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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We served...we deserve! We all have one mission. Protect our country, and with that in mind...no question about it. I asked a another vet what was his most exciting moment while serving, and he said while stationed in Hawaii he slid down one the best water rides ever! Haha Haha!
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Veteran status applies to anyone who comlleted at least 180 days of service. Doesn't matter if you deployed or not.
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The numbers in the lower left corner of the DD214 denotes if the reservist was assigned to a duty station or just a school. Some were never assign to a duty station. Their VA benifits vary depending on what happened after 180 days. To save money and still get the work done orders are usually cut for 179 days or less. They, pre-9/11, could be activated (not deployed) and never qualify for benefits. I've shown my copies of orders to a VA rep and they replied they had never seen anything like that before. Completely out of the norm. Some orders were without pay and only medical insurance. The records department has no knowledge of any such orders. I was advised to keep those in a safe place as they are apparently the only copies. So there is a non qualifying veteran classification. The discussion goes on with folks trying to define the veteran title just to their experience. More, " I'm more of a veteran than you".
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We are all vets. Some however are combat vets if they served in Iraq or Astan for example.
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Deployment is not a requirement for veteran status and should not be. Deployed or not, ALL military have given of themselves and were subject to the whims and needs of the service
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I joined just at the end of the Vietnam war. I was stationed in Germany during the cold war. I was never deployed but was there and ready if needed. I am a Veteran and PROUD OF IT.
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About the "likelihood of being deployed," There were more Guard unit members in Desert storm operations than there were Active Army units, and my Son was not allowed to deploy with an Active Army unit because he had a few seizures, for which he was also chaptered out. Then He enlisted in a Guard unit and was sent to Afghanistan.
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Where did the mentality of this asinine question come from? Why would anyone even consider this question of any individual (VETERAN) who has served their country? The mere thought of this question being asked tarnishes “HONOR, COURAGE and COMMITMENT” of all who have served and those serving now and in the future! This “PC” ignorance is getting out of hand. I’m sure John Paul Jones would love to unload on the individuals asking this question.
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