ups on the PT test. He went though two rounds of extra training and improved both times but was unable to make it. I think anyone willing to go through an extra four weeks of basic voluntarily deserves to be called a Veteran. He is also up front about it though. He will not put himself out there as a Veteran. Of course none of that makes him a Veteran by the legal definition.