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

Just because someone served behind the scenes or in a non combat role does not make them any less of a Veteran. In fact those that did are as important, if not more, to the military than those who did serve on the front lines.

Without people in those positions, the rest of us would not have made it home. We would not have had the gear, the food, the medical care we needed to do our jobs either. Serving is serving as long as it was active duty and under honorable discharge when you got out. I include reserve duty and national guard duty as long as they served at some point on active as well.

If you never had active periods and your entire career was only weekends, I don't consider that to be active duty to the point you should be pinning on military plates etc.. Serving active vs serving ONLY weekends is a HUGE difference. While it is still service, it does not actually support active duty personnel, it is basically local state service unless federalized, which of course means you did have an active duty period.

As long as your active service was honorable and your discharge honorable, then ALL are entitled to carry the title of Veteran. As for 'general' discharge, to me that is a case by case basis... general discharge can be anything from something not in your control to getting rid of you but not warranting a full on bad conduct or dishonorable discharge. As for me, it stays with honorable discharge for those considered a Veteran with a few exceptions we know of that were railroaded by obama in the past few years..

We do not all need a weapon to serve our country. We are there to support the fighting man and woman of our military. But we there ready if called. supporting when needed. Yes I am a Vet, I get my tags and all that goes with it. We endured very low wages, trying times and sometimes long thankless work hours. Separations and we could take it further. I am still proud to be a vet.

This is really an Iffy subject to veterans who have served in combat multiple times. because at one point I classified veterans into two categories and they were VETERANS and COMBAT VETERANS just like to classify the CAB and EAB or the CIB or the EIB, same thing really. in my case. You have no reason to display to the PH above to signify a VETERAN, not all VETERANS get the Purple Heart.

Whe never you join the military and you meet the minimum requirements you are a veteran. As an infantryman grunt I understand how many support personnel are required for me to do my job alone. And how many others are required to support those that support me. We were practicing a landing when two steam lines broke away from the ship and pinned two sailors in place and scaled them to death. Did they serve he'll ya. And fortunately for us we had those who processed our paid. And thanks to the corpsman who took care of our teeth nothing like a bad tooth when you have to leave you buddies. Get the picture. And let's not forget we all had to eat.

I have been both. Some I talk about and some I don't. I am never as proud as I am when I stand next to my brother and sisters who kept ships operational, aircraft in the air, provided for morale and welfare, or recon and lived "outside the wire". One team and one mission... ensure the complete capitulation of the enemy and strive for stability. I think sometimes we good naturedly rib each other about each other's "Level of engagement". The uniform or job may be different but the commitment remains the same.

I understand where your coming from and how you feel. I served from 87-92 in the USAF. I was in the during the tail end of the "Cold War" years. In 91 when Desert Storm kicked off and people were deploying I was finishing up my short tour in S. Korea and getting ready to PCS back stateside. I was headed to Griffiss AFB, Rome NY. When I arrived some guys had deployed the majority of us had not. So the few "combat vets" who did return were kind of viewed as these super airmen. Even though we have no control over who is deployed it does leave a fellow feeling a little short when you check yourself against your peers. At the end of the day we are all veterans. I don't think "combat vets" feel the same way as "regular vets" of feeling they missed a call to action. I certainly don't think they hold it against other vets, because again we have no control over how that process is conducted. For whatever reason I tend to hold combat vets, for lack of a better explanation, in a higher regard. I don't do anything different really, it's just a personal feeling. Don't misunderstand me I respect and love all my Brothers in Arms. However, my brothers that saw combat really rose to the occasion. I've often thought combat veterans should have their own category. I feel this way because a combat tour has high probability that you may pay the ultimate price. So for those who did pay that price they should be recognized, as well as those who were fortunate to live through it. So to answer your question YES we should all be recognized as vets provided we meet the guidelines, and "combat vets" should be identified as such. Most of the combat vets I've talked to about this disagree. They say "We're all Vets." I think for me it comes more from a place of respect to want to identify them as "combat vets".

As established by at least 90 days Active duty, I think you are considered a vet, not everyone can serve in combat, all logistics are needed, stateside and in combat

Supporting troops is not always about going to combat. Supporting troops at home is vital as well.

yes they should be allowed to call themselves veterans. I don't see how this is an issue since they are veterans. If the person has seen combat I have now problem with them calling themselves combat veterans. Interesting question but kind of clear legally what the term means. IMHO

People in the service, no matter which branch, have very little choice as to whether or not they serve in a combat zone. You if a person has served with honor , no matter where they were stationed, he or she is a veteran. Now those that have served in a combat zone are combat veterans. In today's military, when a person signs on the dotted line, they go where they are sent. I spent a tour in Vietnam(69-70) and one in Iraq(03). I didn't see the action in Iraq that I did in Vietnam, but make no mistake, it was a combat tour. It take everyone, not only those in theater, but those also out of theater to complete a combat mission. My hat is off to anyone that enlists in the US Military, active or reserves.