Combat vets how do you feel toward non-combat vets?

This breaks down even further...

There are soldiers who deploy but never leave a base and/or see any form of combat. Are we to distinguish these people as different as well?

My personal opinion then and now is this: We all volunteered to serve and knew the large implications that entailed. Some of us chose our jobs and others were funneled into others by MEPS and their arbitrary "only these jobs are available currently".

While serving in Iraq, some people in my platoon did display animosity towards non-combat troops. I had no such inclinations - primarily because if those soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen were not doing their job - I couldn't be doing mine. Combat troops rely on the entire system to function properly to ensure they can continue their operations instead of completing non-combat operations. Without those service members, we would be doing details and other jobs non-stop to try and maintain our operations and that is not a functional military. Combat support is properly titled - they are supporting the large scale combat operations and their job is of massive importance to those of us fighting. We needed fuel, food, toilets and showers, power, a radio operator we could rely on to be there when we called, mechanics, etc...

To answer your question - we also need service members back home. Our duty stations are not going to maintain themselves and you had a valid reason for being home. I believe that some individual service members/veterans may hold some animosity but largely it is due to ignorance. Ignorance of what all is required to keep military operations running overseas and at home.

If you served honorably, there should be no difference. Everyone has their role to play, and how you did that makes no difference in my opinion. When you start breaking things down like this, then it continues onto things such as how many deployments. Is one vet that did 3-4 tours better than someone who only did 1-2 deployments? So again, no matter what you did, or how many times you did it, it boils down to just doing your part, and doing it with HONOR!!

A non-combat vet deserves the same respect as a combat vet in my mind, unless, or until they prove otherwise.

20+ years of defense of our nation should surely equal 1 combat tour as far as what you sacrificed, as everyone here knows, this life has daily and regular sacrifices that few other people can live with.

Vets are Vets period. We all took the same oath to defend the constitution with our lives with true faith and allegiance. We all sacrificed and all share the same struggles that the Vet community struggles with. If you raised your right hand, took the oath, and did your time honorably; then you are a Vet in my book and should be proud.

Thank you all gentleman for the comments! This is one reason I enjoy the RP format. An individual can learn so much from all the knowledge shared by outstanding officers and enlisted personnel.

honestly a deployment doesn't make a combat vet but at the same time there is no hostility felt towards someone who hasn't deployed or was deployed to a non combat environment unless said soldier fought not to deploy. to me we all have a job to do and some of us just have to do a little more that's all

I spent 8 years in the Corps from 86 to 94.. Never was ask to go to war.. I felt I gave the Corps 100% while I was in.. I personally that all vets for serving.. I sure a special thanks should go out to all that where put in harms way... So Thanks!!

As an MP at Camp Pendleton Mainside PMO, I considered every night shift a combat deployment. Marines coming back from the field or deployment are dangerous and usually intoxicated. We were in life threatening situations many times just being on post. SO even though I did not deploy combat hostile combatants who were enemies of the United States; I did see my share of hostile combatants. Before the uproar ensues, no I am not comparing fire fights with the taliban or any other insurgent or enemy group to drunk Marines. What I am saying is that we all had our own battles, sometimes it was with the enemy, sometimes with our brothers and sometimes with ourselves. I am proud of my service and what I was able to do in the time allotted. my MOS(s) did not afford me the opportunity for combat time. This does not make me less of a Veteran or Marine; and in the long haul probably makes me a luckier individual than those who have many, many horrors to relive the rest of their days.

I think that every warrior signed the line and took the oath to protect and defend. It is often not by choice that some are left behind to watch the home front or serve in a non-combat status. I agree with Rushlo though. I feel that every abled bodied citizen should serve at a minimum of 2 years in the service of our country. Lisa brought up a good point that I think most of will agree that we did a lot of maturing and gained discipline through the process of serving.

Eventually, units will see less of those Soldiers who are combat veterans as the years go by. Many vets will get out of the service or retire out after 20+ yrs. Even if you never get to deploy at all, you can still be a great leader and soldier.