Posted on Feb 26, 2016
Are groups like the American Legion and VFW too Right Wing Conservative for the new generation of Veterans?
29.5K
258
199
10
10
0
Given the societal change in this country that has been integrated into the Armed Forces, do younger veterans share the same views and attitudes of the traditional veterans clubs?
Are you uncomfortable participating when everyone else is considerably older and have different views? Should religion and politics be a focal point for Veterans Organizations?
Are you uncomfortable participating when everyone else is considerably older and have different views? Should religion and politics be a focal point for Veterans Organizations?
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 64
0
0
0
Sp4 Byron Skinner. The modern Veterans Service Organizations all have been born since WW I and the big issues was Veterans Healthcare especially for men that were exposed to chemical agents and the promised Veterans Bonus. The bonus was scheduled to be paid in 1946, a lot of veterans saw they were not going to live that long and wanted it paid now in 1932. A very interesting story. The VSO 's can be very handy in processing a VA claim. You will have to join to get any service, but for most who go this way it's definitely worth the money. Since the VSO's are political organizations the y reflect the current political make up of the US military. When we had conscription there definitely were some moderate to liberal influences in the organizations, but no longer. The enlisted ranks of the US military are recruited form military friendly and targeted areas of the country, targeted are southerners, working class kids and a strong religious belief is not turned away. High School Graduates preferred but, things can be worked out. Criminal records, the ones that never got caught are preferred. You will find the same attitudes are to be found at you local American Legion or VFW Bar.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
WOW Is the VFW and the Legion, to American for the Young vets? we all started as young vets and if we move left that means we fought for communism not freedom
(0)
(0)
SFC J Fullerton
Is a veteran less patriotic or American if they don't associate themselves with a right wing political ideology? Whether they consider themselves "left" or not? Can someone have an individual preference or opinion that can cross left or right lines without choosing to conform to one? Or is it all inclusive, meaning you have to chose a side? Is this important to be accepted among fellow members?
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
If you don't like the way your post is being run, get involved. Go to a meeting, volunteer for a committee, serve as an officer. Longevity is key. I've been a TAL member since '92. Remember that TAL has a history of discrimination of younger servicemembers. Years ago it was run by WW2 vets with an iron fist. The Vietnam/Korean vets weren't allowed to make decisions/be an officer, etc because the WW2 guys had say so. Now Vietnam vets are running the show. They remember what it was like when they started out as members and find it hard to give up power (some of them anyways). If your post has 20 members, there's a good chance you can affect change quickly. If your post is larger it may take some time. Quite often, the same people are officers because they are the only ones who volunteer. Step up if you want to see change.
(0)
(0)
SFC J Fullerton
Your points may be part of the relevancy question. Has local fraternal clubs with the rituals and democratic system of voting on everything run its course? If there are many members but only a few participate, isn't that an indication of apathy? Can a veteran support the cause by being a member of the national organization and not affiliated with a local post? Could these organizations survive as a national association rather than as local posts under the fraternal club model?
(0)
(0)
Amn Anne Hofferkamp
SFC Fullerton - I've belonged to 3 different posts all different sizes. A veteran who joins as a general member goes into a "pool" of general membership (Amvets is the same way). The member continues to receive benefits, discounts, magazines but don't have to worry about attending meetings/receiving phone calls, etc. There are many people who pay dues/belong to a post but never attend meetings; I belonged to the Legion for about 8 years before I ever went to a meeting. That post was small - 26 members and didn't have regular meetings. Small posts tend to be more laid back than larger ones. Robert's Rules of Order (the rituals in which you speak) tend not to be followed as closely. In larger posts, Robert's is followed religiously, at least in my experience.
As far as apathy, veterans who belong to VSOs are getting older and often stuck in their ways. The key is for VSOs and all groups (Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, etc) is to get people involved. One way for a VSO to recruit new volunteers within its core membership is for the officers/leadership to break out of their internal cliques and meet the members, talk to the entire membership, learn about your members. Bear in mind that cliques exist everywhere not just in VSOs but at work, church, school, anywhere people congregate in groups. Who knows what the future brings. The Commanders of VFW and AL & others have a voice on Capitol Hill. The difference between now and 20 years ago, there are more choices for veterans to choose from. The key is having a common voice; belonging to a VSO gives a veteran a louder voice.
