Do you think someone who has never been in a combat has the right to call themselves a veteran?

They should just create three Official new Categories of:
- Combat Veteran
- Combat Wounded Veteran
- Service Connected Disabled Veteran

*And have the VA issue appropriate ID cards, Driver Licenses, and License Plates

I am so tired of this BS! I enlisted in the Army in 1962, served for three years. I am a Veteran, I did not serve in Vietnam, I don't call myself a Vietnam Veteran, I am an Army Veteran, and proud of my service. Do I respect Combat Veterans, damn right I do, the difference between us is, the Army sent me to my duty station in Japan, and sent some of my high school buddies to Vietnam.

I was always told by my senior vets that once you have put your boots on the ground, no matter what, once you have finished basic and advanced training you are a veteran when you get out of the service. It didn't matter if you served one day or six months or one year or longer. You served your country.

SPC DAVID HANNAMAN?
QUICK Question: We Were IN The Service, But NOT Deployed Into Combat.
That Being Said, What Would YOU Prefer To Refer To Us As?

Hooah, CSM. I'm tracking 100% with your views on this.

CSM Michael U,

I thank you for your astute observation of the fine people that we had protect on the home front! There are a lot of good soldiers out there (men and women) that are doing their part to support those in the fight.

I thank you for your thoughts and would not wish them toned down what so ever! I would not except anything less from a CSM.

But what do you REALLY think?

I feel ya brother

To all... please define combat in this new era. Is the assault in Somalia ( just an example ) in so called peace time not combat or is the infantryman eating steak in Bagram AFB during the heroic fight on terrorism with designer sunglasses combat . No insults intended.... We are all veterans even if you Air Force and Navy. 911 is not the big bang. Always feel proud of your service.

This an old post, I'm just seeing it though. I agree totally. My MOS made others call me REMF. I worked in a Calibration Lab most of my career. The thing is, that no matter where it was set up it was always a target of opportunity. I didn't get to retire. I was a victim of the MMRB at 10.5 years. My left shoulder is titanium. I was on a permanent profile from the time I had done 2.5 years active. I was allowed to reenlist 3 times while on the profile. Then DoA started looking for "Vogue" soldiers, and releasing troops that didn't fit the mold. I was just as dedicated to my country as anyone else, and I proudly wear the mantle of Veteran.

Nine go for every one that fights. That is predetermined. We can not dismiss the eight that got the others trained equipped and ready to go. Haled them out of the fight and got them home. Our concerns and infighting is with the VA and after the war fights stop. So what if someone gets recognition. I was in Texas working remotely when one day I was confronted by a vet who asked me all kinds of questions in open mall spaces to find out if I had served in Korea. Hell he was not even born yet. But he got high off of making me look bad because i had been out for 25 years and should still known all the terms and photocalls. I was wearing a hat he could not make fit with his Identity. Now it is all about Hats? What color and what does it say.

Exactly.
75% of the military supports the 10-20% that actually see combat/
MPs, Cooks, Medical, Logistics, CBRN, Aviation, Engineers...
Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines.
Even the Coastguard and Public Health Service play their roles. Might I add the NOAA and the USGS. Even the postal service
Various government agencies
Some at great risk. Others, well they do their part.
Before you ask about that other 5-15%? We don't talk about those. They know who they are and so do those around them.

It took me a long time to accept the title of veteran after I got out. Because I'd never gone to combat. My Father told me he'd kick my butt if I ever told him again I wasn't a vet. Been claiming it proudly since.

If Only Combat Soldiers (shot at and returned fire) were the only soldiers, previous and currently serving, to be considered Veterans... Oh What A Small Group That Would Be. Only need one or two sheet cakes for that Party! ; P

Easy now, gonna hit a nerve and force the conversation elsewhere. :)

This is a question that should have not been asked it has merit

SPC David Hannaman - If, I volunteered for Vietnam I would have had a 5 year wait. I freely admit that I did not volunteer.

SPC David Hannaman - Sorry if I misinterpreted you. Some seem to believe the fact that they got the assignment that those who did not are somehow inferior.

I disagree. The exception would be if someone dodged his/her duty. I personally do not know anyone that did that.

What do you mean by a 5 yr wait for Vietnam ?

SPC Richard Kindschi - I mean that if I volunteered I would not have a slot for 5 years. My date of return from overseas was feb 1964 which is what would put me in line.

Guess I just had the right job.

PO3 Steven Sherrill, I got to Da Nang that way. Or at least RVN; I was not more specific.

You chose to go to Nam Capt Seid Waddell? I actually reenlisted with country of choice Vietnam. I knew my twin brother was going and if he was, I was! And then I had to pay my damned way over as i missed my port call. One too many beers!

SFC William Farrell, Lord, that must have been expensive. You couldn't fly military Space-A? I would imagine that they also extracted their pound of flesh too.
I left Viet Nam as my country of choice after my tour as well, but got Homestead AFB FL instead.

