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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When did this site become such a breeding ground for internet trolls?
Such a stupid question. You’re just trying to provoke an argument.
Such a stupid question. You’re just trying to provoke an argument.
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ARNG RC seem to be worried about this more than anyone. People ask me all the time. Hoot why do you do it? You some kind of war junkie? I don't even respond to them, they don't understand that it's about the free grand slam once a year at Denny's.
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You are either in the pool or you are not..... This site has been stuck on stupid for far too long.
I have buddies in the guard that have been deployed twenty or more times... and know an ARMY recruiter that that did twenty years active, never went over seas, never deployed, and got out with full PTSD???
They are all veterans.... some IMO are hero's, and some are ZEROS!!
I have buddies in the guard that have been deployed twenty or more times... and know an ARMY recruiter that that did twenty years active, never went over seas, never deployed, and got out with full PTSD???
They are all veterans.... some IMO are hero's, and some are ZEROS!!
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What many Soldiers, Civilians, and the rest of you don't realize is that the Army keeps churning 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. There are multiple hot spots or soon to be hotspots that intelligence didn't see coming. So whoever was there put on their gear and did what had to be done because they were a Soldier and responded to their call to duty. There are many other MOSs that do their duty every day without a shot being fired at them but they face danger because of their job. Thank God to the medical personnel, admin personnel and cooks who provide sustenance every damn day. Every single Soldier does his part of keeping the Army Strong. When it comes to for patrol, the first people I looked at were my medics, commo people and then the other Soldiers who carried rifles. As I put out my opord I knew the hours of planning and worry that went on at the TOC and I knew they had put their heart and soul into the order. So can we please stop with the BS, its like sayiing a policeman cannot retire unless they shot or were shot on duty.
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Is this a serious question?
So someone that does 4 years active duty the. 4 years in reserve, but never goes on a deployment or outside ConUS is not a veteran?
So someone that does 4 years active duty the. 4 years in reserve, but never goes on a deployment or outside ConUS is not a veteran?
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Do you strip veteran status from all who served but did not deploy during the time the US defeated USSR? NO. All who serve deserve to be called veteran. All have given some.
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After being discharged from the Army, I jointed the National Guard and had the displeasure of having to be in the presence of those individuals whose status in the community were able to obtain a position in the Guard in order to avoid being drafted and sent to Vietnam. Most of them couldn't hold a candle to the Guardsmen of today, who have deployed several times to combat zones or in support of combat troops. These men and women had to leave their civilian jobs and family for sometimes over a year. If they didn't participate in combat, they are still veterans in my eyes as their dedication to duty and their country was constant. Fate sometimes will intervene and even though some of them never entered the combat zone they were willing to do so. Consequently, if you raise your right hand and put that uniform on you are a veteran. I was in supply when the draft was terminated and so many of those so called dodgers would say to me that they would live to see our unit disbanded. It didn't and the reserve components are now a valuable component of the active force. Why shouldn't they be called veterans.
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Absolutely it should come into question! I think a valid disability status from Active duty or reserve while on active duty should be imperative. Anyone deployed to a combat zone should have full veteran status. I had a guy in a VA group that had 0 disability, no deployment, admitted taking drugs and stated he made more money coming to the VA than working. At that time travel pay was outrageous. The further you lived the more you made to get all the benefits your "entitled" to. Hate that word. Isn't there a minimum amount of time to serve to get veteran status? It's one thing to be proud of veteran status, another to abuse it. To get medical help the highest disability rating is said to have highest priority. Get your appointment canceled and you get bumped to the next available date. Clerks should have that right in front of them to bump 0 percent. Combat veterans records tagged right next to their name. It matters and it takes effort to make it happen.
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