Should veteran status be reserved for those who have deployed?

One shouldn't be punished for what is their fate that is out of their control. A Vet is a Vet.
However, if you want to get fancy there is the modified title of "Combat Veteran".

Anyone that serves should be considered a "Veteran".

There is already an official hierarchy in place with regards to benefits for those who have deployed (things like Veterans Recruitment Appointments for government jobs), vets who have combat injuries (Combat Related Special Compensation for retirees) and all veterans. Anyone who has served, is a veteran.

I spent 10 years on active duty and 2 years as a reservist before I deployed the first time for Desert Shield. If a reservist completes the requisite time and training they are a veteran. A veteran is a veteran, service is service it seems equitable.

now veterens sure but theres are those dirt bags that will sit there and if you dont know shit about military like damn near all civilians and feed them lie after lie after anyone elses storys they picked up while hiding and dodging deployments. that being said those are the lowest of the low anywaymy personal opinion i think the only people who should deploy are specific m.o.s's such as infantry, and group, and so forth my experiences over 3 deployments is most others just get in the way also n.g. and reserve should only dp shit in the U.S. v3ery personall reasons for that they used to shoot at us all the time while we slept on the side of the road because they saw trucks with guns. i dont feel they are mentally prepared for it all. So all veterens yes but there should be a known difference between true war fighters and fobbits

I have explained this in several other posts. There are several categories of veteran. I joined the Active Army on June 18 1962, I was released from Active Duty on June 08 1965. At the time of my separation I was not a vet. I joined the California Air Guard in March of 1966, it was not until I had been in the Guard for about 1 year that the official start date for the Vietnam War was announced, I was in the active service at that time so I was awarded the NDSM and was entitled to veteran status in my civil service job. This was a huge change in terms of job security and schooling. I stayed in for a total of 42 years 6mo and 25 days, then I retired. Veteran status is easily obtained these days, just join up and complete your enlistment honorably, and you are a veteran. You are more likely to deploy to a combat zone now, but even if you don't you are still a veteran. When I first joined NDSM's and veteran status was only available to active duty or deployed reservists. I went from 1966-1990 with just my NDSM only, in 1990 the NDSM was issued to active duty, reserve and guard military, I got my first device on my NDSM. That veteran status is earned! A great many of those who served in Vietnam, were drafted, a lot of them if offered a choice would not have gone voluntarily, Many people in the guard and reserves were fighting to get in to avoid the draft, those of us who were prior service volunteered to stay in reserve or Guard troop units, where call up was rare but not unheard of, when I was going through training I came within one day of being sent to the Florida beaches in the middle of the Cuban missile crisis. So the chance of callup or deployment was always there. It did not happen because our military with guard and reserves was a potent enough force to dispel the Soviet's will to attack. So now or at least before I went into the Retired Reserve, being on active duty or participating in a troop program unit entitles that military member the title of veteran and the entitlements of that title.

I have heard that is why some are called combat veteran vs. veteran. In some things you need to be in for at least 6 years in order to be of veteran status. Yet some have deployed four times and not hit 6 years. It really depends who you are talking to and for what. I personally go with the combat veteran vs. veteran to say yes I was in theater or not. Then that leads to the side conversation: combat veteran just for those who were shot at or fired shots or anyone who was deployed in combat theater.

I was told at the VA that once you put the uniform of the armed services on, you are a veteran. No matter how much time served. And I agree.