How well are veterans organizations serving our veterans? Enough to induce active duty personnel to join when they return to civilian life?

2015-01-02T12:32:57-05:00

It seems that some veterans harbor ill will towards veterans organizations such as the American Legion and the VFW, especially among Vietnam Vets.

My wife frequently goaded me to join, but I told her that those organizations were for “real” veterans. I didn't feel that they wanted an old Adjutant hanging around. However, as the Veterans Administration was exposed as failing in their mission I was tempted to look into membership. I wanted to help veterans. After all, the sum total of my active duty service was spent supporting the troops. Why shouldn't I do the same as a veteran?

I checked out both the American Legion and the VFW posts in a neighboring community, Mission Viejo, California. I joined them and attended a couple of meetings. No one begrudged me the fact that I didn't have a CIB (Combat Infantryman Badge) and seemed to welcome my participation in their activities. Inasmuch as the VFW post was more active in Mission Viejo, I focused my efforts there. I intend on becoming more involved with the American Legion later. Visiting VA hospitals and helping collect money and supplies for the families of deployed service members has satisfied my goals. I hope to become even more involved helping recently separated veterans obtain VA benefits and look for civilian employment.

However, when I posted a question about veterans organizations to the Vietnam Veterans Group on Facebook, I was surprised to learn that not all of my brothers and sisters were similarly welcomed when they attempted to join. Hundreds responded with tales of rejection because “they hadn't fought in a 'real' war” or “had 'lost' the war”, none of which was true. (I hope you can read the text on the image of sample responses)

Ultimately, I hope that no other veterans share the experience that we Vietnam Vets faced. I hope that morale among active duty service members isn't affected by tales of scandal at the Veterans Administration. I hope that all recently separated veterans find gainful employment in a civilian job market that is suffering.

How about you?

Response by PFC Stephens Clark made Jan 2 at 2015 12:56 PM

2015-01-02T12:56:13-05:00

Some of the Old School Veterans Organizations find it hard to transition to younger veterans. I was viewed as an outcast for the first 6 yrs i was a regular member of the AmVets, and American Legion. I joined the VFW as a veteran but quickly canceled my membership. Maybe it was just the wrong Post i tried to join , I had a bad taste in my mouth after going in these establishments. Since then i only keep my AmVets membership and I do not attend any meetings or functions. I help my fellow veterans by myself, if i see any i take them to appointments. etc. If i see a homeless vet i get him food or shelter. and a little spending money for clothes.

Response by Sgt Dale Cusack made Jan 3 at 2015 1:18 PM

2015-01-03T13:18:20-05:00

I too am a Viet Nam Veteran with minimal time in country and waited a long time to join. I also am now a member of both the AL and VFW, more active with the AL but only recently joined the VFW. The reason for my waiting was because as the son of a WWII veteran with uncle's and a grand mother active in the Legion I remembered them at the bar and was not aware of the other good done by these organizations.

I know that some posts are better than others and a few are closed to anyone outside the service era of the majority of the members. I am disappointed in this but heartened that the majority of the posts are actively trying hard to support not only the members but all veterans and current active duty personnel. My own posts are also extremely active in supporting the local schools and children's organizations.

We all need to work to help identify the posts and members that have closed attitudes and open their minds and spirits to embrace the good that these organizations are doing.

I hope we see an influx of current active duty and recent veterans in all of the organizations. We need them to build for the future continue the good works.

Response by SGT Justin Singleton made Jan 4 at 2015 12:52 PM

2015-01-04T12:52:03-05:00

I used to belong to IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America), but I noticed early on that they had a very liberal political leaning—rating *only* Democrats as veteran friendly before (I think it was) the 2008 elections. They based this on Republicans voting against heavily pork-laden Democrat bills that "helped" veterans.

I am a member of the VFW, but not of a local branch? unit? whatever they are called. The VFW does a lot to help vets, in my opinion.

Response by SGT Beau Thomas made Jan 5 at 2015 12:39 AM

2015-01-05T00:39:07-05:00

I joined the VFW POST 1695 after my first tour in 2004-5. The post I joined had no bar and was completely service oriented. I was welcomed wholeheartedly and had the honor of meeting many WWII heroes including Chase Nielson, (Doolittle Raider). They put me to work right away doing funeral honor guards and community support functions and treated me like an equal, I've since moved away and haven't found a post that concentrated on service as much as drinking.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2015 12:49 AM

2015-01-05T00:49:50-05:00

Honestly, I have to tell you, many VFW's are waaaaayy beyond the power curve when it comes to the younger (OIF/OEF) era veterans. That's not good..

