Questioning someone's veteran status (Why is this okay?)

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 May 2015 09:58:17 -0400

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.

Response by CSM David Heidke made May 8 at 2015 10:00 AM

CSM David Heidke — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:00:46 -0400

It's like questioning someone's level of Combat Veteran too...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2015 10:06 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:06:09 -0400

A lot of times we in the Veteran community are our own worst enemy. It shouldnt matter if you deployed or not. If you volunteered and served honorably you should get the same respect.

I have recently (within the last week) become more active on RP again, because it was getting to be like any other social media only it was mostly confined to military memebers and veterans.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made May 8 at 2015 10:06 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:06:29 -0400

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?

Response by CPT Bob Moore made May 8 at 2015 10:07 AM

CPT Bob Moore — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:07:22 -0400

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.

Response by MAJ Jim Steven made May 8 at 2015 10:08 AM

MAJ Jim Steven — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:08:42 -0400

I think what drives some of this, army guys (not just limited to army guys) seem to be a very 'genitalia measuring' group of people - uniform flair, tab checkers, 'light on the right,'

no matter how many deployments you have, it either wasnt enough, or wasnt hard enough, .

There was a thread on 'should the definition of veteran be changed' and I somewhat agree...6 months of active duty with an honorable discharge is a pretty low requirement, but opinions very.

on facebook comments to an article, people generally seem to think that veteran status makes their comment more valid. So many times, when someone disagrees with a comment, the accusation "probably never served a day in your life" is thrown out there...
I think its pretty damn weak...

Response by SrA Jay Strauser made May 8 at 2015 10:09 AM

SrA Jay Strauser — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:09:19 -0400

This is an interesting question. I know a few people who will not call themselves Veterans because they served during peace time. One guy was in the 82nd Airborne. He completed his enlistment. I told him you are veteran. My father was in the 101st Airborne and was loaded up with live ammunition during "The Bay Of Pigs". Sometime during the flight they were turned around and sent back to their base. I personally believe if you wore the uniform and if you took the oath then you are a veteran. You were willing to put your life on the line. Just because your unit was not activated or you did not deploy to a war zone that congress says is a war zone does not mean shit to me. You served you were willing to die for country and you ARE A VETERAN!

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made May 8 at 2015 10:11 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:11:48 -0400

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!

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2015 10:14 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:14:45 -0400

Sometimes people want to fell good about themselves. Unfortunately one way people use to feel better about themselves is to put others down, or to put yourself above others.

It is called the pulley principle and I have an essay about it.

Using this method really does nothing but show others your weakness.

In short anyone who has served was at the mercy of the system to send then to Hawaii for four years or into the path of harm elsewhere. Usually the individual had little to no control of which path was chosen for him/her.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 8 at 2015 10:21 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:21:19 -0400

Thanks for clarifying that Chief! I admit that I was one of the "naysayers" on this topic but I stand corrected. Here's to great Warrants and NCOs!!

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made May 8 at 2015 10:22 AM

SrA Daniel Hunter — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:22:11 -0400

I worked for a guy once that on Veteran's Day we all met in the break room. We had 3 veterans working there, myself and two others. He pointed out that his dad said there were Combat Veterans and everyone else just served. While I make the distinction between Combat Veteran and Service Veteran, for some puke who didn't even serve in the Boy Scouts. That really boiled my blood.
To the point here, I would not question another's veteran status. However, if a Combat Veteran made the distinction with Service Veteran I have no problem with that personally.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made May 8 at 2015 10:46 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:46:26 -0400

Combat veteran or not, we all served knowing that we could possible be deployed in danger despite never being there. We all did our part and supported each other.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 8 at 2015 11:02 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 08 May 2015 11:02:11 -0400

Chief, 10% of the population are stupid assholes who have the temerity to question our service and our injuries. Their mind is settled with ignorant notions of what we know, our service to the country. I would not spend too much time arguing whose ignorance mimics the sponge in the ocean.

It's unfortunate civilians and some veterans behave this way.