True first statement Seid, but I disagree with you last! I was standing at attention in front of our motor pool at El Toro, Calif, 1967 and was asked, "who wants to volunteer for MAG36 Hue VietNam. I raised my hand. I had complete power an control over my decision, to do my duty!

Very, Very, True. We Signed the Blank Check willing to give Our Lives for Freedom.

Funny thing, as a 19 year old kid I never thought of give my life to anybody. I wanted fly B-26s and bomb the hell out of Koreans. Kinda like going into a fight. I never thought I would lose. Anybody who meets the DOD definition of Veteran--is a Veteran. The VA wants to play games and seperate Veterans with Combat veterans. I knew an Army guy who flew on copters who got hit by a piece of shapnell right between his balls and but hole. It was enough to make it bleed. He said he did not care because now he can get his Purple Heart. I thought---damn-- a guy gets his leg or arms blown off and gets the same thing. All those medals and ribbons will not buy you a coffee latte at Starbucks.

Very True. If you signed the check to offer up your life for freedom and for your country, it doesn't matter what you did. I did reconnaissance photo so I was not on the front lines, but rest assured, it was an important job. Just as the guy who refueled the planes... If you signed the check with your oath, then when you got out, you became a US Veteran.

Amen!

Additionally having served for 20+ years the first DAMF that has the balls to tell me I'm not a veteran because I never saw combat (volunteered for Desert Storm twice and was turned down both times) is going to get punched in the face.

The VA says I'm not a veteran, that's good enough for me.

The VA did say I was a veteran but because my income exceeds a certain amount which is supposed to be the average income for where I live for someone like me who's retired that said I was not eligible at this time to enroll in the VA. Believe me, Im not Rockerfeller. I live on a small pension and Social Security and whats left of any annuitities I have. I served Honorably in the Navy. Any income like I have that I just mentioned came from a life of hard work and raising a Family. Why should my personal income deny me entrence into the VA? Oh yeah, they sent me a letter stating they would keep me on file! Yeah Right!

SN Richard Simonetti - Contact the VFW and / or the AL, as well as a patient advocate at the VA... keep pressing, if you are (in fact) qualified to be treated by the VA. If/When they finally agree, if you're entitled to a rating, they'll pay you back pay to when you first petitioned (asked for a status).

From my understanding, your personal finances should only determine whether you pay a co-pay or not... that your finances shouldn't disqualify you from receiving your earned benefits. They also ask (us) vets if we have 2ndary insurance (TriCare doesn't count), regardless of our income.

On the plus side - now they're issuing Veteran Identification Cards - disability rating not required.

I constantly had Maggie's drawers and constantly got "chewed out" for it! lol

"We don't want no maggies drawers, all we want are 5's and 4's!"

Yes, I do.  There have been some incredible Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen who wanted to be deployed, but were not selected, or were not in a unit that was deployed.  Yes, there are plenty who've dodged assignments, but I imagine there are more frustrated Veterans who couldn't go, than didn't want to go.  My old Gunny used to saw when he looked at me and my buddy John Halpin's awards, "on my gravestone, I'm gonna have them put, Gunny Martin, all he wanted was one more war."  Which he got!  Semper Fi! 

I might be young, I might have not fought, but I did serve, and I did make it through training, therefore, Maggie's Drawers are not required!

CW3 (Join to see) - You are a Veteran if You serve 180 days continuous active duty.

A reservists who completed basic and advance training just prior to their return were placed in basic unit training for the balance of their active duty. At Fort Knox, this basic unit training was used as a holding pattern until their discharge was ordered up and one return to their reserve or National Guard units. The Army was able to shave a few days off prior to 180 days. We still trained until that day we were given new orders. The military also were able to save some money, even if that was not very much money!

Thanks, SPC (Join to see)

I remember when I got out of the Navy in 1962. Two other friends of mine asked me if I wanted to join the VFW which of course I was denied because I did not see any combat. The closest I came to anything was once when we were in Gitmo we were deployed to Santo Dimingo in the Dominican Republic as there was a civil war or something going on. Our mission was to keep outsiders out mainly Castro. Otherwise my enlistment was mainly uneventful. I was also denied entrence into the American Legion for the same reasons. Mind you this was 1962 and the Hunchos who were running these Veteran groups were World War Two and Korean Vets who were still in their 30's and 40's and looked down on others who were not combat vets. Yes, I can understand their feelings. But as time went by things began to change as their membership began to die off and their numbers dwindled. One night years later me and my same buds that were denied went to a Dance with our wives at this VFW. We got into a talk with the Post Commander and he asked us to join. We told him we were denied years ago and why. He said very apologetic just bring your papers in and don't sweat it. I did end up joining the American Legion. I guess there always be an issue over this! To me if you served Honorably you should be accepted into the VA and yes you are a Veteran!