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
Responses: 95
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Any military veteran, regardless of service branch, should be offended by the notion that the VFW would even acknowledge their inclusion. If you didn't serve in foreign wars, you're not in the club. It's pretty simple.
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SPC William Szkromiuk
Roger that! The waters get very muddied unfortunately. I have a friend who often wears a jacket to events that reads:
"Combat Veteran Desert Storm"
He served on an Aircraft Carrier. I doubt very much any of Saddam's hapless air force could get very close. Yet, he belongs to the VFW. Another friend who served in the Seabees. He spent 2 weeks in Thailand on an Air Force Base during Vietnam. He is considered a Combat Veteran. I really do not begrudge anyone their titles or membership.
But everything and everyone is not what they are or seem.
Thank You All for Your Service!
"Combat Veteran Desert Storm"
He served on an Aircraft Carrier. I doubt very much any of Saddam's hapless air force could get very close. Yet, he belongs to the VFW. Another friend who served in the Seabees. He spent 2 weeks in Thailand on an Air Force Base during Vietnam. He is considered a Combat Veteran. I really do not begrudge anyone their titles or membership.
But everything and everyone is not what they are or seem.
Thank You All for Your Service!
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I've been a member of The American Legion for 30 years. Our post has about 100 members of those about 20 attend our monthly meetings. Here's the problem almost all members are Vietnam Veterans, very few Desert Storm, Iraq, Afghanistan Veterans have joined. Within 10 years there will be no one left and our post will be gone. Several posts in my state have already gone away because of lack of membership. I don't think the VFW should change the rules but I fear they are having the same problem with getting the younger Veterans to join.
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I was an in -country Dog Handler in Viet-Nam, 69-70. I had enlisted in the Army on 3 March, 1968. I got out of the military in March of 1971. I became a Police Officer in my hometown of El Paso Texas. I was having issues with the way my country was acting toward the military. I decided to join the VFW for help. I was told that I couldn't join because I had not been in a Foreign War I had been in a Police Action. Next I went to the American Legion and was given the same treatment. There was no Vietnam Veterans Association at the time. I did work my way thru the issues by talking with other officers who had also been in Viet-Nam. Till my dying day I will have nothing to do with either the VFW or American Legion
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SPC William Szkromiuk
Welcome home Sergeant! I am sorry about how those organizations treated you and all Vietnam Veterans. It was truly shameful! and misguided.
You and all Vietnam Veteran are of my generation. And they all served. US and RA. I will always have a place in my heart for everyone of you. Especially those that gave "that last full measure of devotion"
Duty
Honor
Country
You and all Vietnam Veteran are of my generation. And they all served. US and RA. I will always have a place in my heart for everyone of you. Especially those that gave "that last full measure of devotion"
Duty
Honor
Country
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Not really sure what they actually do for younger veterans when they get out. I joined twice never helped or did a thing for assisting me dealing with an asshole civilian employer. They may lift the restrictions when they need better turn outs for bingo or fish boils.
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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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Even though I was prepared, and would have gladly gone overseas, I was not sent. After my 4 year stint on Active Duty, I joined the Air Force Reserves. I was activated during Desert Storm and performed flightline and medevac duties. This included receiving wounded personnel and triaging them to military care facilities closer to their homes so they could receive the support they needed medically, and emotionally from family and friends. So even though I was activated during war time and provided essential care to our wounded military members, I can't be considered a member because I didn't "step" on foreign soil. Stateside services are an essential component of wartime readiness and war time care. So, not stepping on foreign soil disqualifies me. Oddly, a trend I keep noticing is the relaxation of certain policies when membership and financial support drops.
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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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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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