Response by PO1 John Miller made May 8 at 2015 11:42 AM

PO1 John Miller — Fri, 08 May 2015 11:42:48 -0400

I totally agree CW3 Private RallyPoint Member. Per the VA, anyone who served on active duty for 180 or more days, in a non-training environment, is a veteran for VA benefits purposes. Emphasis on the non-training environment. I say that because one of my co-workers is in the Air National Guard and has just over 2 years active duty time. However that time is all basic training and tech school. Because of that he doesn't (yet) qualify for certain veteran benefits such as the VA Home Loan Guarantee program.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2015 2:08 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 May 2015 14:08:22 -0400

Oh Mylanta!

It's not ok. And I really don't think the RP staff thinks it is ok. But you can't shut one up. Everyone has their opinion PROTECTED by us and the Constitution.

But seriously, this drama needs to stop on both ends. If I have to continue reading things like this question and vise versa I may just quit RP all together. This is a forum to share experiences and thoughts about the military, Government, Cartoons etc. This isn't a military Soap Opera.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made May 8 at 2015 2:30 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Fri, 08 May 2015 14:30:55 -0400

I think people in general like to draw increasingly smaller circles to maintain superiority and authority when they find themselves on the losing end of an argument. Sometimes, it's put nicely but it's said for one specific reason - to set the target outside of the right to have an opinion or dismiss them.

I am not a combat veteran or a vet with a real world deployment. I enlisted during Somalia, had orders for a unit deploying to Haiti and served throughout the Bosnia peacekeeping mission. The Army, not me, chose to do different things with me.

As long as someone isn't claiming to be something they aren't, challenging or diminishing their service due to a difference of opinion (no matter how significant) should be completely out of bounds.

Response by CPT Christopher Webb made May 8 at 2015 4:57 PM

CPT Christopher Webb — Fri, 08 May 2015 16:57:25 -0400

Veterans are Veterans, Combat or not. And once you are out here in the civilian world all Veterans have the same rank: Mister (MR). Even though folks who made it to retirement can go by their rank, it's honorary only.

As for what, exactly, constitutes a Combat Veteran is not as clear as one would think. But one thing is for certain, Veterans who did not see combat are no less Veteran than those who did. We all did our duty. We all went where we were sent. Some were sent to combat and some were not, whether you were lucky or not lucky depends on your perspective no matter where you fall.

... and some who didn't see combat saved more of our lives and facilitated the killing of more of our enemies than most will ever be aware of.

So anyone who questions the Veteran Status of someone here is just being a douche bag. You can't BE here without verifying your Veteran status first. Right?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2015 6:37 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 May 2015 18:37:48 -0400

Those promoting the idea of changing the status of veterans for not being in a combat zone is ludicrous at best, and have not learned anything about our institution that needs ALL involved, USAF/ARMY/NAVY/MARINES, all the logistics, training, medical support, technical support, intel, for God's sake, stop being pitiful. You ALL signed that dotted line. Live and let live, we should be bonding instead of being divisive, this country needs it, as we are looming in the precipice of peril.

Response by SGT Joe Sabedra made May 9 at 2015 5:55 PM

SGT Joe Sabedra — Sat, 09 May 2015 17:55:24 -0400

I say if you Earned an Honerable Dischard then yes you are a Vet.

Response by SSG John Erny made May 9 at 2015 6:00 PM

SSG John Erny — Sat, 09 May 2015 18:00:55 -0400

Well, none of the parachutes I packed ever failed. Does that make me a REMF? I was once as a rigger asked to step into an 11 B's shoes during operation just cause, des that make me a grunt? I was once the unit armorer, does that make me master at arms?

My answer is: none of the ebove, I was only fllowing orders.

Response by PO2 Skip Kirkwood made May 9 at 2015 8:44 PM

PO2 Skip Kirkwood — Sat, 09 May 2015 20:44:12 -0400

It is not OK. Every veteran took the oath - we wrote a check payable to the people of the United States, for any amount up to and including our lives. It was just a matter of luck or fate who went where and did what. By what measure is one type of service more valuable than another? Tell me which was worth more - strategic deterrent patrols under the north Atlantic, being hunted by Russian submarines; taking care of a company of Recon Marines; taking care of Marines wounded in combat and returned POWs on a military hospital ward.

None of them were more valuable than the other. They were just one guy, following orders and doing his duty the best he could.

