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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Military service Purple Heart
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 358
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I will try to make this clear as I hope you & other have a clear understanding.
A veteran is a individual who served the armed forces.
This also confused many a combat veteran is someone who Served down range therefore members who has a privilege to Served during combat & didn’t deploy doesn’t make this person combat veteran but a veteran who just Served the military.
vet·er·ans
noun
plural noun: veterans
a person who has had long experience in a particular field.
synonyms: old hand, past master, doyen, vet; informalold-timer, old stager, old warhorse
"a veteran of 16 political campaigns"
long-serving, seasoned, old, hardened;
adept, expert, well trained, practiced, experienced, senior;
informalbattle-scarred
"a veteran diplomat"
a person who has served in the military.
"a veteran of two world wars"
We must understand their where many Soldiers who Served & completed 18, 19 & 20 yrs during combat & never when down range yet they are veteran of military. Now tou know the two different between combat veteran & a veteran.
A veteran is a individual who served the armed forces.
This also confused many a combat veteran is someone who Served down range therefore members who has a privilege to Served during combat & didn’t deploy doesn’t make this person combat veteran but a veteran who just Served the military.
vet·er·ans
noun
plural noun: veterans
a person who has had long experience in a particular field.
synonyms: old hand, past master, doyen, vet; informalold-timer, old stager, old warhorse
"a veteran of 16 political campaigns"
long-serving, seasoned, old, hardened;
adept, expert, well trained, practiced, experienced, senior;
informalbattle-scarred
"a veteran diplomat"
a person who has served in the military.
"a veteran of two world wars"
We must understand their where many Soldiers who Served & completed 18, 19 & 20 yrs during combat & never when down range yet they are veteran of military. Now tou know the two different between combat veteran & a veteran.
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It angers me when anyone believes that the service and sacrifice of others, whether in or out of combat, is diminished in any way due to the orders they received and carried out. IF YOU SERVED YOU ARE S VETERAN AND YOIR SERVICE IS NO LESS THAN MY OWN!!!!!!
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As a combat veteran I truly believe that without all those non combat veterans working their backsidesoff to make sure I stayed alive I would not be here today
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I see it now, someone notices there are too many veterans. Suddenly their not special anymore so they thrown in their own standards. One needs to be deployed. Well there are still too many. They raise the unofficial standards to a combat zone. Again, there are too many. So again they raise the unofficial standards to "combat veteran" meaning they need to be shot at and shoot back. Then you have some that will say, "well you're not infantry-ranger-airborne-air assault-specops-high speed-low drag-super janitor" you're not a vet sort of losers. You're a vet. Deal with it.
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Look, I consider anyone wore swore the oath and served their time to be a veteran. Webster says a former service person. Combat is defining and we have special badges, recognition for that, but I didn't see combat till the last half of my career. Are we to say that the 1,00's of folks in the Cold War, didn't serve?, that they don't deserve the title Veteran? You repaired copter engines during GF1, without your work- how many birds would not have been up to support the troops? How much longer would have it gone on, how many more would have died because of lack of bird support? As a grunt, I loved to have some AH-64 on station, when Iraqi tanks were around. No war can be waged unless everyone does their part- we have to have, food, ammo, fuel, medics, mail, etc. or we can't move forward. Thanks for your service Veteran!
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Remember some of our brothers and sisters that never went over seas still had important roles, I for one worked with The Hurricane Hunters before they went to the Reserves..also some supported training units, hospital personel, etc.
I was in Operation Desert Shield...but am listed as Desert Storm...while in England our base was involved in Operation El Dorado Canyon..while at Kessler AFB supported Just Cause, Deny Flight, Southern Watch, just to name a few...do I deserve a combat badge? Sadly no...those who have wear it with pride and I salute you...but I too am a Veteran of not only these operation but a Cold War Vet as well. That is my take on this.
I was in Operation Desert Shield...but am listed as Desert Storm...while in England our base was involved in Operation El Dorado Canyon..while at Kessler AFB supported Just Cause, Deny Flight, Southern Watch, just to name a few...do I deserve a combat badge? Sadly no...those who have wear it with pride and I salute you...but I too am a Veteran of not only these operation but a Cold War Vet as well. That is my take on this.
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I say yes, but let’s take it a little further. I’m concidered a combat veteran bacuase of Desert Storm, but by your logic, am I truly a combat veteran...while yes I was deployed to Desert Storm and did wear a unit patch on my right shoulder, but at no time during my time there did I ever have to raise my weapon nor was a bullet ever shot in my direction. While yes the possibility was there, the only threat that I actually had to worry about was from the mosquitos and the camel spiders. However, ofically, all who have served are considered veterans.
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Yes I do. Look just because you didn’t go to Combat doesn’t mean you’re a lesser of two evils. By the way the regulations changed to 24 months not 6 months after Sept. 12, 1980. This goes for any Officer too.
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I have a problem someone calling themselves a 1st Lt USAF veteran when they only served from December 20, 1889 to January 31,1990. Because no way can someone be a 1st Lt in 41 days and never went to the academy or is listed in the USAF register as serving.
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SPC Daniel Rankin
Unless they have graduated out of the top of their class they usually come out as a second Lt. And they do have a paper that shows they have graduated and it a years class not 6 weeks. Unless they count college time and had ROTC time counted for them. That is a different story. So you need to get all of their facts. They may be a reserve officer also.
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