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

"Ernst’s war record was first called into question in a Huffington Post article published last Friday that quoted a Vietnam veteran calling Ernst a “fraud” for referring to herself as a combat veteran despite only commanding a transportation company that never came under enemy fire.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/joni-ernst-combat-veteran-115080.html#ixzz3jMIfMs6Q

I’m retired now and work for the Army now, and I feel that no one cares if you went or not. It’s not a subject that comes up often, don't get me wrong I know the guys that I work with who is a combat vet and who is not just from stories we tell each other but not an everyday topic. As far as active duty people I did not see any animosity toward those that went and did not. But that may be different by unit.

I think it takes everyone the ones that deploy and the ones that didn't their is no difference we all done our part.

MSgt (Join to see) I feel nothing but love, brother!

In the Army, I have heard them called "slick sleeves". Though it really should not matter, it happens. Many times, the first thing someone looks at is the right shoulder to see if they have a combat affiliation patch.

Thinking back to the late 1980s and for the most part of the 1990s, very few Soldiers wore a "combat" patch. That is not to say they did not perform an integral role in defending our nation. I went to a WLC graduation about 7 years ago and 99% of those junior enlisted Soldiers had a patch. I went to one six months ago, and it was the opposite. So timing can be an factor.

In most cases today, not having a patch (in the Army Reserve) is due to MOS, unit of assignment ect. In my unit, I would go ballistic if I heard someone chastising someone just because they have not deployed.

The only real downside is on promotion boards. Given everything else is equal, the Soldier that deployed will stand a greater chance of being promoted.

Generally speaking, I have a great deal of respect for anyone serving in uniform, whether or not they've deployed. The only time a combat patch makes a difference for me is when someone tries to tell me what it's like "over there". I have a difficult time keeping a straight face when someone who's never deployed tries to correct me (with two deployments) on conditions in the middle east.

Thanks for your service bro! Nuff said!

MSgt (Join to see) I believe you were Blessed with a compassionate Commander & Chief to allow you to take care of your wife. You are to be commended as well for you dedication to your wife. You served your Country where they assigned you... absolutely no shame there. Thanks for your service! You are also continuing to serve RP Members in answering their questions. You have a Servants heart.

8-year-old thread, but just popped up in my feed. No idea if I responded before, and if i did, would be interesting if I responded generally the same this time.
MSgt (Join to see) "Combat vets how do you feel toward non-combat vets"
How?, that implies I think or feel there is a difference... I do not.
Veteran = a citizien (and sometimes not even that yet) who volunteers to join the military, particates and completes in training, accepts the assignments and tasks given them, and completes them to the best of their abilities. Is released from military service honorably or under honorable conditions...
No combat qualifier, no deployed to a combat area. As long as the said vet did not do something to avoid those things with full intent what they were doing was done for the purpose of avoiding deployment to a combat area.

I am an Army combat vet and have no anamosity to anyone who served, whatever branch they were in. I also have no problem with those who never entered the service. However I have no respect for those who were draft dodgers and went to Canada. To me they were corards and should be looked down upon. Anyone who thinks that their combat service is more imporntant than others is shortsided. It takes combat support from all sides to fight in combat