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 10 mo ago
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I was instructed years ago by a National Officer of the VFW. Though I served and never deployed overseas. I should join the American Legion and because my dad was a VFW member I could join the VFW Auxiliary and by doing so I would double the lobby power of my memberships. I have done so since 1980.
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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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I served during and at US Army Europe (Foreign Service) during Cold War and was rejected membership in 1998 after discharge. Couldn't understand why. They meant Foreign Combat Service and today with VFW dwindling membership now "opened" non foreign Combat service.
Wow. I'll stick to American Legion membership.
Wow. I'll stick to American Legion membership.
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Agree with SMSGT Dawson why they have an American Legion. Their are men in the VFW Auxillary, if you want it that bad. VFW is Veteran of Foreign Wars! They have a tremendous membership. I am also a Legion member but they are greedy. My island needs both posts, So we can be one. Separate but one.
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My thought is inclusion is fine, however everyone just can't join everything. We all raised our right hand and pledge to defend even if it meant losing our life. I think the eligibility rules should stay the same, if it doesn't then it won't be VFW.
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Given declining membership and interest, dont like it but it may be inevitable. Having said that, most posts live by their "Home Associations", aka bars...and social members, versus active - the vets, usually keep the place profitable.
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