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Posted on Jun 7, 2016
Should all veterans be allowed to join the American Legion not just those who served within certain time periods?
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Posted in these groups: 
The American Legion
The American Legion
Posted >1 y ago
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Very interesting question. I was able to join the Legion only because I served during the Grenada time period. I did not serve IN Grenada, although my unit was put on alert. When I saw Grenada vets come into my unit sporting CIB's, it was offensive, especially to the Vietnam vets I was serving with, as none of the Grenada vets met the requirements for a CIB. My time in service was also during the latter stages of the Cold War. I take more pride in THAT service than the service that entitles me to be a member of the Legion. Lots of Cold War vets who don't meet the requirements for either VFW or the Legion.
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Cpl Alan Mackin
Yep. I checked last year to see if I was eligible. ( '79-83 and '85-88 ) Both time frames I served are not eligible. I'm just S.O.L....
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CPT Daniel Cox
Because I enlisted in September 1974, I am a Vietnam-Era Veteran, I am eligible for AL, but not VFW. Now, 37 years later, I understand that I am eligible for the VFW, since I served 13 months in Korea, as part of a war that never ended...
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There are a lot of veteran organizations that are congressionally chartered and out of touch with today. Some organizations recognize they are out of step with today and fudge a little bit to include those vets and then there are organizations that are pretty rigid based on their charter.
I would like to think that all veterans are welcome to the American Legion. I do remember the application had defined dates of conflict and there are those vets whose service may fall outside of those dates. I enjoy mu local post of the American Legion, and I would welcome and support a broadening definition of membership to include all honorably discharged veterans. I am sure it is quite a process to change the congressional charter, but I am equally sure it can be done with the support of the veteran community.
I would like to think that all veterans are welcome to the American Legion. I do remember the application had defined dates of conflict and there are those vets whose service may fall outside of those dates. I enjoy mu local post of the American Legion, and I would welcome and support a broadening definition of membership to include all honorably discharged veterans. I am sure it is quite a process to change the congressional charter, but I am equally sure it can be done with the support of the veteran community.
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I say yes. But there is going to be resistance to changing the by-laws to open up previous periods because its a congressional charter. I think the AL recognized this issue which is why they never closed the eligibility dates after Desert Storm. Aug 1990 to the present represents the longest eligibility period ever in the AL, but has the lowest representation in membership per eligible population. Opening up the late 70's and the 80's is probably not going to reverse the decline in membership.
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PV2 Jon Anderson Membership has been open since August 2, 1990 until present. You served in 1993, so you are eligible to join. What is the problem?
https://www.members.legion.org/CGI-BIN/lansaweb?webapp=EDMS+webrtn=NETINTRO+ml=LANSA:XHTML+part=TAL+lang=ENG
https://www.members.legion.org/CGI-BIN/lansaweb?webapp=EDMS+webrtn=NETINTRO+ml=LANSA:XHTML+part=TAL+lang=ENG
Please enter your 9-digit Legion ID# and Last Name below to renew or rejoin online. Both fields must be completed in order to continue.
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PV2 Jon Anderson
Sgt Theodore (Ted) M. Hallock I have been a member of the American Legion for a fee years. I have veteran friends that cannot be members of the Legion because they served in between two of the conflicts listed for membership. After the years of membership with the American Legion I am failing to understand why there are conflict dates that stop other vets from being able to join the Legion.
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Sgt (Join to see)
PV2 Jon Anderson - I found this information on their website. If enough veterans petition to open their membership, maybe they will. good luck!
Why isn’t The American Legion’s membership eligibility expanded to all honorably discharged veterans?
Question:
Dear Commander James Koutz: Our Post and Unit has been working on writing another resolution to expand AL membership to all honorably discharged veterans. Through this process, we understand that “Resolutions tell leadership what members want. Resolutions help leadership make decisions.” That quote is from the AL’s guidebook on writing resolutions. We also understand that many before us have written resolutions regarding the expansion to invite all honorably discharged men and women to join the AL. Help us to understand why these resolutions have continually been turned down. What can we do to write a successful resolution before membership numbers drop lower? Thank you for your answer in advance.
