Posted on Aug 2, 2023
What do you think about the "Veterans of Foreign Wars" (VFW) one day changing their policies to include veterans with no foreign service?
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The VFW which is appropriately titled "Veterans of Foreign Wars" has been a topic of discussion for many of today's Veterans. Should they one day changing their Policies to include Veterans who do not have a Overseas or 'Foreign' Way on their DD214. This has been an issue or at least a question for a long time. Veterans who serve do so at the whim of a detailer who sends them where needed. Many Marines I served with Volunteered for Afghanistand and/or Iraq dozen of time to no avail. In many cases they were 'NEEDED' elsewhere due to their expertise in a 'non-combat' field or MOS. One in particual was a Black Belt Marine Corps Martial Arts Program 'MCMAP' Trainer and trained new Officers at the OCS academy where young Lieutenants went to train and learn their 'Combat' skills. He was never allowed to deploy due to his expertise and eventually got out of the service without a Foreign Deployment through no fault of his own but now he is 'Penalized' for not having a Deployment. He has been told to 'Go join the American Legion' but all of our freind groups are VFW...
Deployment
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) - Afghanistan
South Korea
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 158
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I am a member of the VFW, and have no issue with it as it stands. There are other Veteran Organizations out there for those who are not allowed to join the VFW. I really see no issue here.
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When I Was In My Teens I Was A Member Of The Local VFW Drum And Bugle Corps As My Father Was A Korea War Veteran. I Have Been A Member Of The Legion For Over 30 Years And Never Thought About Going Back To The VFW.
I Do Have A Question About What Does The VFW Consider To Be A Foreign War ? I Was Deployed To Grenada For Urgent Fury Is That Considered To Be A Foreign War ?
I Do Have A Question About What Does The VFW Consider To Be A Foreign War ? I Was Deployed To Grenada For Urgent Fury Is That Considered To Be A Foreign War ?
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Desperation for new members. I didn't feel welcomed when I visited a local chapter after my return from Vietnam. Never felt any desire to join after that.
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Because I never served Over Seas in a Combat Zone or whatever the Prerequisites are for being allowed into the VFW..... I'm ok with that. I served Thirty Years active duty "Coast Guard" and to be honest and not to piss anyone off that reads this, I'm not interested. Regardless, if exempted.
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PO1 John Hudson
I served from 1972 in the Army until I changed to the Coast Guard in 1979, until 1997. The one time I went to the VFW as a guest told me young people aren’t welcomed. I’ve belonged to the American Legion for over 15 years and even though I served during Vietnam, I wasn’t welcomed. These organization have become cliques and outsiders are not welcome. I keep my memberships in DAV, American Legion. It’s sad that our young veterans are not being actively sought for membership and shown not only are the welcomed but their service celebrated.
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Shipmates, there is No veterans organizations that are open to All service members or veterans. The VFW (life member) only take those who served in a conflict, war, with boots on the ground. AL will only take those who served during a conflict or war era. Cold War does not count. I left because of their policy of not being open to All veterans. I have brothers and sister-in-laws who served during Cold War and peace time and they cannot get into these two organization's or any other. To my knowledge, none of them has changed their policies.
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You do not necessarily have to deploy or serve in a combat zone to become a Veteran of a foreign war. Many folks earned their GWOT service medal for supporting the war stateside without deploying.
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COL Randall C.
Depends on the GWOT. The GWOT-SM (which is the award for GWOT support from the US) doesn't give you eligibility, but the GWOT-EM does.
However, the statement is true as almost all individuals that have served in Korea for more than a month are eligible (or 60 days if non-consecutive) as well (i.e., TDY to 30+ days to Korea gives you eligibility).
However, the statement is true as almost all individuals that have served in Korea for more than a month are eligible (or 60 days if non-consecutive) as well (i.e., TDY to 30+ days to Korea gives you eligibility).
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Maj Scott Kiger, M.A.S.
Veterans of Foreign Wars is very specific a Stateside GWOT did not gain them eligibility. You have to leave the country and even that does not suffice. Sitting in Germany at Ramstein or Okinawa Japan is not supporting a Foreign war either. Your DD-214 has to say that you served in support of a Foreign war with only a couple of exeptions over the years. One is Occupying Forces in Mainland Japan and in Korea after the Korean War.
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Maj Scott Kiger, M.A.S.
COL Randall C. - The Korea Piece is very specific due to North and South Korea still 'Technically' being at war. No treaty... I also qualify and have a Korean "defense" Medal. Kuwait service time and a year in Bagram during the War. Only 3 years of my 22 years of service got me into the VFW. I could have just as easily been sitting in Cali during the entire thing as an Aircraft Maint Officer and never qualified. Even my time in Italy during Bosina-Hertz in 97 was considered supporting but not 'Combat'. Eventhough Nato awarded my Flying Squadron a Nato Ribbon we still were not technically in Combat although we blew lots of Shit up.
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Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin
Yeah I looked at the requirements again and noted there is a physical aspect required.
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I’m not a combat vet therefore not eligible. However our local VFW doesn’t seem to have much restriction on nonmembers. I’ve been invited there on ocassions and the post said it was open to the public. They often have several nights open to the public. The have different dinner specials and open the bar area to all. So, I’m not sure what purpose the local VFW even serves. I’m sure they have meetings but I never hear about what they are doing to serve veterans. Not complaining just an observation. I don’t have a problem with not being able to join. I am still a service connected disabled vet just not combat related. I joined the DAV and am satisfied with them. I say any organization can’t be a one size fits all. Just consider your options and go with what works for you.
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PO3 Edward Riddle
I think the name says it all, Veterans of Foreign Wars. Why would you want to congregate someplace where you don't qualify to be there? Just because you want to go there don't mean nuthin. Stick with DAV and be satisfied with that, since you qualify to be there. Or maybe you can go to the American Legion. Please don't go to the Viet Nam Veterans of America.
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