Can I call myself a vet? I never completed training due to injuries during and before service.

wait wait FUCK NO

NO

First of all thank you for taking that first step to sign on the line to give your life to this great nation. Not everyone is capable of doing that. Second of all, I am truly sorry you were injured when you were so close to finishing your AIT training. That would truly suck.

As for calling yourself a veteran, I would say yes, but I would think also it is whatever makes you feel comfortable about calling yourself too. You have your DD214, it shows your amount of time in service, it also states why you were discharged. You may or may not be able to get VA benefits, but that is up to them to decide, not any one else, and especially on this forum.

A lot of these service members and veterans are so gun ho on how this or that works or how this is the way it's supposed to be instead of the way it really is they cannot see the whole picture.

So, from me to you, and from what I read that a 1SGT and others as well have said......you are a VETERAN. Be Proud of that status.

I'm not sure how it is with other branches, but in the Army you are not technically a Soldier, let alone a Veteran, until you have passed BCT; you are a Civilian in BDU's/ACU's or whatever the uniform is now. That, along with the whole 180 days of service beyond training regulation means that the answer is no, you are not a Veteran.

Let the VA make the call if you were injured are had pre existing conditions they will let you know because of your medical problem you had when you was in.

Bottom line, there are several definitions of "Veteran" out there, some legal, some perceptual. The legal ones pretty much stipulate what, how long, exit pedigree, etc. primarily for the purpose of benefits determination. Others are perceptual; some not very polite. There are those who feel volunteer for one day, you're good to go. On the other end, if you don't qualify for joining VFW, you're not a real Vet. I might have been in your shoes if I didn't go ENL/OFF route in the Navy. I initially went to West Point and they tossed me at the end of Beast Barracks because they didn't like my eyes. Got a DD-214 and Cert for Honorable Discharge. So I'd presume I wouldn't be a Vet for the purposes of a benefit. I never needed to try and figure that one out because it was OBE.

When I worked for the VA, we provided a benefits briefing to every Soldier that was separating during OSUT, regardless of the reason for the separation. I would submit for benefits and let the VA decide. When I made my earlier lost I was quoting general VA guidance, so i would let them determine whether or not you are entitled to veteran status.

No actually you CANNOT call yourself a vet! Back when I went in the first time right out of H.S. I decided around the end of tech school, the military was not for me. I was in for just under a year & I received a General under Honorable. I wasn't considered a vet nor did I have benefits. Thankfully I ended up going back in yrs later!

To answer if you are a veteran, I honestly don't know.<br><br>Did you receive a DD214? If the answer to that is yes, then my guess is that you are a veteran, at least insofar as the U.S. government is concerned.<br><br><br><br>