Posted on May 6, 2014
Should veteran status be reserved for those who have deployed?
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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 11 y ago
Responses: 678
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I started out Marine Corps Infantry, did two deployments, became a contractor and went to AFG, then got a wild hair in my ass and joined the Guard Infantry. While in the Guard, I was appalled to find out that some of my soldiers were not legally considered "veterans" according to the Dept. of Labor. Apparently, if you join the Guard or reserves and do not have X amount of days on active duty, then you do not rate this status. What's more is that it also affects their ability to get a VA home loan. This means if you picked an MOS that has a rather long AIT or A-school, you will be granted veteran status by their formula, whereas others will not. I think that it's a crock of crap.
From the POGiest weekend warrior to the lifer Grunt, they are ALL veterans. I seriously believe that more awareness should be brought to this subject, and that it should be rectified.
From the POGiest weekend warrior to the lifer Grunt, they are ALL veterans. I seriously believe that more awareness should be brought to this subject, and that it should be rectified.
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Personally, I've served about 7 years mostly active duty and now reserves.. worked many important missions State side, and have volunteered for every deployment I've had a chance at.. still never deployed.. I've been through shootings I've seen ppl get seriously injured and have been pretty damn injured myself over my years in service.. but I still don't really consider myself a veteran.. and I kinda hate seeing soldiers that medically discharge for some bullshit with in their first year of service with out deployments or anything that consider themselves veterans.. at least finish your first contact to the fullest.. before you start taking the honor from the ppl that have earned the title the hard way.. that's how I feel anyhow.. no disrespect to anyone
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It's more important that you volunteered than regaling people with stories on how you almost joined. That's the real difference.
That you haven't yet been called upon to stare Death in the eyes can be seen as either a positive or negative. But remember this: there is still time.
That you haven't yet been called upon to stare Death in the eyes can be seen as either a positive or negative. But remember this: there is still time.
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Inside I feel a little bitter about people who claim vet status without combat. But the signed the dotted line. In the end they offered.
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You raised your right hand and took an oath to defend your country against all enemies foreign or domestic. You served. You are a Veteran!!
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Much like getting to Heaven only requires faith and not works. Being a veteran only requires honorable service and not a deployment.
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Any one who completed Basic Training and their job school and showed to a unit is a veteran. Are there different tiers? Yes. AD, reserve and guard, combat veteran. But just because the guys that served the 2nd half of the 70s didn't get called to go fight somewhere doesn't mean they aren't vets. Just means they were holding the line against the big bad Bear waiting to get called. Only ones that irritate me when calling themselves vets are those that washed out in training. No sunshine, if you never made it to your first unit, you don't get the title. Consider Elvis and Jimmy Hendrix. Elvis got out early on a hardship when his mom died. Hendrix got booted. Yet any mil themed site will claims them as Army brothers. But the POS that killed the woman in Charlottesville washed out of Basic. This is only worth mentioning while the media finds something else to say about him, and had he not done that would have only been impressive to himself not the countless people he likely told. Just my two cents, time for more coffee.
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I believe there is an unclear distinction made by some between vet and combat vet. If you served, you are a veteran.
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There is veterans and combat veterans. We all signed but some did more than others is how I feel.
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