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

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?

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!

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.

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!

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?

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

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.

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.

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.

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.