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?

I don't. During my tour of 1988-1991, I served as a gunner on a nuclear missile firing crew in Germany. I did not deploy for Panama and I missed Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Even so, my presence and my unit's was a deciding factor by Soviet forces not to invade what was then West Germany.

I totally agree with SN Wright and anyone else here that said the same thing. The only time I never felt like I was a veteran was in Oct 1981, when then president Ronald Reagan sent a letter to the VA saying that retired military would no longer be treated as veterans because we drew a military retirement. My blood pressure was being checked at the moment that letter was being read to me. My blood pressure shot up to 180. Because we would no longer be treated as veterans we would only be eligible to be treated for those illness that we incurred while in the service. Now that was a hell of a thing to tell military retired people they weren't veterans. So be proud - you are a veteran and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Dude, I was in for 22 and only a hand full of weeks deployed in to combat zone. I usually had escorted sensitive items to and from and then in the Reserves backfilled regular units deployed. I did my job assigned to me by the Army and without question. I tried to to get to any deployment I could, but schools or Assignment like recruiting got in the way. BTW, a pretty good combat officer, who was my Grandfather in Law (Wehrmacht, WW2) told me don’t try to go into harms way, it will come to you if it was meant to be.

The military tells you where to go. You can volunteer but the choice is the military. WaynePrice

I served 10yrs myself and never deployed. Even with that said, you stood ready to answer the call to deploy if necessary. As Maury would say, Don Jenk... YOU ARE A VETERAN

With an entirely new branch standing up (Space Force) this question is going to become moot. If a member of the armed forces was honorably discharged after serving at least their initial commitment, then they are a veteran.

Think again, Young Man. PFC Don Jenks, as long as you served honorably, whether an honorable or general under honorable conditions discharge, and you completed at least 180 days consecutively, then SURPRIZE! You're a veteran. Here's an example: My nephew was in the Army for 3 or 4 years, went to jump school, etc, and ended up with a Bar to reenlistment, received a General under other than honorable discharge. In my opinion, with what he did to earn that bar, which I don't know what it was, but he also spent time in the stockade. Last I heard, he was in prison, and as a result of all this, He surrendered the right to be called a veteran. Not long after he was discharged, he asked if I could help him request an upgrade from General to Honorable Discharge. I refused because he wasn't worth my time. Bottom line; if you're a screw-up throughout your career, you pay the price.

I did 24 years active duty. I deployed a lot. My friend did 20 as a reservist and didn't deploy. He's still a vet in my book and so are you unless you were that person that went out of your way to avoid deployment.

I volunteered for deployment, completed training and that got really sick. Taken off the T.O. I was heartbroken and feel so much guilt. Some people I trained with didn't come home.... Some did. Some were hurt pretty bad... I feel like I let everyone down. I should have been there. Instead, I signed off on the physicals and sent people to die. I should have been there to take care of me Marines and sailors.

Not at all. Stop punishing yourself for never being shot at. You wore the uniform for 8 years and went and did what you were told so you are as much a vet as any of the rest of us.