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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Anyone who signed that dotted line and served honorably regardless of their role is a veteran
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You take the oath and wear the uniform and complete a term of service...you are a veteran. Perhaps not a war veteran but you do the time in uniform you have the right to call yourself a veteran!
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Should veteran status be reserved for those who have deployed?
No, you go and serve where you are sent.
No, you go and serve where you are sent.
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I spent 4 years in the Air Force during the Vietnam era. I was sent to a security base in Italy not of my choosing but still supported the mission. I understand those who dodged bullets but I also serviced. I agree with Chip.
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I considered several responses to this question, most of which were either outrageous or certainly disrespectful. The best I can come up with is that the selectee asking this question needs to allow their butter bar to cook some more before they pin on the new ones.
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It’s stupid ass questions like this, that makes me not come on this sight very much. This is a turd question. Yes I said turd. U don’t deserve to be called Sir. Asking something stupid like this makes me feel sorry for any troops that serve under you. I hope u have a really good NCO, because you are a turd. Do us all a favor and go to the latrine and try and figure out which three fingers on either your left or right hand you are going to be pissing on today and stop trying to sound intelligent with these stupid ass questions. TURD
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Absolutely. A veteran is a veteran. There were 1 month training missions here in the US (NTC, CAX) that were more painful than my last 9 month deployment to Afghanistan. Also the 1 month I spent in Yaechoen Air Base, South Korea for Foal Eagle 2003 almost drove me insane.
So just because someone hasn't been to the sand box doesn't mean they aren't a real veteran. Just maybe not a combat veteran.
So just because someone hasn't been to the sand box doesn't mean they aren't a real veteran. Just maybe not a combat veteran.
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PO1PO1 William "Chip" Nagel said it best. However, since this keyboard is so close to my fingertips, let me open and close this topic, please.
My brother and I served together during a hot war. Neither of us saw combat. Both of us supported combat units from a desktop thousands of miles away. War is hell enough, we don't need to sift through political rhetoric to decide who gets the medal...I don't take the term Veteran lightly. I earned my status, my stripes, and the feeling in my heart that I served my country the way they intended me to.
My brother and I served together during a hot war. Neither of us saw combat. Both of us supported combat units from a desktop thousands of miles away. War is hell enough, we don't need to sift through political rhetoric to decide who gets the medal...I don't take the term Veteran lightly. I earned my status, my stripes, and the feeling in my heart that I served my country the way they intended me to.
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YES . . . that veteran status nonsense has got to be coming from people who've never served!
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GySgt Mike Swisher
Ouch! I thought I had typed, YES . . . you are a veteran.
Don't dress me down to hard folks. But while I'm here, the only person that can't claim veteran status is the person who never served.
Don't dress me down to hard folks. But while I'm here, the only person that can't claim veteran status is the person who never served.
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