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

The only "feelings" I can attribute toward "NON COMBAT VETS" are the ones that literally hid out and worked at being non deployment ready.. or caused them self's to be placed in jobs one after the other that did not deploy... in more then 14 years of active combat... and loiter time on station typically 1/3 of that. These few I know of put significant effort into not deploying.

Im sure the over all numbers of those types are low... and for many MOS not even a valid gripe.... But I have had the displeasure of knowing several in my carrier field.. and that is the nicest thing I can say about my "feelings' toward those "non combat" vets. Every one that did this forced others to should an increased lever of stress, risk, hardship simply because the few were selfish, cowardice, or both.

A Veteran is a Veteran regardless if they have been deployed to a combat zone or not... It is like a football team, not every player gets to be in the big game but they are still a team.

What constitutes a 'combat vet'? Someone who has closed with the enemy in direct action or just being in theater?

I agree with SSG P, B. I often wonder how a senior NCO/Officer has done 12+ years and has not deployed once. But I feel no animosity.

I have one tour as a scout (Desert Shield/Storm) and two deployments as a fobbit and I only wear my 3rd Armored Division patch (Desert Shield/Storm) on my right shoulder. And to be honest, yes I do hold that patch in higher regard than my others.

But in the big picture I'm here to lead and mentor Soldiers to take my place in a few years and accomplish the mission like SSG P stated.

No difference Brother!!! Not in my eyes!!!

My dad was in the Army during WWII and never left the States. My mother and an aunt serves in the WAVES during WWII and also stayed stateside. I was in 73-76 and did not go to Vietnam. I didn't have to shoot at anybody and nobody shot at me. The closest family members that did see action was an uncle in WWI and my father-in-law in WWII. It's luck of the draw when you 'sign in' and nothing more.

Dude, yeah..no not at all, no animosity from honorable soldiers! You had someone very close to you go through some hellish shit on earth and she needed you; boom: bottom line man. Honorable decision on your part. It sucks you didn't get to share a deployment and that experience with your buddies but it happens, you had some real life challenges and faced em and I'm happy to hear your command was supportive!! If you got animosity from a service member, he or she can kiss your ass. =) Thank you for your years in service, my man!

Going down range is what we do its what we love and any of us would have done that- but what you did took True courage brother. no hard feelings at all towards non combat vets, your still family

It really makes no difference to me as long as the non-combat vet doesn't say stupid crap like "when I react to contact I always...." If it is obvious they dodged deployment I will lose all respect for them. If they have done everything the nation asked of them and did it to the best of their ability, I have the utmost respect for ALL Service Members and Veterans.

My father in law has asked me the same question. I do have a couple deployment under me but he dose not. To me a vet is a vet no matter where they went or didn't go. On the down fall I have heard and been around some people that think less of vets that don't have a combat patch. I told my father in law we are all brothers and not everyone is chosen to ride the ride but in the end we are all still family.

MSgt Borders,

First off, very interesting topic. Thanks for bringing it up. That being said, I feel that a soldier is a soldier regardless of participation in combat operations or not. Each of us contributes to the mission in our own way and feel a sense of pride when that mission succeeds an an equal measure of failure when it doesn't. One does not have to "catch a bullet" to be considered a veteran. We've each given up a part of ourselves to something much larger than any of ius. The term veteran describes to me an individual that has answered his/her nations call to service and sacrificed their time, resrouces, and if neccesary his or her life in defense of the common good of our nation. You, MSgt, are a veteran.