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

MSgt (Join to see), just remember the saying ... A Veteran is someone who, at one point, wrote a blank check made payable to ‘The United States of America’ for an amount of ‘up to and including their life.’ Just because your country didn't cash the check, it doesn't mean that you didn't write it.

There was another post where someone was talking about not feeling like a 'real' veteran because they didn't deploy. My response is basically the same - if we were police officers and I was put in a position where I had to use my weapon or was shot at, you would be no less a 'real' police officer than I just because you were never in that situation.

As MSG Wade Huffman stated, "No animosity here; hold your head high, Brother!"

I do share LTC Paul Labrador's sentiment - I do look down on you if you're one of those that are not willing to share the risks though.

What you did serving your wife was as or more honorable than those of us who go "downrange". I know when I deploy, I clean up everything at home. I can't imagine how you would have felt if you had left her to be cared for by the rest of your family. You get a BIG THUMBS UP from me.

From where I sit there is no such thing as a combat veteran and a non-combat veteran. We all elected to lay down our very lives, if necessary, to defend and protect this nation, those we love and it's way of life. Because of that there is truly no distinction, so whether you performed in theater or not, you were there with all those you knew and all those you didn't know. If you wore a U.S. military uniform, you stood shoulder to shoulder with them all on either side of the spectrum. For any combat veteran that seems to have a probably with any non-combat veteran, remember this, if you cut, it is I who will bleed.

The only animosity I have experienced (and had) has involved SMs who have tried hard to AVOID being deployed while others have been deployed multiple times. Other than that, I have the utmost respect for all my brothers and sisters in arms who have chosen to serve, regardless of their deployment status.

I agree with MSG Carl Cunningham and MSG Wade Huffman. MSgt (Join to see), deployment or not, please continue to be proud of the fact that you served your country honorably and earned a retirement. Very few in this day and age commit to a single enlistment, let alone a career in the military. Not everyone has a chance to deploy and in your situation it sounds like you had a chain of command worth their salt.

"To us and those like us, there's damn few of us left!"

I call them brother or sister.

To me is a VET is a VET. Downrange or not does not matter. Some one had to cover my rear in the rear and ship me the items I needed. That said I look down on the able bodies that never got into amy Military serve. I feel that all men and or women need two to 4 years in the Military once they leave high school so they learn to GROW UP.

We are all on the same team no matter what - we all raised that right had and said the Oath.

"I, XXXXXXXXXX, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

I agree with MSG Carl Cunningham . Most of the time, we, as service members, have little to no say in whether or not we deploy to begin with. You, MSgt (Join to see) , served honorably, not for just a term or two, but for a career. No animosity here; hold your head high, Brother!

MSgt (Join to see) If a veteran is disrespected for not deploying what does that say about the other person? Does only the combat time count as service to this great nation? What a ridiculous notion. I was in for 13 years before I ever deployed. It would take someone with a very short memory to know that it was the selfless service of the Cold War veteran who kept the entire world from being vaporized in the world war that could have been. I knew so many retirees who deployed only once in over 20+ years of dedicated service. I knew even more retirees who never deployed. Everyone who wore a uniform is a VETERAN. That term is what makes each of us family. If someone wants to break it down further to "combat veteran" vs. "veteran", they are only isolating themselves. What a shame. Of course they would ALSO have to break it down further into campaigns, job titles, ranks, etc., until they found the very few troops that they would consider as their "peers". Well, more power to them. Let them enjoy the privilege of hanging out with their select handful of troops and spend their life judging others. Everyone who wore a uniform and served their nation HONORABLY will be my family.

When I was in, women were not allowed to be in combat, I was considered combat support. Thankfully during the time I served, there were no major conflicts as there are now. I have much respect to those who have seen the battlefield. I hope that I would be respected for serving my time regardless of my combat or non-combat status.