Should veteran status be reserved for those who have deployed?

I believe that anyone who enlists in any branch of the armed forces and serves in uniform is a veteran. Deployments, combat experience and time on active duty all have their own specific forms of recognition that the veteran can wear and/or display.

I also believe though that military awards are a bit too narrowly-defined in some cases. For example, I served 3 1/2 consecutive years of sea duty, but do not qualify for the Sea Service ribbon because that time fell across two specified periods that qualify and the middle part doesn't count. Also, even though I was on active sea duty in the Pacific during the Vietnam war, on a ship that was actively deploying to Vietnam until just before I reported aboard, there is no form of recognition whatsoever for this. I am not considered a Vietnam vet, cannot wear that ribbon or medal, and can't join the VFW - only because I was never within a specific number of feet of Vietnamese territory. There should be some kind of recognition for vets who served active duty on a vessel of war in the theater of an active war.

In addition to that, my four years of active duty ended on a weekend, so I was told by my command that I could leave after I finished duty that Friday. Then they denied me the good conduct medal because 'you didn't serve four full years'.

So don't get me started on military awards.

You joined of your own free will, volunteered to put your arse on the line in defense of this Nation. Once to sign up you are no longer in charge of where you will go or what you will do. They also served to stand and wait. You are a veteran by any definition of the word. Thank you for your service Brother of the Cloth!

Troll? Service = veteran.

I'd say yes. You served a good honorable 4 years than you are a vet. As far as deploying... heck, Although I got multiple deployments in the Iraq/Afghan category. I faced more pain and hardship during a couple of 1 month training exercises than I did my last two combat deployments in Afghanistan.

Foal Eagle (South Korea) 2003 and NTC (Fort Irwin, CA) 2014 were brutal.

Me again... entered the US Navy, I wanted to be a plumber (hopeful civilian job) They made me a radioman... Top Secret, Crypto, presidential eyes-only security clearance... Never put boots on the ground, however, several times I received screams for Medical Evacuations of our US Marines... (TET Offensive) Also requests from the 5th Mar Div... Mine was to relay support to get these guys HELP!!! Just one Hick-up in communications and many, many US Marines would have perished... It's a lot to try to deal with...American boys trying to live, trusting in me (and others) for help!!! I was also Exposed, cancers, sleep apnea, six heart attacks, kidney surgery, and lower back pains, for over a 53 Year period... I signed the line, I went and did what I was told, and PROUD of it!!! Thank You... Bless you, A Veteran...

No individual volunteer in the armed forces has a definitive say on where they will be stationed. In my career path, I was on shore duty (Navy speak) for my first seven years. Had I left the Navy at that time, would I have been a "veteran"? ABSOLUTELY! The following years of my 20 total had me overseas for almost 50% of my career - to include combat action in Iraq. Any segment of that time made me, and any other volunteer, a veteran. Salutes to all veterans.

I was drafted in 1969, I went where they sent me and served for twenty years. There were certain things we were guaranteed then and I get them all. Looking back, I wouldn't have passed up the experience for anything. I am a member of the VFW after years of receiving invitations in the mail.

ANYONE who has served IS a Veteran. Period. End of discussion.

Veteran is defined as a person who has had long experience in a particular field.
Veteran fire fighter. Veteran law enforcement, military veteran.
Here is a better question. The military falls under 2 categories; federal military service and state military service. The National Guard falls under both. State guards replace National Guard in State Active Duty when the National Guard gets called for federal active duty. Should State Guards be considered veterans?

It’s hard for me to feel any kind of way…. Although, at first, I thought this was a dumb question. Before 9/11, I was having a cold one at a VFW, It was explained to me that I already met the standards for membership with the VFW…. Something about expeditionary service…. Anyhow, here’s the way I see it: Anyone who wears the uniform, when they raised their hand, they gave our great nation a blank check. Of course, some of those people didn’t really know what they were getting themselves into, but that’s besides the point. It shouldn’t matter where or how you served. If you served, you served.

I wonder who came up with this question and if they deployed at any time.