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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This is about as divisive an argument as there can be among those who've served. One's deployment record is of no account in stating one is a veteran. The fact is that, in the history of our great nation, the overwhelming majority of people who've worn the uniform have not seen combat. Questioning their status as veterans only gives fuel to those who dislike us in any case.
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I suppose there is a difference and it come with the level of entitlements one may be granted by the VA. A service member that complete 20 years of service is a vetren. Like wise a service member who served in a combat zone (Korea doesn't count ...yet) these too ware considers Vetrens by the VA. Those fine Americans that meather served in combat or didn't reaching 20 year or equivalent for compo 2 and 3 are certainly allowed to call themselves "vets" but their level of entitlements from the VA, PX, commissary , TRICARE for life, etc offer the biggest distinction.
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The word "veteran" isn't supposed to carry that connotation. It doesn't mean "has deployed" or "has been in combat". It means one has served. Period, the end, dot com.
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Anyone who served honorably is considered a veteran. It doesn't matter if you were a cook or a grunt. You signed that "blank check" for "up to and including one's life". That is good enough for me...
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If you graduated basic training and spent 1 day as a Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Jarhead, you are a veteran.
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I have deployed three times, the first was in 1997 while on AD. Got RIF'ed and reupped in 2001 and out of 10 years in the Guard, spent 7.5 years on title 10 orders. In most longer campaigns nowadays the reserve components get tasked pretty heavily. If not whole units there are still a lot of individual augmentees pulled out of guard units and plugged into other guard or AD units to round them out for a deployment. As to combat arms units the Guard has over half of all the combat arms units in the army.
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If you honorably served in the military, you are a veteran. It is true that I have a special place in my heart for my brothers and sisters who went through what I did, but I just think "All gave some, some gave all." I gave somewhere in the middle.
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While I am not a veteran, I do come from a military family, my father, step-father, step brothers, brother-in-law, and husband all served. Some were deployed others were not. My husband served quite literally at the end of the Vietnam War and was not deployed, he still served this country in military service, he is a veteran.
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I was in the ARNG for nearly 30 years and never deployed. It is something I am not only ashamed of, but think about nearly everyday of the week. I do not consider myself a veteran and will correct people when they call me one. When it comes to deployments I could not control my destiny but I wish I could have.
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MCPO Roger Collins
There is insufficient information to make an intelligent response in your public profile. But, based on your senior rank and 30 years in the Guard, I would respect you as a bet, without question.
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COL Diana Bodner
Walt, there are many that never deployed. All are Veterans and so are you! You served the country! You served successfully and selflessly. There is no reason to be ashamed. Reframe your thinking focusing on the good times, Soldiers, and people who shaped you in a positive way. Life is too short to dwell on what "could have happened or should have happened." Diana
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