Robert Wallace, Assistant Adjutant General and Executive Director of the VFW Washington Office, here for a live Q&A February 20th. Questions?

COL John McClellan - I have been on the Post Executive Board for over 25 years and did six terms as Commander so far, the two Commanders before Me were both Woman and Navy Veterans. One of those both She and Her husband were Navy Officers. Another Woman Vet within the post was a 1st Lt, US Army, and a received the Purple Heart in WWII, Her husband was in the Marines. Another woman in our Post is the Current Veteran's Agent for the Town of Millis, MA (Every city and town in MA has a Veteran's Agent) is a TSgt, USAF (Ret) Her husband is a MSgt and both are Post Members. One of My own recruits is a lady that retired from the US Army as a SSgt. We also have a social coffee every Thursday at the Post building and ALL Veterans are welcome, You don't even have to be a member of the Legion, just a Veteran. I won't tell You I Haven't given some recruiting pitches though. We have a great group and Men and Woman Veterans with the same common bond of Military service.

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter - Those are great efforts at your Post SMSgt McCarter and I applaud them! We are doing some of the same things at my Post. What I think we need though is National emphasis in the form of training, and specific, tangible incentives to encourage these kinds of efforts! First, "see ourselves" and publish Nationally, and By Department and District, our demographics for age, gender. Then - set some goals, if we want to "increase" something, first measure it consistently, then target it! Next - take these success stories and "best practices" and share them, systematically!

COL John McClellan - One thing that may well have helped is We already had quite a few women Members that were WWII Veterans which I'm sure made it easier for the younger women to come into the post. The woman as well as many of the Men from WWII though We are slowly loosing. Another thing We did was have some interesting Guest speakers at at the Legion, one for example was the pilot on the lead aircraft, Cherry 1, on the Son Toy POW Rescue Mission into North Vet Nam with a speech and slide presentation, anther was a Post Member and Army Colonel and Doctor, forward deployed with Army Special Force in Afganistian , He also had slide and a speech and brought His Division Commander with Him. Another speaker, a member of our Legion did 26 missions in a B17 with the 8th Air Force in Europe, His Son came and He was a Viet Nam Veteran, in the 1st Cavalry Division, 7th Cavalry Regiment, which was the same unit as depicted in the movie Band of Brothers. I even have a talk Myself to kick this off about My own service in Viet Nam. We did all the thing We usually did, the pledge of allegiance, salute to POWs-MIA, prayers, minutes of meeting, finance report, etc. but wanted to add something. prior to all our Regular Post meetings We have a social hour for coffee and dessert items.

I'm sorry to hear this. My suggestion is to transfer to a more friendly Post, and we can help. Please contact Joe Davis at [login to see] .

The VFW is all onboard with changing the way we talk about mental health and wellness. Re engaging local Posts, I suggest you contact their state VFW HQ. Re engaging with younger vets, we want them to share their stories with us and us with them. The VFW has been directly responsible for every significant piece of quality of life legislation passed in this century and last. As I like to say, we were all younger once when we returned home from our wars and conflicts thinking no one understood us. The VFW does.

Everything we do legislatively is for the Post-9/11 generation, except for a few initiatives that encompass all generations, such as trying to eliminate the SBP-DIC offset, trying to extend the caregiver bill to all generations. The VFW Washington Office is a powerful voice for veterans, service members and their families. In fact, our entire national legislative office is comprised of Post-9/11 generations vets. I urge you to sign up for Action Corps, and join 300,000 other veterans advocates who help us get our voices heard. Membership is the lifeblood of every organization, as it keeps those doors in Congress open.

But nothing specific to say here, aye? I'm a Life Member and a Post Officer in the VFW... I can read the taking points. I was looking for something more. Your answer tells me nothing, sir. Disappointing!