But there's a brighter side to this issue! (1) Gather a group of like-minded war veterans (2) find a Post that needs new blood - usually that means less than 15 people are showing up for monthly meetings (3) join enmasse - with money & DD-214's in hand. (4) start moving the Post in the direction your group needs to go. Here's the tricky part, there are local rules, then there are National rules and then there's the IRS rules. All have to be dealt with. The local rules are fairly simple - you vote the local rules out of existence. The National rules - not so much. The IRS rules...again, not so much. But now you have a Post that has new blood, new ideas and new motivation. Beats the heck out of trying to create a nationally recognized organization with Congressional Charter, IRS rulings and National awareness.

Meh...or you can whine and bitch and complain that the old farts won't let you play.......

This idea won't work with the Post's that are working to change to meet the needs of the younger vets. If you live in an area where there are multiple Posts - visit them all. Ignore the bar; find out what they're doing to help vets of all ages and groups, not just themselves. Are there family outings? Are there programs for everyone? Does the organization give back to the community?

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2015 8:13 AM

2015-01-05T08:13:19-05:00

There are a lot of Cold War Era vets many of whom didn't deploy but served honorably. There seems to be a gap in AL of certain time frames such as 85-89 and post-Vietnam time frame. If you fall into one of those time frames, you are SOL. You can't join anything but AmVets but they don't have orgs everywhere.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jan 5 at 2015 9:21 AM

2015-01-05T09:21:00-05:00

Like many of us (based on this thread), I had a negative experience at a VFW after getting home from Iraq, and it led me to swear off organizations like that. I visited a VFW post in Chicago with my friend PO2 Sean Hannon and we were told by older veterans there that we weren't welcome. We stated that we had both deployed to Iraq, and they replied that we hadn't been to a real war, so they told us to leave. I couldn't believe it. I almost blew my top, but just left instead. This felt like veterans turning their backs on other veterans.

VSOs like the American Legion, VFW, etc. may be providing their services very well in many cases, but you can't overlook the reality that very few younger GWOT-era veterans are joining...

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2015 9:49 AM

2015-01-05T09:49:30-05:00

To any Marines or Corpsmen that served with Marines there is the Marine Corps League, they do not have a restriction on when you served as long as you have done more than 90 days on active duty you are eligible to join.

Response by SFC Dan Sorrow, M.S. made Jan 5 at 2015 12:20 PM

2015-01-05T12:20:59-05:00

The only thing they're somewhat good at is helping veteran's file disability and compensation claims. Some organizations are better than others. Some have their own offices and employees and others allow State employees to represent their members. I worked as a Vet Rep for the Tennessee Department of Veteran's Affairs in 2005-2006 and we represented 14 service organizations (some of which included the American Legion and VFW). The problem is that there were only 6 of us representing tens of thousands of veteran's. We were so busy that it was hard to give the proper representation (and the State won't allow employees to work off the clock nor provide OT). Other organizations including the DAV, Blinded Veteran's, and Paralyzed Veteran's had their own offices with their own employees and were able to provide superior service. The DAV closed their office every Friday afternoon for mandatory employee training. I was so impressed with their service, that I am now a life member and have them as my representative on VA-related issues.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Feb 7 at 2015 8:26 PM

2015-02-07T20:26:11-05:00

Today at the North Carolina American Legion Department my post, Post 116 received an award for their hosting of the Veterans Benefit Action Center. This was a 3.5 day event open to all veterans who had questions or concerns with the Veterans Administration.

Response by SFC Jason Porter made Feb 8 at 2015 1:45 PM

2015-02-08T13:45:28-05:00

I joined a post in VB, VA most of the members where Navy. I did not feel comfortable there and I felt out of place. It has over 1500 members. I am also a lifetime member.

Response by 1stSgt Nelson Kerr made Sep 6 at 2016 2:54 PM

2016-09-06T14:54:25-04:00

I belong to The DAV they stay out of National politics and focus on veterans issues, I got a bad taste in my mouth about the VFW and Legion when my brothers came back for VN, nothing they have done since has removed that impression.