Answer:
Dear Legionnaire;
Please know that all resolutions forwarded to the Resolutions Committee are carefully considered and taken seriously. While all resolutions are not adopted, they are all definitely reviewed and considered in earnest.
The resolution that you discuss is much more complicated than most, as it calls upon The American Legion to change, not only our bylaws, but our charter as well. As you are aware our charter is congressionally mandated, and requesting a change involves more than just the approval of a resolution.
The issue of expanding the membership criterion of The American Legion is an ongoing discussion that the departments and Legion leadership regularly review. There have been many suggestions that include expanding membership to Cold War veterans, expanded Global War On Terror veterans, as well as your department’s suggestion of expanding membership to all veterans.
The commission that handles this is the membership commission and the Internal Affairs Division.
Thank you for contacting the Legislative Division and please remember that we are here to support you, and all of the 2.4 million members of The American Legion
Why isn’t The American Legion’s membership eligibility expanded to all honorably discharged veterans?
Question:
Dear Commander James Koutz: Our Post and Unit has been working on writing another resolution to expand AL membership to all honorably discharged veterans. Through this process, we understand that “Resolutions tell leadership what members want. Resolutions help leadership make decisions.” That quote is from the AL’s guidebook on writing resolutions. We also understand that many before us have written resolutions regarding the expansion to invite all honorably discharged men and women to join the AL. Help us to understand why these resolutions have continually been turned down. What can we do to write a successful resolution before membership numbers drop lower? Thank you for your answer in advance.
Answer:
Dear Legionnaire;
Please know that all resolutions forwarded to the Resolutions Committee are carefully considered and taken seriously. While all resolutions are not adopted, they are all definitely reviewed and considered in earnest.
The resolution that you discuss is much more complicated than most, as it calls upon The American Legion to change, not only our bylaws, but our charter as well. As you are aware our charter is congressionally mandated, and requesting a change involves more than just the approval of a resolution.
The issue of expanding the membership criterion of The American Legion is an ongoing discussion that the departments and Legion leadership regularly review. There have been many suggestions that include expanding membership to Cold War veterans, expanded Global War On Terror veterans, as well as your department’s suggestion of expanding membership to all veterans.
The commission that handles this is the membership commission and the Internal Affairs Division.
Thank you for contacting the Legislative Division and please remember that we are here to support you, and all of the 2.4 million members of The American Legion
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PV2 Jon Anderson
Sgt (Join to see) - thank you much for that information. Had not heard that this made it to Indianapolis.
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I am one of those guys that are in the unique position where I am technically not eligible for the American Legion, because I did not serve during a specific wartime era, however, I am eligible for to join the Veterans of Foreign War, due to the type of job that I had. (SSBN Deterrent Patrol Pin qualifies as a 'combat veteran', one of the only solely cold war specific combat theaters) Many Legion posts may fudge the numbers, and they expect the change to eventually let all vets in because there are very few of us in comparison to when the Draft was in place.
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Rules are rules and traditions are that! There are many organizations that one can join for serving in the military.
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Simple question with a not so simple answer. Since it is a Congressionally chartered organization it would take a lot of work, and red tape to change the rules. Not saying it could not be done but it would take a lot of arm twisting from the the hard core members.
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PV2 Jon Anderson
I do not think so. The legion only allows certain time periods of war time in. They allow combat vets in as well as non combat vets but what about the other vets that serves in between the dates allowed by the American legion. Could also help with their member numbers.
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1stSgt (Join to see)
I think helping member numbers is not what it is about. You can not join the Honors Society without being an honors student. Pretty simple concept actually.
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PV2 Jon Anderson
1stSgt (Join to see) - I understand but there are a lot of vets that have volunteered the same as I but are not eligible for the legion and many of our brothers and sisters coming back now are not joining either for their personal reasons. There are still vets out there that can use the help and connections of fellow vets. Just my thoughts.
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