Should veteran status be reserved for those who have deployed?

I literally served for years and deployed before I even realized the word "veteran" included people who never deployed. When I found out they are also included in the word "veteran," it didn't bother me one bit. I've served with plenty of guys who would eat a bullet for his buddy but never got sent anywhere.

Yes

Lt.
Tell you peers and soldiers this:

Say to them - "Why do you asked this question or make this statement?"

- Then record their reasoning here, of course protecting their privacy, since they are not posting themselves.
- Create a file in MS Word and the answers you fine here and give those answers to them.
- Ask then to then write a 1 page rebuttal (pro or con) based the answers you have found here. Give them 24 hrs to respond - in writing!!!
- Study their answers and create a summary of those written responses so we may know the reasoning of these fellow veterans for addressing this issue - at all.

I think people should put them money where their mouths are and consider, more deeply, what they asking. The democracy, which all of those who responded here, chose to defend in their respect ways are lesson NO veteran should EVER forget!

Close you discussion with this current event groups of facts specific to the impact of Hurricane Harvey on the VETERANS in Texas & Louisiana:

- > 475,000 veterans expected to be impacted
- > $18 Billion in personal economic impact as calculated from annual average salary figures for these states
- > 55,000 of these veterans are female
- > 115,000 are over the age of 55
- > 11,000 have a Service Connected Disability (not all from combat operations)

Oh, relate this story of a "veteran" I am aware of from Hurricane Floyd in 1999 that impacted eastern North Carolina in the same manner as Hurricane Harvey is now and to a much greater degree is having. This comes from an article I wrote entitled "Taking an Early Look at Hurricane Harvey’s
Potential Impact on the Texas and Louisiana Area Veterans Community" yesterday for my CEO, who wanted my perspective so he could work with other CEOs to get the word out about the impact Hurricane Harvey's impact on area veterans:

"In 1999 when Hurricane Floyd struck Eastern North Carolina, specifically Pitt County and the City of Greenville, there was a Korean War veteran who took shelter in one of the Red Cross Disaster Shelters that had been established. About the second day into sheltering a little girl (age <10) was starting to become frightened. Her mother did not know what to do. So, as the story goes this Korean War veteran asked if he could help. Turns out, he walked with a limp, but used his disability to give hope and quiet to a frightened little girl. He sat with her and her mother at the lunch room table where he took off his artificial leg and began quietly to tell the young how he came to loose his leg and how frightened he was.

His story was not vial or gross! He spoke with the elegance of a poet. She and later other kids sat listening to his story with focused interest. These kids handled the articfical leg and asked him tough questions. His answers rivaled the most skilled politican, yet what he taught those young people was that is was ok to be afraid, but it was not ok to fear! He was afraid of the uncertainity the loss of his leg presented to him, but he also knew that such fear could not overtake and cripple him for life.

While I did not witness this first hand because I was engaged in other volunteer disaster relief duties, one of my volunteer (non-veteran) counterparts shared the story with me over coffee a couple of days after that shelter was closed as the need for the shelter had now dissipated. Yet, when I look at data such as been presented in this article I am reminded of the courage of people and a gentle kindness displayed quietly by those who have worn the nation on their shoulders in service."

Oh, BTW, he lost his leg, no in combat, but in a freak accident loading supplies wile stationed in Japan to go to guys at the front in Korea. So, I appreciate the reflection and integrity of SFC Hudson and his real-world understanding of those that support the ultimate success of any mission.

LT, tell those with whom you come in contact to focus on the REAL-WORLD needs of veterans and CUT the CRAP!!! When timing is right in you discussions give them the story above, but don't tell the art about how his leg was lost. See their reactions to the story 1st!!! I suspect you will learn a lot about their character and real motivations for even bringing up - this subject.

Respectfully,
,
A Retired - US Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman
ONE A VETERAN - ALWAYS A VETERAN!!!

I believe there are experiences that you go through on a combat deployment that you can't learn anywhere else. Also, there is a certain bond you form with the people you deployed with that will last a lifetime. I get excited telling my soldiers today about my experiences in Afghanistan. I know I'm not the only one that thinks about how it's possible for someone with 7-10 yrs experience to not deploy, when we have been in Afghanistan for so long. I'm just sharing my honest opinion, but I do believe you're still a veteran if you have never deployed.

Veteran Status is simple question with a complicated answer. According to the Veterans Administration, a service member is eligible for VA benefits as long as they have completed at least 180 days of Active Duty, not including Active Duty for Training (ADT) and have not been dishonorably discharged. But to receive many of the benefits, there are additional requirements. For VA Medical, a veteran must serve a minimum of 2 years continuous active duty (or the full period for which they were called up for) (https://explore.va.gov/health-care). A service member can also qualify for medical benefits if they apply within 5 years following demob from a deployment. There is also a contingency where if a SM has completed at least 20 years service in the National Guard, Air Guard, or Reserves, and has not been deployed through no fault of their own (i.e. their unit was not mobilized or called up). I have also seen news article concerning benefits for veterans of the Cold War. To say a SM must serve in a combat zone to be a veteran would disqualify a large population. We cannot alienate those who have served on active duty state-side and/or Europe for their whole career, not the citizen-soldiers who have never been deployed. Yes, I feel those of us who have been in combat zones should have more recognition than a tarnished medal and bad memories. That does not mean those who served, but did not go to combat should be left to fend for themselves. As far as veterans benefits go, we need to be more inclusive, not exclusive.

So I have seen this article a few different times and now ready to put my two cents out there. I feel as though anybody that has made it through basic training has earned the right to be called a veteran. But if you failed out of your job training or did 4 years and got out just don't lie about your service or try to make it sound like you did more then you did.

But I do think there should be a designation for a combat veteran. I'm not trying to put anybodies service down but combat veterans are different. Combat veterans shouldn't be put ahead of the line of non combat veterans or anything but there is just something and I know this will sound really lame and sound like I'm being full of myself but there is something about knowing that you might come home in a medal box that changes you and unless you have been in the same situation it's hard to relate. I remember when I was in a peer support group it was strictly for combat veterans because we needed to be able to share and be able to relate to eachother.

Everyone is a Veteran but not everyone is a combat veteran. just because you haven't been overseas does not mean you have not earned the title of veteran. those who do go overseas could not accomplish the mission without the other vets back home stateside.

I enlisted on 2 Dec 54. The Korean War (conflict) was declared over on 31 Jan 55. I am considered a Korean Era veteran although not serving in Korea. From the day I enlisted to the day I retired (1 Aug 95) I served my country. I served 9 months at the end in 1991 in support of Desert Storm. All the in between was Reserve and Active Duty with 19 months in Germany in the 50's. I consider myself a veteran. What would you call a person who served his obligation and then separated from the military if not a veteran, then call me................?
I realize this post is a year old but just noticed it and wanted to respond.

If you served, you're a vet. If you're a combat vet, you own a CIB or rack or ribbons which tell the story for those who truly care and are not just voyeurs.

A veteran is someone who signed a contract to serve. Who swore an oath to protect and uphold the u.s constitution. From all enemies, foreign and domestic.
Just because you have not been shot at doesn't make not a veteran.

I have deployed to non combat areas. And can claim veteran status. Instead of dodging bullets. I helped build schools and hospitals for under developed parts of central America. That is still serving.