Posted on Nov 16, 2015
Do you think someone who has never been in a combat has the right to call themselves a veteran?
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Let me apologize in advance to the people who find this question insulting... I'm just wondering what other people who served viewpoint is.
I personally went many years before I broke down and got "Desert Storm" Veteran tags, and the "Veteran" identifier on my driver's license... I'm still not entirely convinced that I deserve the 101st patch on my right sleeve, for the most part all I did was fix helicopter engines in the sand.
I have a great friend that served in the Air Force, and never left CONUS.
I have a relative that served on Aircraft carriers before Vietnam.
Both proudly stand up when "Veteran's" are asked to at public gatherings, but I always feel strange standing up.
Legal definition of "veteran" aside (someone who served at least six months and received an honorable discharge). I'm wondering more about how those of us that served feel about the term.
When a civilian hears "Veteran" I get the impression that they think we all stormed the beaches at Normandy, and for the most part I was really bored, played Spades and Tetris on my Gameboy during Desert Storm.
Should someone who was in the military during the Vietnam conflict (but never in theater) be allowed "Vietnam Veteran" license plates?
SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4", TSgt Hunter Logan , CH (MAJ) William Beaver , COL Ted Mc
I personally went many years before I broke down and got "Desert Storm" Veteran tags, and the "Veteran" identifier on my driver's license... I'm still not entirely convinced that I deserve the 101st patch on my right sleeve, for the most part all I did was fix helicopter engines in the sand.
I have a great friend that served in the Air Force, and never left CONUS.
I have a relative that served on Aircraft carriers before Vietnam.
Both proudly stand up when "Veteran's" are asked to at public gatherings, but I always feel strange standing up.
Legal definition of "veteran" aside (someone who served at least six months and received an honorable discharge). I'm wondering more about how those of us that served feel about the term.
When a civilian hears "Veteran" I get the impression that they think we all stormed the beaches at Normandy, and for the most part I was really bored, played Spades and Tetris on my Gameboy during Desert Storm.
Should someone who was in the military during the Vietnam conflict (but never in theater) be allowed "Vietnam Veteran" license plates?
SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4", TSgt Hunter Logan , CH (MAJ) William Beaver , COL Ted Mc
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Edited >1 y ago
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Responses: 358
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All soldiers are available for deployment . It is not a negative reflection on the soldier who did not come down on orders. They made themselves available when they joined. In my opinion , if a combat vet denies another "never deployed " vet the right to call themselves a vet they are over inflating their own importance . They need to reevaluate what it means to be a soldier and a team. Part of the team are those who stay ome.
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The only time I think this pisses me off is when someone like said above always hated the army, complained 24/7 about any and everything he/she had to do. Was happy to get out but as soon as veterans day comes around post up pictures of themselves in their uniform or uses it to get a free meal.
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CDR (Join to see)
I served 35 years, hadn't decided whether I liked it or not and then they made me quit before I could :-) Didn't even have to submit a retirement request, got message orders that basically said, "dear Commander Bachand, thanks for your 35 years, one month and 2 days service, GO HOME NOW !!!!" OK, I lied about one thing......I LOVED IT and would go back today.
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Sgt William Harmon
CDR (Join to see) - How do you feel about some one served in the USAF from December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990 and claimed to be a 1st Lt but name doesn't show at the academy or the AF register of ever serving.
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"A veteran (from Latin vetus, meaning "old") is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field. " Not to be confused with combat/war veterans.
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I think you wasted too much time, yours and ours, by even suggesting this asinine question.
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If at ANY point in your life, you've laced a set of these or similar boots up after signing your life away with a blank check, and made it through basic/AIT....you're a veteran. I'm not really feeling this whole "Combat Vet" vs. "Vet" thing (I bust balls over it, but never personal). Does being in combat make me harder than someone who just "served", or make them any "less" of an American for not seeing combat? Maybe we could just stop with the identifying one vs. the other? I'm not the smartest knife in the drawer my any means. Mud Puppies or Signal geek's aren't known for their swashbuckling wit....(I'm kidding) I really miss these things.
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MAJ Rene De La Rosa
Since I was a POG MI guy at Schofield Barracks, they would not issue them to us since I was not part of 25th Light. Had to buy my own set, and I loved them. Would really love to have a pair again.
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SSG Warren Swan
MAJ Rene De La Rosa I bought mine too, but the green ones were soo damn awesome. Same as the black ones, but the green was special. I do miss em too
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Not everyone served in war time. Additionally there are many who serve in support roles that would not have the opportunity to deploy. Anyone who honorably serves something greater than thereselves and did so in an active or guard/reserve unit is a veteran. Your suggestion otherwise insults the service of the thousands of men and women who did something that the vast majority did not.
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SGT Bryan O'Reilly
Well said staff! Where in the heck would us knuckledraggers be we be if it weren't for your vital support?
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I think that many have supported indirectly those in combat, and we can't discount them. Some just have had bad timing and have not been able to deploy, especially recent servicemen
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SPC David Hannaman
LTC David S. Chang, ChFC®, CLU® True, but what I'm talking about is the actual title and what it means... I never had the opportunity to win a Congressional Medal of Honor (Thank God).
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SPC (Join to see)
I would expect that the military would award the National Defense Service Medal to all reservists whether they deployed or not. I'm not so sure that VA services should provide burial expenses and a FLA G. I'm not asking just for me, but I expect the nation funds the budget and we are honorably discharged. It is a nice token of one's service for Vietnam era training. My blank check was 12 September 1961 and discharge was in August 1967.
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SPC David Hannaman, you took the Oath of Allegiance and served honorably and faithfully fulling your service upon getting out, you have the right to be called a Veteran in my opinion.
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SPC Mark Beard
YES !!!!!!!! THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT AND HONOR TO BE CALLED AND TO CALL THEM SELF A VETERAN
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If you wore the uniform, signed on the dotted line, swore the oath, and served honorably then you are a veteran.
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