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 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 368
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SMSgt Michael Carl
Only a small percentage of WWII veterans ever saw combat. Yet we honor all who served during that time as a WWII veteran. There is no veteran status difference for those who served during war or during peacetime. They served. And for those who served during war...there is still a small percentage of those who actually saw combat to those who didn't...yet they all served and did their share of the task. To answer the question of specificity on whether one can refer themselves as a theater veteran (IE: Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, IRQ, AFG)....that is a reserved right for those who were in theater whether they saw combat or not. But a simple Veteran status goes to all who served honorably regardless of in-theater or in garrison in the US.
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I was almost offered then I read the rest of you statement. I am a veteran and damn proud of it. Not everyone gets to go to combat even though my unit went when my mother passed away and when I got back I had to stay and run the rear S1. I had several opportunities and volunteered many time but my number was never taken. Some say its God way of taking care of us but who knows. But you my friend should not be embarrassed about standing up in public for what you did. It was your job and everyone has a job to do. Regardless to the advertising its not an Army of one its a whole lot bigger than that. Again I proudly call my self a veteran after almost 15 years if service and so should you.
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SGT Glenn E Moody
i do call myself a veteran i have it on my drivers lic. i was only in the National Guard i did my 6 years and got out as a pvt 2 thats only an E-2 but it was an Honorable Discharge like you my number was never called to go to combat i would have gone in a heartbeat
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1SG Randy Book
Combat does not make you a veteran, your willingness to lay down your life and actually serve does. 3 combat tours makes me a "combat" veteran, 26+ years honorable service makes me a "veteran".
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Crazy question because all veterans were offended. The answer is "Of Course." Although I was deployed to the Middle East three times between 1991-2005 in combat zones, I would still have considered myself a veteran for my time in service from 1980-1989 before I was deployed to any conflicts. Those were the years that the rest of the world did not want to mess with the American Vet.
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SGT Glenn E Moody
i did my time 1981 to 1987 and the closest i came to combat was reforger 1985 we left the US for Germany
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Should there be an extra title for someone who joined after the conflict has already began??? Or someone that was drafted??? I think the veteran title ultimately boils down to money in the way of the VA. It doesn't make a persons service any less important/selfless.
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SGT Glenn E Moody
i don't get anything from the VA. because i was only in the Army National Guard on my uniform it said U.S.ARMY not National Guard it only said that on my papers but i still don't get anything from the VA. the only thing i get is to call my self a veteran and only because i have a DD-214 from active duty basic training the rest of my time is on my NGB-22
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Personally i feel as though the title Veteran is a position of honor and I never refer to my self as that however I would not discourage others from calling me that. And i would never tell some one that has served that they haven't earned that title, even if they were nondeployable.
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SPC Robby Robinson
You are NOT a veteran. Brother, you are an active duty soldier. You have earned the honor of not only being a soldier, the day you leave the service you will have the honor of being referred to as a veteran. Be proud of who you are and what you are a part of, you are the best of the best America has to offer
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Whether conscripted or voluntarily enlisted/commissioned, your swearing to defend the U.S. Constitution against ALL enemies foreign and domestic means you 'wrote a check' that Uncle Sam could 'cash' wherever and however he saw fit. The DD-214 is your 'receipt' saying you were willing to pay that ultimate price
and we all submitted to all the training and BS so as to be able to do that right alongside fellow SM's. Stand proud along with the relatively few willing to give their lives for our country and freedom.
and we all submitted to all the training and BS so as to be able to do that right alongside fellow SM's. Stand proud along with the relatively few willing to give their lives for our country and freedom.
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I served 10 yrs active duty in the US Air Force, but not once was my name called to go into combat. For the longest time I felt awkward identifying as a Veteran because I had never been in combat. That was until a retired Chief explained that because I had taken that oath, was on call 24/7/365, was willing to be sent anywhere at any time, and served faithfully, I was deserving of the title Veteran. And it's a title I wear with honor.
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SN Michael Coban
My brother your a vet... we had been in the military at a really hostile time... kids today have no idea Vietnam with no homecoming and drafted we volunteered do what ever commander and chief deemed necessary also remembering the last thing we needed as a country was a war so i was personally involved in what our country called skirmishes. I was asked not to wear uniform on civilian air lines to avoid the love from my own country getting spit on getting in fights just because i had short hair so if any of you new guys want to question my service and worry about what i don't deserve... i love all my brothers in arms have little difficulties with ungreatful arses we took the crap to get you on the yellow brick road dont forget.... Sorry if i sound angry fed up.....
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Absolutely! I'm a nobody, but my 2 cents...
honorable service without having served in combat= veteran
honorable service having served in combat= combat veteran
I don't know. Seems that simple to me anyway. I key in more on the honorable service part. Thanks for serving for however long or in what capacity you served. Thanks!
honorable service without having served in combat= veteran
honorable service having served in combat= combat veteran
I don't know. Seems that simple to me anyway. I key in more on the honorable service part. Thanks for serving for however long or in what capacity you served. Thanks!
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In my opinion, anyone who has served more than a day in their assigned unit, I would consider a veteran. I do have my categories of types of veterans: combat veterans, deployed veterans, and regular veterans. You should always be proud and stand-up. If you were a helicopter mechanic, you fixed the hell out of those birds. You personally made it possible for that aircraft to get off the ground to do its mission and bring its crew home alive. MOSs may rib one another but all jobs and actions are just as important as another.
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Yes. The definition of who is a veteran is defined in Title 38 of the US Code (Federal Law). The relevant definition is as follows - USC 38 (2)The term “veteran” means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable. It is not a matter of personal opinion, but rather one of law.
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