Is it appropriate for a non-combat veteran to use the Vet Center and/or VA?

No one can pick their wars, Specialist. To claim otherwise is pure B.S.

My wars were the last nine years of the Cold War, Urgent Fury, and Desert Shield/Storm. The latter two I was on-deck for, my ruck already packed or my chalk number on orders for the next team into the fray. But the lights went out on both before my team had a chance at-bat. The first one, however, I was an active combatant (and thank GOD no thermonuclear free-fire zone was ever declared) despite the fact for nearly two whole enlistments, guarding ICBMs or GLCM missiles miles away from Ivan (whether here in the Upper Midwest or in the forests of W. Germany) I still served at ground-zero of what might have been the front lines of World War III, had the USSR launched a preemptive first-strike.

Whether the rest of the world knew about us or even cared, SAC, USAFE, AAC interceptors, Navy Boomers, tin-can Sailors, Coasties chasing Soviet trawlers, Army tankers and P-II troops in W. Germany (and all the rest) sure as hell knew we were in it together and truly AT WAR with the Soviet bear. Only the ignorant claim otherwise, or that ours was a bloodless time period, or that the damnable phrase "Peacetime Service" came without a cost in human sweat, blood or lives. To assume so is an indefensible insult to all the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coasties (our friends, brothers and sisters) who died in the line-of-duty from 1946-1991. You of a younger generation have our determination and resolve to thank you're still alive to pose such ludicrous questions.

Many times I've faced junior noobs with the mindset they're better, stronger, faster, more elite or whatever, simply because of time or place, MOS or school, or pure dumb luck. True leaders don't draw attention to themselves. They sure as hell don't need to brag. It takes EVERY troop to win a war, every MOS, AFSC, Rate, etc., and even those sorry chest-pounding wind-bags and wannabes, too dumb to know any better.

Last time I checked the Vet Center places a combat- requirement on access to their services. Stupid idea I think, considering if they want to truly save lives, they need to realize it's both combat and non-combat Vets among the shameful "21-a-day" suicide statistic. Those among us in dire straights need all the help they can get, but to shut their doors to those outside of certain conflicts or locations??!!! Gimme a break!

The VA (rightly) places no combat-zone requirement on the use of their services, despite certain reasonable ranking systems prioritizing need and access. Geography, and whether bullets and bombs were currently in-play or not, should NEVER make a difference. We ALL signed Uncle Sam's blank check and put our lives on the line. As long as we finished our careers with a clean and honorable DD214, we're ALL deserving of access to the help and services of the nation we pledged our lives to protect, when we need them.

I can’t see far enough back on the thread to see if someone already said this, but VA funding is based on the number of veterans signed up. Signing up non-combat veterans allows the VA to offer more services to combat vets.

WHY NOT.... If they volunteered / was drafted and he or she served honorably......they are veterans..... combat is often just the luck of the draw.... but more importantly WE ARE ALL PART OF THE SAME TEAM.....if that REMF had not driven that truck of ammo to the issue point.....I would not have lasted long in the jungle..... he needs me at the point of the spear.....but I also need him and probably would not survive without him

This continues to be an obnoxious question.
If a former member received the National Defense Service Medal, s/he is elgible for VA benefits.

The mercenary parasites who had other priorities than military service and currently want to privitize the VA take great comfort in this sort of insidious proposal. They just want to gut the VA, sell it for scrap and reward themselves the proceeds in the name of "cost efficiency". If you need a more concret example, the Freedom Caucus want to do with the VA what Frank Lorenzo did to Eastern Airline and get rich in the same way,

It is naked vultue capitalism, pure and simple.

To me its a personal choice. If you served, its your right. I don't, because it overloaded and people who need help can't get it. But I have insurance and a decent job, so its a choice I can afford to make.

The sign says: Department of Veterans Affairs not Department of Combat Veterans Affairs. Sounds like someone crapped in your kibble. Grow a pair and then build a bridge and get over it.

I was kicked out of the va healthcare system after 6 years in. They said my husband and I make too much money (combined gross 48,000). They also told me that it goes back to when I first applied, that some numbers did not match and I should not have been accepted (their error, my fault). I am an honorably discharged veteran of the the United States Navy, was deployed halfway around the world. It seems I am not "good enough" of a veteran for my country. I am heartbroken.

Vet Centers are ment for Combat Veterans but if you have PTS or are a MST victim then you can still go. As for the VA Medical Centers any veteran who has been honorably discharged can and should go and register. You get 5 years of free medical upon separation and free hearing and vision for life.

You should also register on Ebenefits as well as see a Veteran Service Officer or (VSO) to see if you might be able to claim any service connected disabilities.

As long as you weren't Dishonorably discharged, you can receive VA services. Doesn't matter if you did a Combat tour or not. You don't have to be Service Connected either. A lot are, but there are a lot that are just VA Enrollees.

Sp4 Byron Skinner…The Specialists doesn't specify his problem beyond an heart issue. The chances are the VA is not the place for you, the majority of the Doctors in a VA Med. Ctr. are interns do ing their residency, get evaluated and the VA will let you get private health care. There is a lot of condition that a training hospital like the VA don't do well with. The VA not acknowledges that and are letting and even helping the Veteran find the best available help. This has nothing to do with ones experience in combat or not. It is a health issue.