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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Read the Total Force Doctrine.
Reserves going back to the 1990’s have been pulling active duty in all aspects less then even 30 day orders then sent home, to replace or support active duty. On again off again until you are done with your obligation 8 year enlistment.did. And if you dont get enough continuous active duty days 2 years you will not get veteran recognition as a veteran for veteran purposes, in warning letters, and stoppages of service all together at the VET CENTER and VA HOSPITAL. You can look at the Active Duty Ships I was assigned for years, but kept in a reserve package, on my profile, with one of this most demanding hardest toughest roughest dangerous jobs historically in the global history of the navy
Reserves going back to the 1990’s have been pulling active duty in all aspects less then even 30 day orders then sent home, to replace or support active duty. On again off again until you are done with your obligation 8 year enlistment.did. And if you dont get enough continuous active duty days 2 years you will not get veteran recognition as a veteran for veteran purposes, in warning letters, and stoppages of service all together at the VET CENTER and VA HOSPITAL. You can look at the Active Duty Ships I was assigned for years, but kept in a reserve package, on my profile, with one of this most demanding hardest toughest roughest dangerous jobs historically in the global history of the navy
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I spent almost 22 years in the Army. Spent time in numerous overseas areas like Vietnam, Turkey, Greece and Germany. I am a veteran and enjoy the comradeship of the VFW, American Legion and DAV. When you sign on the line, recite the oath and do your time, you are a veteran. God Bless all veterans!
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Call me old school, call me jaded, call me other things. When I was on active duty we supposedly have Guard and Reserve forces working with us one weekend a month and two weeks out of the year. Sure they would show up on base, go to their squadron areas for roll call, administrivia, hair cuts, go to the BX, get new uniforms, update records, and so on. The end result is we NEVER saw them long enough to do any worthwhile training. When Desert Shield/Storm kicked off, we had a Guard squadron deploy to our location and found them to be less useful than a basic trainee right out of school.
Should they be called Veterans? I'm not sure I would even call them military. Sure they wore the clothes and display stripes, but the skill levels observed did not match the stripes on the sleeves. Veterans? Fortunately it's not up to me to make that call.
Should they be called Veterans? I'm not sure I would even call them military. Sure they wore the clothes and display stripes, but the skill levels observed did not match the stripes on the sleeves. Veterans? Fortunately it's not up to me to make that call.
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You become veteran when you take the oath, when you say okay from now on I'm Uncle Sam's to do with as he pleases. Then you call on the Lord to watch over you.
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ANYONE WHO SERVED IN THE MILITARY IS A VETERAN. It does not matter whether you were in combat or served chow for 4 years. I served in combat in Vietnam but there are no records anywhere to prove it. I also served for 28 years and 9 months in case you don't believe the served in combat. Either way, I am a Veteran.
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No. If you served honorably, you are a Veteran. Why is this even a question?
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