I served for 8 years and I never deployed. I don't feel like I earn the credit of veteran. Does anyone else feel that way?

the military sends you and needs you where they sent you . YOU ARE A VETERAN ...

I was a military kid that unfortunately turned 18 in the wrong year (2003). I used all the tried and true ways to delay getting sent over. I signed up for delayed entry, chose airborne school only to avoid being deployed out of AIT (occupational school) and hoped the war would somehow end and things would be ok. Unfortunately it dragged on and I was deployed at 19 to Baghdad in the fall of 2005 with a combat aviation down aircraft rescue team, the only combat arms unit that allowed women. After I was hit by a 120mm mortar blast I learned my younger brother was in bootcamp to become a combat medic. I was rated 100% permanent total which qualified my brother for what's known as 'sole survivor' (Classifiaction as WDF, those with siblings Kia, mia, pow or 100% disabled by combat) he was sent to Norfolk va to wait out the end of the war with the navy, unable to leave the states which brought my family great relief given that my parents didn't want to run the risk of having two kids in different hospitals. He was in Norfolk for 7 years before leaving the army. Combat is no video game and it's no right of passage. It's just a year of your life gone. Theres not much I gained from it other than chronic pain and years of therapy to deal with it.

If you're in the service you really don't have any choice of assignments. Through the VA they recently awarded Vietnam Era veterans an eagle pin and certificate in each State to everyone that had served whether they were in country or not.

I think it is a more common feeling than you might think. On my first deployment, my troop was attacked an average of 220 times per week. I saw a lot of action. But most of it was IEDs exploding harmlessly against the armor of our vehicles. After 6 months in country, my unit allowed us to put on our combat patches. But I didn't put mine on for a long time after that still because I had never fired my weapon in combat and didn't feel like I deserved a combat patch or my CAB. So, while my experience with this feeling isn't exactly the same as yours, I do have an understanding of the mentality. But trust me, you deserve your veteran status, we all do our part.

During my period of active duty it was during VIETNAM. I graduated from A school as a hospital corpsman and the class before us all went to VIETNAM. I was assigned to Balboa Naval Hospital for three years then sent overseas with the Marines, I caught Vietnam when it fell to the North Vietnam. I spent my 3 years in MEDICAL ICU and the Emergency Room at the Naval Hospital. I learned an awful lot at those,two departments which would help me throughout my 21,years of Active Duty

I was aboard an aircraft carrier for 3 yrs made 3 Med cruiser during the Vietnam Era still fill I am a veteran. You spend the time no doubt my friend you are a veteran. Thank you for your services

You served! You are a Veteran! Look on you DD-214

Not shaming, just curious how you did 8 yrs and still a private?

Do you think our troops abroad are able to do what they do without support from back home? Be proud and thank for your service veteran. We are all one team Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines.

Spent 20 years plus with one long tour. Did not deploy during the initial years of Desert Storm. Under your belief, I would not be a veteran. I helped train people that did deploy and trained those that backfilles the vacancies. There are many veterans that serves honorably during the cold war.