"War" veteran or not?

The way I look at it is like this now, and it applies to all branches:

You walked through the door and (edit: held not help) up your hand. You are a veteran of the American Armed Forces.

If you did so during war time (regardless of your occupation specialty) you are a war veteran. Though it may not be likely there was still a chance you would be grabbed from the supply closet under the pentagon and shipped to a war zone with a rifle in your hand, because face it, if they need bodies they are more likely to grab you than justin beiber...

The tricky one is combat veteran. Personally I feel that you only rate that when you have been 'shot at' in some form (ied, mortar, direct, captured, etc.) because that is an actual action.

Though I feel both the war status and combat status are equal; it could have happened to any of us, not just those that left the wire. We were all there. Had our 'enemy' been more organized, equipped, etc. they could have stormed the bases or other actions that got more of the war veterans involved more actively.

And I remember talking to one of my buddies who got a small scrape after an IED attack who felt he did not deserve the Purple Heart. I told him hey, first of all, you got hurt. No matter how slight, that is what it is for. And second, IMO more importantly, you not only wear that as the one who got hurt. You wear that as a service member that has put himself in harms way, taken that harm, and come out the other side. You are in a long line of those who not only stared fear in the eye like the rest of us, but you stared fear death in the eye and kept pumping. Despite the severity you represent the warrior spirit that has made this military the greatest in the world. Wear it to remind those around you that courage is not just running towards bullets, it is coming back for more.

...sorry that is a little long. kinda did a bit of a rant, but I hope that helps someone else understand that their sacrifice wasn't for nothing...

Whatever makes you comfortable. If you want to call yourself that, then you should because on the official side, you do indeed rate that title. But if it would make you feel phony, then keep doin what you're doin. My personal opinion: if you didn't visit the region in question (Gulf War, Afghanistan, Vietnam, etc), it'd probably be best to just say "vet" without throwing the nation or region in front of it.

I think you are a Veteran of that era, the fact that you did not get sent there should not diminish your service to our nation, its just the luck of the draw.

I was in OBC during Desert Storm when I got mine - go figure. SFC Chris Smith and SFC Mark Merino make excellent points on the topic - you were ready to go if called and the VA recognizes you.

My personal thought is that you would be a Desert Storm ERA vet as you did not deploy to the region in conflict. Vietnam ERA vs. Vietnam Vet (went to Vietnam), OEF/OIF ERA vs. OEF/OIF Vet (went to respective theater). ERA sets a time stamp of service that is easily recognized. I have been deployed to all 3.... took incoming scuds in Deserts Storm (never saw direct fire action), Took incoming indirect fire in Iraq (again, never saw direct fire action), and took indirect fire in Afghanistan (again, never pulled trigger on my bang stick). I consider myself a combat vet of all 3 as I was in the theater of operations, HOWEVER, I also tell people that while I am a combat vet, I was never involved in direct combat.

There are thousands like you that were graduating boot camp during the war, don't fret, you just meet the time requirements of being a serving soldier during a time of war. There are thousands of veterans that never got to Vietnam but they are still Vietnam vets on the books.

I served at Kadena AB, Okinawa in 64-65. Job was munitions Line Delivery. Received, assembled, stored and sometimes assisted in loading munitions on 18th TAC Ftr Wng F-105"s, which flew combat missions into Laos and Cambodia. Volunteered and was refused to go to VN. No boots on the ground, but neither did Navy guys on ships doing the same thing I did. So am I a VN vet or a VN era vet. I would trade all my ribbons and decoration to be eligible for the Vietnam Service Medal. The only things I have to show I served during the Vietnam war are the AF Outstanding unit ribbon (2), AF Longevity, National Service ribbon and expert shooters ribbon. The AF didn't even award me the Long Tour overseas ribbon (18months on the rock). Any help?

You are a Gulf War era veteran as you served during that era. Those who who deployed and participated in the Desert Storm campaign are Gulf War veterans.

I know the feeling. I am a veteran who was in during that war who did not fight. I was in Korea at the time. I still get confused when I am called a "war veteran", just because I, too, have a NDSM. The VA actually calls us "Gulf War Era" veterans and that is just as confusing. The reason I got that medal in the first place is because I was Regular Army serving overseas at the time of war. I don't even buy the hats or shirts with that on it.

I was deployed over there for 14 months and ended up in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait. And I believe there is a difference between someone who went, and someone who remained in garrison.