Posted on May 8, 2015
CW3 Network Architect
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Why is it okay to question the veteran status of those who have honorably served, based on disagreements on here? Based on federal law, if you served on active duty for more than six months, and you have an honorable discharge, you are a veteran. NOTE: I did not say 'Combat' veteran......

But you served........and for someone to question the value of your service by saying or implying you haven't earned veteran status...that's pretty much a knife in the back.....over an online disagreement. If the RP Staff lets that go because firebrands bring in "business", then I really have to question the value of RallyPoint as a military social media platform.
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
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I have seen this a couple times here on RP and it totally disgusts me --- exactly when did there come a time when one veteran could be considered "more veteran" than another veteran?
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SGT Anthony Bussing
SGT Anthony Bussing
>1 y
what gets me is when someone who has never served in combat and served over 30 years ago tells me how wrong I am about combat operations (as they were in Iraq in 2005-2006) or Desert Storm...THEN I get upset about it...I would never, ever, in my life, consider telling a Hue vet what they did wrong or how it really was in Nam in 68...I wasnt there..hell, I wasnt even born then...why would I try to denigrate someones combat time when I never even served in combat?
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LCpl Francisco Bedoya
LCpl Francisco Bedoya
>1 y
I agree with not trying to out vet each other. But I always enjoy the poking at each other about the branch we served in. But at the end of the day on our off the battlefield we are all brothers in arms and will give due respect to each other. Semper Fi
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SGT Hill Jessica
SGT Hill Jessica
>1 y
To be honest I didn't know that soldiers who didn't retire or get injured in combat were considered veterans.
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CWO3 Us Marine
CWO3 (Join to see)
>1 y
What is a Veteran? Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations defines a veteran as “a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.” 

Anything more or less is just food for argument because when we look for a legal definition it's what the law says that counts. If we are trying to determine eligibility for various benefits there may be more requirements such as 6 months total active duty. Less than that can be considered an Entry Level Separation (ELS).
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SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S.
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Edited >1 y ago
A Vet is a Vet is a Vet.
Every single one is deserving of respect from society in general and from other Vets specifically.
I do have an issue with people that want to "puff" their experience.
That is, IMHO, as close to stolen valor as you can get.

Remember .. it takes 7 to field 1!
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GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad
>1 y
AGREED!!!
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CPT Bob Moore
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I think many people get too wrapped up in veteran vs. combat veteran vs. XXXX era veteran.

I am a veteran that happened to be sent too Iraq. That doesn't mean much to me other than my experiences are different than someone that wasn't sent to Iraq. Do I get different treatment from the VA based on that deployment, yes, but it doesn't make me more deserving or more of a veteran than others. It is different treatment based on the needs of those that deployed to those specific theaters.

I think people also try to enhance their service based on a feeling of inadequacy due to those that make a big deal over combat vs. non combat veterans. That is a shame. People should be proud of their service as it is.

In response to your question, I think we need to focus on supporting each other as veterans rather than trying to find differences and divisions. We all served.
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MAJ Anthony DeStefano
MAJ Anthony DeStefano
>1 y
Well Said CPT
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