As far as apathy, veterans who belong to VSOs are getting older and often stuck in their ways. The key is for VSOs and all groups (Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, etc) is to get people involved. One way for a VSO to recruit new volunteers within its core membership is for the officers/leadership to break out of their internal cliques and meet the members, talk to the entire membership, learn about your members. Bear in mind that cliques exist everywhere not just in VSOs but at work, church, school, anywhere people congregate in groups. Who knows what the future brings. The Commanders of VFW and AL & others have a voice on Capitol Hill. The difference between now and 20 years ago, there are more choices for veterans to choose from. The key is having a common voice; belonging to a VSO gives a veteran a louder voice.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Green Bay is Neo-con central in Northern Wisconsin so this is a big problem here. There are more liberal and progressive soldiers than people think but to be a member here, you either have to bite your tongue or live with being a pariah. WAY too much politics and religion in these organizations. Politics wasn't a very big concern during the early part of my career but they sure seem to get pretty important once you hit SSG (E-6), in the military and out.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Most will change AFTER the idiot in chief now residing in that office,departs same.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
SFC Fullerton, In the Dallas, Tx area, I have seen first hand that the people from OIF signup and join both organizations and enjoy the groups and learn, we also try to help the get and show them different ways to get ahead in education and finding employment that we did not have in the 1990's during the RIFF so that it won't happen to them if they are in Transitioning out of the military to Cilivian job, or to another Federal position through USA.job.com
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
As a retired Army Infantry CSM I can tell you that the Veterans Organizations of today are trying their very best to help todays Soldiers and Veterans. One of the main problems that I have found on my travels to different installations each year is the huge decline in standards for all Military and even up into the top leadership. The dedication to the service is not there like it has to be. The Military Service and pride in it come first in a Soldiers live above everything else and family has to understand they are second. Times have changed and our Military has weakened but the Veterans Organizations still maintain the standards that are required to keep America free and helping Veterans and their families is the main mission. This is not just my opinion but a very obvious observation by many other senior NCO's and higher level Officers. We really wish we could come back and bring the standards back up where they should be but we can't. Believe me when I say that I and thousands of other retired Military are very worried and concerned about this Country's security with todays Military because it has gone down that far.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
As a very active member of the VFW, I think you have to look further than to just the Post for that answer. The one thing the VFW did many years ago, was to get rid of the political action committee. That was a good move in my opinion. A lot of the VFW post are starting to change though and become more family friendly. Closing down the canteen and finding other ways to make the Post work and with high success. My Post has no post home. We do just fine that way. We also have all OIF/OEF officers and they are doing an outstanding job. We are recruiting many new members(of the younger generation). So it can be done. It is all up to the membership(most important part of the VFW) to decide what the Post do and how it succeeds.
(0)
(0)
SGT Allen Goatcher
Could you enlighten me a little more on how you are doing the recruiting? I am not an officer in my VFW but I am trying to find different was of getting the younger guys in. It is a great resource and a great place to talk with others who have walked where I have walked.
(0)
(0)
CPO Kirk Rosa
Allen, we actually do a lot of our recruiting at our monthly community breakfast. That is one of our fund raisers we do. When we do buddy poppies twice a year we also do recruiting. For us, we were able to get one or two of the OEF/OIF members and from there, they saw what we were about and starting helping in the recruiting of the younger members. It continues from there. We are about helping all veterans. Just because a Veteran does not qualify for the VFW does not mean we cannot help. We do all the time. We help put on a Veteran's day fair. (we get the VA, and many other organizations that can help Veterans together for a day, including free health care screening to include various blood testing(at no cost to the Veteran)). We work great within the community, and the support we get from the community is outstanding. So Veterans see all this, and when they come to us to join, we explain things to them including that we are not about where you served, we are about that you served. We tell them we all served in our own timeframe, we are all Veterans and we just happen to qualify for the VFW. I am not a big supporter of the canteen, as I have seen many draw the Post down. Few have actually saved a Post, I am a big supporter of the VFW Riders though. You guys are an outstanding recruiting tool. I do not ride though. So start with one or two. Show them what the Post is about, and it will go up from there.
(1)
(0)
SGT Allen Goatcher
Thank You Sir for the info. We just really became active in the VFW riders because it was a while till we had the minimum number. I live in rural Arkansas and in a basically retired community for there is only a few jobs available and they are mostly elderly care. I know how to recruit riders, it is just a matter of riding as a group and showing that we are having fun.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
I got a lot of crap for having sleeve tattoos and piercings so I stopped dealing with the American Legion. I'm still pretty much as conservative as they are.
(0)
(0)
Maj Drew Gilchrist
Wolf - there are many new organizations full of good guys with sleeve tats and doing good work in their communities. Check out Sheep dog Impact Assistance, The Mission Continues, and Team Rubicon. You may find one of these works well for you. Semper Fi...
(1)
(0)
0
0
0
I am a member of the American Legion The youngest 1 in most I stop at, I am 48 now. But I really enjoy just sitting there and listening to the Older guys, about how hard it was. Makes me feel that I surely didn't have it as bad as they did. War and Conflicts are not fun, loosing a brother is Hard. I have to say, when I am around others that have seen what we have and been through it, I find Peace for that time Regardless of there age. These guys are a dying Bread, it is up to us to carry on this Tradition of Comradery be it American Legion or VFW.
(0)
(0)
LTC Martin Metz
Each person has a life story. We are all richer for the lessons (positive and negative) that are imparted.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google