Posted on May 6, 2014
Should veteran status be reserved for those who have deployed?
197K
3.46K
939
309
309
0
This one has come up a lot in conversations with my peers and Soldiers: Should you be allowed to claim veterans status if you have never deployed?
Personally, I'm an ROTC graduate who chose to go straight into the ARNG in 2011, knowing full well that my chances to deploy would be next to none with the changing op tempo. Realistically, had I been actively searching out a deployment the whole time, I still may not have gotten one. I'm sure there are Soldiers out there who served honorably in a reserve component without deploying, despite their best efforts. So, for example, should a Soldier who completed basic training, had a clean service record, excelled in their peer group, but ultimately served 10 years as a reservist with no deployment and less than 180 days on non-ADT active service be prevented from calling themselves a veteran?
I have my own thoughts, but I'm more interesting in hearing your opinions. For clarification, I'm speaking more towards the legal definition of veterans status - even if the laws were changed here, there would still be an immense difference between a legal veteran and a legal veteran with several deployments, combat experience, decades on active duty, or a combination of all three.
Personally, I'm an ROTC graduate who chose to go straight into the ARNG in 2011, knowing full well that my chances to deploy would be next to none with the changing op tempo. Realistically, had I been actively searching out a deployment the whole time, I still may not have gotten one. I'm sure there are Soldiers out there who served honorably in a reserve component without deploying, despite their best efforts. So, for example, should a Soldier who completed basic training, had a clean service record, excelled in their peer group, but ultimately served 10 years as a reservist with no deployment and less than 180 days on non-ADT active service be prevented from calling themselves a veteran?
I have my own thoughts, but I'm more interesting in hearing your opinions. For clarification, I'm speaking more towards the legal definition of veterans status - even if the laws were changed here, there would still be an immense difference between a legal veteran and a legal veteran with several deployments, combat experience, decades on active duty, or a combination of all three.
Reserves
Army National Guard
Deployment
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 639
440
440
0
You signed the Dotted Line, You were eligible to go anywhere, anytime. You trained to serve your country in an emergency, You are a Veteran. Just because there was no call for you to deploy is not your fault. Now if you served during wartime you are eligible for the American Legion, If you deployed to Theater during wartime you can join the VFW. I belong to both.
(440)
(0)
Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth
SPC (Join to see) - You earned them by the mere fact you wore the uniform...go get them. I had this same discussion with my father in law and uncle who were in the NG. Got called up once or twice but they didn't feel like they earned their benefits...they did and after we got them taken care of my father in law now gets his glasses, meds, and hearing aids and supplies from the VA saving him a lot of money. They are yours, go get them!!!!
(8)
(0)
SSG Armand Caron
The American Legion accepts all honorably discharged vet's as well as all active duty service members. Only the VFW requires wartime status. I'm a life member of the VFW and past Commander of my American Legion post.
(3)
(0)
PO2 Timothy Hinds
I understood the VFW will sometimes make an exception for veterans of the Cold War. I suppose it would depend on local membership needs.
(1)
(0)
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
PO2 Timothy Hinds - ...
I Enlisted On 06/29/1961 ~ My 17th Birthday ~ DD-214'd On 06/10/1965.
19 Days Before Reaching The Legal Age To Buy A Beer....
During Those 4 Years We Had : ~~ Vietnam ~ Cold War ~ Cuban Crisis ~
And The Assassination Of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.....
4 Years Of Serving With The Intent Of Assisting Our Other Men In Vietnam.
But Ya Know What I DID.?.. Damned Near Nothing: 3 Years At A SAC Base ~ Little Rock AFB, Arkansas ~ Then A 13 Month Tour Of South Korea At Osan AFB, ~
BOTH Were Pretty Much, A "PAID VACATION" ~ And That's "NOT WHY" I Enlisted At 17...
I Enlisted On 06/29/1961 ~ My 17th Birthday ~ DD-214'd On 06/10/1965.
19 Days Before Reaching The Legal Age To Buy A Beer....
During Those 4 Years We Had : ~~ Vietnam ~ Cold War ~ Cuban Crisis ~
And The Assassination Of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy.....
4 Years Of Serving With The Intent Of Assisting Our Other Men In Vietnam.
But Ya Know What I DID.?.. Damned Near Nothing: 3 Years At A SAC Base ~ Little Rock AFB, Arkansas ~ Then A 13 Month Tour Of South Korea At Osan AFB, ~
BOTH Were Pretty Much, A "PAID VACATION" ~ And That's "NOT WHY" I Enlisted At 17...
(0)
(0)
417
417
0
I spent 12 years serving my country, and now some one says that because I didn't deploy overseas to a "combat" zone that I am not a veteran. Just exactly where does this crap come from? I am proud of my service and despite what anyone says I am and will remain a veteran. Of all the things that can be taken from me, however, my veterans status isn't one of them.
(417)
(0)
PFC Kathleen Woolrich
SSG John Bacon I joined the VFW because my father was a war hero.I am a pfc lol
(3)
(0)
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
PFC Kathleen Woolrich -
This Is Another Situation Where
"THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH"
Is A HUGE Understatement.....
But At Present ~ I Cant Find The Better Words He Deserves.
This Is Another Situation Where
"THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH"
Is A HUGE Understatement.....
But At Present ~ I Cant Find The Better Words He Deserves.
(0)
(0)
CPT David Tanner
Thank you for your service. You always will have my respect and you are and will always be an Army Veteran.
(0)
(0)
382
382
0
A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney
Having Spent 1961 - 1965 Totally Unscathed...
The Entire 4 Years Of My Enlistment.
THEN I Made The Mistake Of Going To Our VA Medical Facilities..(Around 1997)
Due To MULTIPLE Errors...~ WRONG Diagnosis ~ WRONG Medications ~
MIS-Diagnoses ~ A Couple Days Short Of A MONTH In The Hospital After EMERGENCY SURGERY ....Damned Nearly DIED ~(Literally).....And With YEARS Being Disabled, DUE To THEIR Screw-Ups... GUESS WHAT?.....I've Been TRYING To File & Get A Disability For
WELL OVER 15 YEARS.... ZERO Assistance Form Our Local VA Staff..... Don't Bother Offering suggestions... I've Gone From The PRESIDENTS Office In Washington DC~
Down To Our Local "Veterans Assistant AT he VA Medical Facility"..... "Been THERE ~ Done THAT" .....A LOT Of Referrals ~ DONE?..Well, I "Ain't" Got No Check ~
And I'll Most Likely Be DEAD Before That Happens ~ Turning 80 On 06/29/2024...
The Entire 4 Years Of My Enlistment.
THEN I Made The Mistake Of Going To Our VA Medical Facilities..(Around 1997)
Due To MULTIPLE Errors...~ WRONG Diagnosis ~ WRONG Medications ~
MIS-Diagnoses ~ A Couple Days Short Of A MONTH In The Hospital After EMERGENCY SURGERY ....Damned Nearly DIED ~(Literally).....And With YEARS Being Disabled, DUE To THEIR Screw-Ups... GUESS WHAT?.....I've Been TRYING To File & Get A Disability For
WELL OVER 15 YEARS.... ZERO Assistance Form Our Local VA Staff..... Don't Bother Offering suggestions... I've Gone From The PRESIDENTS Office In Washington DC~
Down To Our Local "Veterans Assistant AT he VA Medical Facility"..... "Been THERE ~ Done THAT" .....A LOT Of Referrals ~ DONE?..Well, I "Ain't" Got No Check ~
And I'll Most Likely Be DEAD Before That Happens ~ Turning 80 On 06/29/2024...
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google