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?

We all went where ordered. You are a veteran.

If you served for 8 years you are a veteran. You don't have to deploy to be a vet. You served your nation and we're ready to deploy if the call came down. You are one of the few. VETERAN.

We’re you ready to go? We’re you able to go?? If so, you are a Veteran. Remember that Big Green (U.S.) defeated Big Red (USSR) without a fight because all were ready to go.

I think you have to look at it in a different perspective. Some served 20 years and never deployed. If you're slotted then you're slotted - suck it up and drive on. If you're not, you're not - suck it up and drive on.

Units deploy as units, or they are tasked to provide detachments/attachments. You're not in a position to decide either way. Let the Stars and the Birds make decisions, just CM (continue mission) with your daily duties and responsibilities. You don't know how much veterans are thankful there are others filling boots to keep the US as safe as possible - keeping the EN at bay and out of the borders.

Thanks for your service.

10 years as a reservist. just started my first stint active duty. No deployments. I too don't really consider myself a vet and seek zero recognition as such.

Not for a minute. I always feel like a veteran. Veteran does not translate to warrior. Veteran is some one that served.
When I was a kid my grandfather told a military story and said. “Thank goodness there were people at the bases here. By them helping to win the war by protecting this soil it made it easier to go overseas. I knew my family and our homes were left in good hands.”
Everyone taking the military oath and gets out honorable, can hold there high hi as a veteran.

I served for 28 years, and did not deploy once. My brother did two overseas tours, and I have two nephews who've served overseas. Each one has my deepest respect.

My service was in Acquisition and R&D. I had some of the most interesting assignment and never regretted a thing. There are careers that did not involve deployment (though I understand that's rarer and rarer these days). If you have served eight years, would you consider serving another twelve? I highly recommend the Reserves, to make a complete career out of it. The extra retirement money won't hurt, either (trust me).

No.

I served a tour in Vietnam and didn't feel like a real veteran until I joined the VFW and began serving other veterans

I think you are conflating "veteran" and "combat veteran". Just as many people choose their "service" level, you generally don't choose who's shooting at you and with what. I'm in a similar situation with "senior citizen". Only have one company left to hold me to a "higher" standard on that one, along with the SSA.