Should veteran status be reserved for those who have deployed?

What is a Veteran? Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations defines a veteran as “a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable."

Anyone who wishes to claim that only those deployed can claim the title of Veteran can come see me. If you put your name on the dotted line and you served and were discharged HONORABLY you are a Veteran. There are literally 10's of thousands of Veterans who never deployed anywhere and until the GWOT I was in that category. If your peers or your soldiers say that you are not a Veteran because you did not deploy they need some help and I'm not talking about the kind where you go see a Psychologist/Psychiatrist.

You stood when it was your time to stand therefore you are

Once you raise your hand your a veteran of that passage. Taking the oath and doing what's asked of you is what's important. It takes at a minimum 3 supporting soldiers for every one combat arms troop. It take everyone to win the battle.

Let's see, soldier was in a training jump accident and medically retired, or jumped into country and sent home for same activity and never fired their rifle or fired upon. Tell me the difference please... Enough said!

I did 32 years, active and reserve. I have heard some say that because I was Air Force I should not claim veteran status.

This is horse pucky. I heard the rockets and mortars falling around my head. I saw the ripped and torn bodies of my comrades. Any one who thinks I am not a veteran is a fool.

Imho, anyone who served honorably and retired, was discharged or resigned a commission is a vet. VFW and Foreign Legion are honors reserved for Combat Vets.

Oath, Uniform = Veteran.
No Oath, no Uniform= civilian.

I think it's silly. You go where you're needed. Whether it's abroad or overseas, it's irrelevant. You signed, you served, you're a veteran.

I say yes that regardless of if you have fought in a war or not, if you have served your country with the full knowledge that you could be called to war at any time , and are willing to answer it, you deserve the title. Case in point, my father was in when the M249, M9 and HMMWV's were tested and fielded. His BN was one of the first to be issued these new 'toys' and he helped to develop the TTP's for implementing them in simulated combat scenarios in various locations(some suggestions fell on dead ears because 2/3 were recommended for the dumpster). Then when the call came for Desert Shield everyone was all packed and ready to go, but Desert Storm kicked off and shortly thereafter his BN was disbanded and he got out of the military. He had always held a bit of animosity towards the situation to the point where he didnt stand up when all Veterans were called upon to stand up during BCT graduation, and he stay seated, because he didnt feel like he had actually been able to do his part to earn the right to be called a Veteran until one of my friends that was in OIF1 told him that you don't get to choose your war. After I got back from AFG I gave him a cold war veteran shirt and he wears it consistently enough for it to show up on FB regularly.

http://www.amazon.com/Cold-War-Veteran-shirt-X-Large/dp/B00F1IDSTQ

The answers to this question seem mostly emotional, on both sides. My question would be: "Veteran of what?" Historically the term Veteran indicated warriors who had seen combat as opposed to those who had not. Hence "Veteran Troops" and other similar phrases. There could be 'active duty' Roman Legionaires who had been recruited and passed through more intense training than most of us ever have who were still 'green' until they were 'blooded' by combat. Then they became "Veterans." Although there could still be relative judgements as to which units were 'More Veteran" than others, and thus which were more dependable and reliable.

R. A. Heinlein has some interesting things to say in his book Starship Troopers, about earning the right to vote through having placed one's life in jeopardy -at the disposal of society (much in the way some here have argued) whether or not in combat.

P.S. If anyone references the movie...just....stop it.
http://www.amazon.com/Starship-Troopers-Robert-A-Heinlein/dp/ [login to see]