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

The way I see it, if I didn't get shot at and by and return fire to someone with whom my nation is at war, I'm not a veteran. Therefore, I'm not a veteran. I'm certainly not a VFW. Do I wish to be one? It's a fools errand to wish for war, but wise to be prepared. When Veterans Day comes around, I'll honor those who have seen combat and avoid seeking such glory I have not yet earned. There is no shame in serving and not seeing combat. For those who put on the uniform, ready to stand in the gap, but simply not called by their nation to do so, our honor is in our readiness. But I also cannot in good conscience assume the status or title of veteran. Marine, yes. Veteran, no. Semper Fi!

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. If NG Soldiers who complete Basic/AIT/OSUT serve and don't get veteran status, you definitely don't. Up until last year, NG Soldiers who retire after 20 years and didn't deploy or spend enough time on active status still didn't get veteran status.

That being said, you showed up and tried. Appreciate that and your continued support of the military. But don't call yourself a veteran.

If you have to ask....

But no, Cpl Robert Clark gave the perfect answer..

What if you never completed Basic and AIT, but was Honorable Discharged and in the Army for more than 180 Days

No

US Code speaks for all military services. 38 USC covers the definition, which basically states if you serve on AD and are discharged other than dishonorably, then you technically are a veteran. Many others on this chain are mixing in perception, motivation and emotion into the discussion.

I have a question but I don't have the 150 characters in order to participate. But I am was a reservist in the AF from 1985-1993, My discharge is honorable, however, I do not have 180 days of active service, I do however have 160 days. These consist of basic training, Tech school and my reservist days of 2 day a month and 2 weeks a year. After 2 years of service, I got married, pregnant and was put on inactive duty due to my husband at the time who was active duty had orders overseas. Since there was not a reservist base at Misawa, Japan, I was inactive until returned to the states. During that time, Desert Storm begun and I was given order to go active duty and return to my assigned base, but the war ended before my order were activated. After returning back to the states, we were stationed at Ellsworth, SD. Again no reservist at the base with my AFAC and the closes base was Wyoming. This was a hardship as my spouse was active duty and I had two small children at home trying to get to a base that was a state away. So I was given an honorable discharge. I am 20 days shy of obtaining any benefits. Is there any thing that I qualify since I was in uniform and not all of my days are basic training and tech school. I did go to school during that time while overseas on the GI Bill.

I am totally discussed with the attitude! I myself am a Disabled Veteran who served eight years in the Army,Infantry. I was a Staff Sergeant who broke my hip during a demonstration for our CORP CSM. We were a test bed for the miles gear when it came out. In fact we were I in Soldiers Magazine. I had taken my Squad down the course three times that day and on the last run I had to jump over barb wire and roll to land behind a 55 gal. Drum and pallet for cover so I would not get shot. In doing so I landed on my combat gear, my canteen cup broke my hip. It didn't hurt for a couple days and I felt like it was just the days events that made me sore. Two weeks later I finally got my first X-ray and that's when I was informed I had a break in my hip and a bone fragment in the hip socket the size of about a penny. I was overseas in Europe it was 1984. By the time they sent me to see an Orthopedic Surgeon two months had passed. I was in terrible pain and I was admitted into the hospital in Wurzberg, Germany. The surgeon only kept me in for one week and then told me that he wasn't going to do any surgery as he figured it would do more damage than good. So he gave me crutches and told me that I was to walk and crush the bone fragment but that when I got older I would have terrible problems! Long story short I fought with the Army and the VA to help me and they refused to treat me. After 30 years I could hardly walk and talked to my private insurance doctor and got a total hip replacement. I filed again with the VA, and was finally given a disability. They had given me 100% for the time prior to me getting the surgery and then reduced it to50% because they said it was fixed! This even though they did nothing. I am telling you this as I don't for the life of me believe that the VA gave you a house and all the rest you claim. They are very strict In giving out anything. I know this as a buddy who served with me on my first tour overseas in Bamberg, Germany, was crushed between two APC's and it took him about three years to receive his disability. He was more fortunate as he is in Georgia and was given 100%, but there is no surgery that they can do for him as his spine is out in five different locations and he must live with it. They did put him on pain medication but he ended up addicted and now is on methodone. But I have read everything you have wrote and all the replies and it doesn't sound to me that you are in any great pain, as your only concern is weather you can call yourself a veteran. When I was separated from the Army in 1985, they told me that I had crushed the bone fragment and the break had healed and the pain I was in they couldn't give a rating back then.so I was given a severance and an Honorable Discharge and sent on my way. I filed twice with the VA, and the second time they decided to look and found the damage that was caused by having to crush the bone fragment. In fact my Orthopedic Surgeon said my right hip needs to be replaced due to my limp that I ended up with. So I was given like I stated a 50% disability and had to pay back the severance which I got when I was discharged. My point to all this is it seems that you have found a way of getting services that you don't sound to need and there are real disabled veterans who can't get any help at all even though they are indeed veterans and most are wartime vets at that. If I was you I would not be making such an issue of being a vet as from all I have gathered you found some way to abuse the system while those in need are living on the streets without the help that they truly deserve and earned.If you have to ask if you are a veteran or not, I think you already know the answer. I don't know you but you have definitely turned some eyes your way and I hope you are indeed as you say you are because this matter is definitely going to be looked into. To take and abuse a system when there are veterans who are dying in the streets is not what I know a Marine would do. My grandfather and uncle were both Marines and my grandfather rest his soul was on Iwo! If you are indeed receiving medical assistance for a line of duty injury then by all means you are entitled to them, but the house is a first for me. Take all that those who have taken the time to reply and think on how your words have come across those who are truly in pain and suffering with what little help most get. To bost that you are receiving all these benefits as though you hit the jack pot is not becoming any branch of service.

A Veteran of What? SMH

I agree with the regulation but I'll throw respect your way since you gave what you had and just didn't get there.