Should any veteran be able to join a VFW?

There are a ton of Military groups for vets of all kinds. Some are more specific in their requirements. That's their call. Should the Military Order of the Purple Heart allow all service members? There were medics who treated us and drivers who CASEVAC and pilots who MEDEVAC and brothers and sisters who returned fire. However, none of those meet the requirements for membership. Just a thought.

* Are a U.S. citizen who has served honorably in an overseas conflict

• Received a campaign medal for overseas service

* Served 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in Korea

* Received hostile fire or imminent danger pay

Seeing a common thread here about old vs young. You almost have to be retired to have time to keep an organization like that going.

The VFW like the American Legion are chartered by Congress, each charter specifically spells out who can join by law. VFW can only recruit those who have served over seas and have been awarded certain overseas medals. American Legion has a broadly charter, and different recruiting basis.

Any Veteran of a Foreign War is eligible. It's in the name... it's not "Supporters of Veterans of Foreign Wars".

I am a US Army Veteran, served 22 years Active Duty. Was a rat-rig operator (31C) for 11 and Nurse (91C) for 11; spent that first 11 years in the field most of the time including, 3 years in Germany with the Pershing Missiles. Nurse, well yeah, hospitals. The closest I got to a deployment, was PROFIS out of Hawaii to Korea. Not a single deployment, not by choice; Cold War. I volunteered, but beyond a bunch of shots in my butt and gear packed up, didn't go anywhere. I am not eligible to be a member of the VFW. I am a member of the Auxiliary because of my spouses service and multiple deployments. I do feel the eligibility criteria should include military retirees; those who served over 20 years because here is a great number of servicemembers who served during the Cold War and do not have deployments. The VFW is trying to change its image, trying to draw in younger Veterans and there is a pool of potential eligible Veterans who fall into that Cold War gap.

"don't all veterans support the fight overseas?"
It's very easy to go down the rabbit hole with this sort of logic. You could ask the same question about campaign awards. Should the Airman loading up missiles or bombs on an aircraft in Europe qualify for a campaign medal? What about the sailor in the gulf who never sets foot in the country? Both are directly supporting the fight. You could also ask the same questions for drone pilots. They're operating aircraft in theater from the United States.

Personally I think the VFW's requirements are fine as they sit. It is an organization for Veterans of foreign wars. I do think, on the other hand, that the American Legion should open it's membership to Cold War Veterans. They currently allow "peacetime" Veterans from the period between the Gulf War and the GWOT, so there's really no justification at this point.

As a health inspector for the last 21 years, I have seen VFW's close one by one due to declining membership. If exclusivity remains as it is, organizations such as this will only be rich in history, having little impact on the future. The reality is that many people in the neighborhoods can faintly remember the "bar" that was on the corner, "I think it was an AMVETS or something", I would hear. In my area, 7 have met the chopping block.

no....that would be like the Marine Corps League letting Air Force vets become full members...

Vietnam Combat Vet, Recon, ‘66-‘67. Never have joined any of the vets organizations. The few times I was in one, seemed like a place to drink and make-up war stories. No thanks, I’ll pass. And If I need a real war story all I have to do is close my eyes.