The American Legion and VFW will almost certainly die off. Will it really matter to younger veterans?

The younger folks must realize that the service organizations are their only voices being heard in the halls of DC. If they are allowed to die out who will speak for you then? When I and may others returned from Vietnam We were met by a bunch of grumpy old bastards telling us Vietnam wasn't a damn war. Well, we got over it and now it is time for the younger folks to understand you are not going to make change one voice at a time. It has to be many, it has to be loud and most of all it has to be for the benefit of ALL Veterans.

Judging from the age of average members, both organizations are comprised of people who no longer have jobs. Perhaps that's part of the appeal - with nothing else to do, it's nice to have someone to meet with regularly and tell war stories with.

It really isn't up to younger veterans whether the organizations survive or not. It's up to the organizations. If they can find a way to be relevant, they'll survive. If not, they'll die out.

I visited the VFW once, and I have to say, it appeared to me to be mostly about drinking. I don't drink much, and when I do it is never beer, so it's hard to feel like I fit in.

Most of the folks I know who've gone to a Legion or DAV report that they don't feel like they fit in. As for me, I'm not really sure how they benefit me personally, and really could care less.

I am sure the population participating in VSO's will continue to decline, but I doubt they will die completely. Part of that is the growing differential in the US population and the percentage of those that serve. With that said, that doesn't mean Veterans are not active. In fact, look at the number of Veterans Organizations that have been started during the GWOT years. Most of them focus on niche issues versus being broad Vet Representation, but they are doing good things for the community. I think one of the big things affecting VSO participation is where the "millennial" veteran generation is at in their lives. The ADVON of the generation are full swing parents and plugging away at careers. The main body and the REARVON are still trying to put together the life they want to have (going to school, finding a spouse, lock in a career, etc). I think as "our" generation (I guess I'm on ADVON), gets closer to retirement, we'll have more time for activities such as VSOs.

I've been a member of the VFW for 10 years, but been a member at large for the above stated reasons. I've only slept in my own bed 5 months out of the last 24... so participation is going to have to wait. I do think the culture is going to have to adjust to the new crowd, but that doesn't mean we can't learn a little about organization, civics, or fraternity (sorority) from our predecessors. We at times have different goals for our VSO's but I think the legislative lobbying is important (and effective).

A final consideration, I think we have such differing experiences, it's tough to lump us all into one "veteran" basket. Just because we wore uniforms with pins and brass doesn't mean we've all walked in the same shoes. Social Media has made it easier for Veterans to stay in touch with their particular group with common background. (Even places like Rally Point allow vets to plug into what they are interested in and disregard the rest.) We are inclined to gravitate towards people with shared experiences. The range of perspectives is pretty wide. We also have a much better records system to identify the PX Rangers. There are more than we would like to admit who have "generated histories", and unfortunately, these organizations have attracted quite a few of that ilk. I think times are changing... but the AL and VFW still have an important roll to play with advocacy to the US Government for taking care of us.

And few things make me beam with pride as much as when a VFW color guard goes trooping by at the Memorial Day Parade!

Oh boy...I came for the fireworks.
*question followed*

Will reply when I'm on the ground in Seattle.

The American Legion has a membership crisis because it has a leadership crisis. I will address the local post, but from what I have seen, the situation exists throughout.
The people who sit in positions of leadership (they are most assuredly NOT leaders) are stuck in the past. They are unwilling to even hear, much less consider, suggestions that might attract the younger generation of veterans.
For the first 40 or so years after I separated from active duty, my service wasn't good enough to qualify me for membership. My service didn't fall within those magical dates to make me "special". After the rules were changed, I joined the local post and, within just a few months, was advised that I don't have anything of value to offer.
You might ask what I did to merit such a response, and rightly so. My offense: I had the temerity to suggest that attracting new members would require a new approach; that having a dingy hall offering cheap beer isn't enough.
Interestingly enough, it was ONLY those people it the "leadership" chairs that took exception to my "bad attitude"; nearly ALL of the rank and file members agree that I am on the right track.
I might (emphasis on "might") decide to keep membership at the state level, but I wouldn't give a damn if the local post evaporated today. I got through 40 years without being a member, and I have no doubt that I can survive the rest of my life.

Problematic to say the Least. Respectfully Past Commander VFW Post 10299 Prairie Village, KS, Past Chaplain, Jr Vice and Vice Cdr. We folded out Post into a County wide Post of Shawnee Mission. The Identity of Veterans is Changing to say the Least. I was an Obama Supporter most of my Post loved using the N word for him. Welcome to the New World. Dynamics are a Changing. I am a Cold War, El Dorado Canyon, Desert Storm, Desert Strike Veteran. My Son-in-Law is a GWOT Veteran. My Son has a Love of his Confederate Heritage even though He Married into a Liberal Family. Easy Answers are out the window at this Point.

As a member I hope not but will admit I'm not as active as I could be. Is it an unfair and incorrect assumption that many are more bars than than Veteran organizations?

I am currently resigning from the VFW and have no desire for the legion. I have found, through the hard way, that the VFW has gotten somewhat corporate and cares for it’s higher officials while ignoring the lower posts. My posts suffered some damage in the recent storm, and were told by our higher VFW authority that they could not help us but that we could apply for grants else where, Yet the organization gives money to other organizations outside of the VFW. That is not a way to take care of your own people, we are veterans too.

Well, I decided to read all the responses instead of repeating what's already been said a dozen times. So I'll just say, I agree with the most of the posters. The million dollar question then becomes, what can we do about it? Are we really that powerless to stop it? Sure, we may have to bide our time until the "old guard" is gone, but what is to stop us from becoming members, toughing it out until the older folks are unable to resume their duties in the positions of the organization. I hate to sound so cruel but sometimes it has to be that way. We all respect the older members; WW2, Korea, Vietnam, but they need to realize that times have changed. If the VFW is to be, or remain, a respected organization they have to lose the "good old boys" club perception. The younger people, whether it's a Desert Storm vet or GWOT terror vet need to step up and take control. But that swings us back to, "do us younger (basically 50 and under) people care enough to put forth this effort.? Do we care enough about tradition and our fellow veterans?" Is something we can even commit to? I mean, it's not an internet based group where you can pop in and out and take an active part when it suits you. It's a real group with a real purpose in the community.
I say all this because I would consider taking part. But my VFW is like many others, old guys sitting around drinking, swapping stories, and talking about the good old days. Hell, I remember looking for a place to bring some badly damaged American flags for "proper" disposal. I walked up to the VFW, and had to ring a bell and talk on an intercom to gain access. The bar was open for business but God help you if you wanted information about what they do. There were about 6 guys inside, 2 at the bar 4 at a table. None of them said a word to me but I felt like I was being dressed down for interrupting their afternoon pity party or whatever was going on. I talked to the bartender about the flags. My pride in thinking I was doing the right thing was greatly diminished when she said "just put them over there, we'll take care of them" and she walked away. Getting the sense she didn't care, I left with the flags and turned them over to the Boy Scouts.
To put it mildly, my experience with the VFW and the members has not been positive. I wonder if the older members feel this is all they have left and younger people are a threat to them getting their last hooray before they fade away.

I've made a lot of assumptions and generalizations in this post. All I can say is, if the shoe fits... Is the VFW something we veterans should just allow to fade into oblivion? Or do we root out the problem and fix it? Whether it's the old guys, the millennial, or those of us in between, the problem lies in one or all of us and the resolution lies in some of us.