I served 8 months. Should I still be considered a veteran with a honorable discharge?

Capt Bob Chambless, I have to agree. As a former Marine NCO and a retired Army NCO, these NCOs on here are acting like spoiled children. All because a question was asked that hit a hot button. There is something to be said for honesty. Nothing wrong with that. But then getting into a silly argument in a public forum is unbecoming of an NCO. If i had one of my NCO act like this with his soldiers he would either not be an NCO or not in charge of soldiers any longer. As an NCO I would have to say this is an embarrassment to the NCO Corps.

I disabled direct replies from you, Captain, because you showed at the get-go that you're unreliable and have no consistency.

SSG Rollins, you're accusing us of acting like spoiled children, then you throw out hypothetical situations and what you'd do.

As a Boatswain's Mate, I would have to say that you wouldn't have made it in the Navy when gear lockers were still used for "counseling".

A joke was started, and two of the three punchlines were used in answers... and some Captain with a sexist bias whines at the two men, but not the woman who started that facet of the thread. Again - consistency.

Have you ever told a joke? Popped out a punchline in a public area / forum? Consistency. If you don't treat all the same, then none of your subordinates are ever going to know what to expect from you - and you won't be trusted.

My people always knew what to expect from me. I treated everyone as 4.0 when they reported to me, and until *they* proved to *me* that they didn't deserve it. I don't rely on hearsay, or on the comments of others - I rely on the people I interact with, the people I lead, and the people I follow. They're the ones who determine how I act towards them - like Captain Bob.

SSG Ronald Rollins - This is the comment I first posted - and every comment after that until the good Captain's hissy fit was no more argumentative than this.:
"I can't find any proof of your claim that Ted Bundy was a veteran - could you provide a source for that info, please?

You didn't include LHO (JFK's assassin)... oversight, or did you feel that today's generation would recognize that Marine?"

PO1 Joseph Glennon If it was a joke I apoligize. But as far as making it the Navy I didn't have to worry about that. I made it in the Marine Corps. And we used the needed "hands on counselling" when needed. I treated everyone I had to deal with the same. With respect and dignity. Even if they messed up I did all i could to help them. There is nothing wrong with making jokes. But there is a time and place. I missed the joke and I do apoligize.

BCT doesn't matter as long as he was dicharged under honorable conditions.

Was what I was going to say

"I served 8 months. Should I still be considered a veteran with a honorable discharge?"
THAT'S What He Already Told Us.......

SrA Daniel Hunter - I have never said that I was "the one" to make the call on who is or who isn't a Veteran and I don't know this kid from the numerous other Veterans I interact with here but if what I'm reading is true and his parents pulled some strings to get him out, I seriously hope he does a gut check. Sure, he needs to check in with a benefits expert to learn what he gets and what he doesn't get based on time served and classification of discharge. I agree with Sgt Gus Laskaris that military should not be looked at as a "cash cow". We as a community are having enough troubles getting the care and benefits those of us with completed contracts need let alone someone that was discharged early.

SGT Ben Keen - Your first point is the same one I was making. None of us are the one making the call. I agree that the Pvt needs to do some soul searching. I was merely pointing out that under the current law he is considered a veteran.

Sgt Gus Laskaris - instead of saying he's "entitled" to being called a veteran, how about being more honest / specific: he *earned* the right to be called a veteran.

Is it a "right" to be called a Veteran? Someone help the old guy!!!!!........3 rounds ...VT? I'm tracking drop 50, fire for effect......VT- kickin my ass!

Hey mate, did you read my original post at all? "So, yes he's a veteran, but no he's not entitled to benefits." I mean, at this point I'm thoroughly flummoxed. And feel free to downvote this one too, I really could care less about digital points. I'm far more focused on getting the correct information out.

Capt Bob Abbott
But you are incorrect about benefits. Since we don't know the entire story he very well could be entitled to the Post 9/11 GI Bill and VA Home Loan Guarantee program.

Which is the exact reason I posted the full details of the requirements for both of those programs as well.

Capt Bob Abbott that time your wife served at POM should count double anyway.

PVT Robert Humburg, if you're going to ask this question you should provide a few more details. What was their motivation for "pulling you out"? As an adult they could not do this without your cooperation.

I would gather , a Hardship Discharge, but this is all too personal, If it is honorable, or even general honorable conditions, does not matter . VET.

SPC Christopher Perrien I'd think that, if it were a Hardship Discharge, he wouldn't be so clueless as to why they got him out. It sounds fishy to me.

PV2 Gary Weller - Well yea, by default of being rare. Because of personal and integrity issues, I am not one to pry. We, IMO, are not the FBI here. With any luck the details/truth will arise of their own accord. As to clueless, considering some of the cruits I saw right before I got out and remembering my own first 9-12 months or so in, being clueless to what the army was all about is more the rule than the exception.

He says that he's adopted. I don't know about this.

What are the FL and VFW

Basically what I do. I never claim anything I haven't earned.