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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Just because one didn't deploy doesn't mean that they didn't support the operation in another manner. During "Desert Storm" I was an Infantry Instructor and was barred from volunteering along with the rest of the unit, to go to Iraq, for we were in a support operation, after all someone had to train new infantrymen. Does this mean that cannot have the title "Veteran".
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I did deploy and don’t think any less of my fellow airman who didn’t. Serving is serving. A veteran is a veteran, deployment or not.
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Only for membership in the VFW, that is defined by the Congressional Charter, as only those with specific service locations and dates, on their DD-214 shall qualify. Other than that, a Veteran is anyone that swore the Oath and served their time ( without a Dishonorable Discharge in my book).
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1LT(P) (Join to see), since you have not updated your rank since you were promoted in 2012, I have to assume that you will not likely see this. But, just in case, I have a question for you. How in the world did you find a unit that was unlikely to deploy during that time frame? I was ANG for 13 of my 24 years in the Air Force. From 2004 through 2015 I was activated numerous times for over seven years, including a stint in the 2010's that was long enough to earn a Good Conduct Medal. The ops tempo for my unit was 24/7.
Going back to the original question: How does this even come up? Of course, you are a veteran once you have put your time in, regardless of whether you deploy or see combat. There are distinctions, however. I deployed into the combat theater for Desert Storm, making me a Desert Storm Veteran. I was mobilized and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (among other operations that I also supported), but I did not deploy into the theater of combat operations, therefore I do not call myself an OIF or OEF veteran.
Going back to the original question: How does this even come up? Of course, you are a veteran once you have put your time in, regardless of whether you deploy or see combat. There are distinctions, however. I deployed into the combat theater for Desert Storm, making me a Desert Storm Veteran. I was mobilized and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (among other operations that I also supported), but I did not deploy into the theater of combat operations, therefore I do not call myself an OIF or OEF veteran.
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Either the millennials or Gen-z probably stared this you ain't a veteran unless you deploy mess. they barely out of diapers trying to tell the older generation who is and isn't a veteran. Go have several seats.
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Yes, you go where you are told period. If you signed and served honorably then you are a veteran. It takes what? 10 people in support to make sure everyone forward has what they need when they need it.
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I served in Nam during the Tet Offensive, but didn’t think any less of those who weren’t on the front lines. Without their support, we would have been left up the creek without a paddle.
Granted, the current military is quite a bit different, but it’s still the military. I think that, once they have completed basic, no matter how long or where they serve, they are vets.
Granted, the current military is quite a bit different, but it’s still the military. I think that, once they have completed basic, no matter how long or where they serve, they are vets.
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You signed a contract to do and go wherever uncle wants to send you. Do not care what branch you are in, when uncle says go here you go. I don't know of to many people who wants to say " Hey use me as connon fod." I know according to the records you have to have so many days in to be considered a vet, but you signed and got out with anything other than an dishonorable, you a vet.
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