Anything else is bullS&*!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 10 at 2015 10:02 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 10 May 2015 22:02:30 -0400

Because Billy Badass uses his experiences as a measuring stick against others. He will gladly denigrate the other veteran in a childish fervor because he wants to feel superior.

Response by SSG Daniel Miller made May 10 at 2015 10:12 PM

SSG Daniel Miller — Sun, 10 May 2015 22:12:24 -0400

I can't recall ever seeing/reading/hearing anyone talking down a veteran status. Every argument in memory is regards to combat veterans vs. "slick sleeves." In this regard, it typically comes from someone with no combat experience (and in some cases, fobbits) downplaying the experiences we have in combat, or fluffing their own "resume" to impress others. Personally, I don't consider you a veteran until you've at least completed a field problem. 6 months is a shorter amount of time than some AIT rotations, which shows the status shouldn't be based on time, but what you've done. Yes, there will always be debates over whose veteranhood is better, but it is the same as our brotherly fights over which service is superior. It's the Army, by the way.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 11:44 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 10 May 2015 23:44:33 -0400

A veteran shouldn't question the status of the next because we all did our time. However this changed when PVTs that did six months of service and gets medically discharged with more issues than you at 20+ In. I know privates parading around 80% disability and It took me 5 years and a bunch of APFT's later to get an MRI done to find out that my neck pain for the past 5 or so years was because of herniated disk in my C5-C7. So I can see where the questioning is coming from because really and truly what can someone so in 6 months to get 80% retired that I didn't do in my 9yrs of Serving or anyone else's 20 yrs?

Response by SSgt Michael Orcutt made May 11 at 2015 2:49 PM

SSgt Michael Orcutt — Mon, 11 May 2015 14:49:07 -0400

Although I know that y contributions in the military helped the mission as a whole, I sometimes feel that I didn't fully serve my country because I never deployed. I know I am a veteran, but I wrestle with the fact that I never had the chance to deploy during a time of war. Now since I am out and I am unable to return to service because of medical issues I will never have the chance. Life goes on I suppose!

Response by MSG Robert Mills made May 12 at 2015 1:09 PM

MSG Robert Mills — Tue, 12 May 2015 13:09:06 -0400

Sticks and Stones lol

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made May 12 at 2015 2:27 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Tue, 12 May 2015 14:27:27 -0400

Its not okay ever but some people feel the need to constantly "one up" someone else because of where they deployed to or what they did while on active duty. If your that insecure that you need to measure your "crank" then you have bigger issues than where someone served or how they served. And unless you were dishonorably, BCD or other than honorably discharged you are a veteran who did their time, did their duty and now your no longer serving. You can't change how some of these insecure people will feel but you don't have to feed their needs.

Response by LTC John Mohor made May 31 at 2015 12:53 AM

LTC John Mohor — Sun, 31 May 2015 00:53:43 -0400

The Veteran status question is an ongoing issue still. Thanks to congress, unless something has happened recently that I'm not aware of, service members from all five branches of the reserve components that qualified for a retirement after age 60 that didn't serve more than the 6 months are not considered Veterans under the law.

As far as i'm concerned I agree with the following quote " Definition of a Veteran- a Veteran- whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve- is someone who, at one point wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'......." author unknown

Response by SFC Arthur Morgan made Oct 20 at 2020 4:57 PM

SFC Arthur Morgan — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 16:57:31 -0400

Recall while shopping, being accosted by an overweight younger man (about 6" shorter & 60lbs heavier) in regard (chosen) patch back of my vest. In effect, "Cold War?! I'm of 'stolen valor' association. You didn't serve in like Nam or Iraq/Afghanland, you're no veteran." To which I countered, "Not that any of your business, served both Storm & Bosnia before retirement. Served during Cold War for way longer than both and in S. Korea, still in question. Don't give damn who you are or care." Turned my back & walked away while he sputtered & huffed an apology. As for my own convictions, any man (or woman) that served our country (over just themselves), is a Veteran. Just lost a dear friend that was Air Force during Nam. Died of complications attributed to Agent Orange. I say, he was a war casualty. Don't truly care who disagrees.