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 joined the VFW, and know good well all VFW members ARE vetted properly. There is a VFW Auxiliary, that is for people NOT able to be part of the actual VFW. Then theres SONS of VFW. That is a group only close relatives are allowed in. Hope that cleared things up.
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I did my time honorably with the Seabees but was never deployed to a combat zone during active duty. After my RE1 discharge, I spent years as a civilian engineering consultant for the Marines, Army, Air Force SFS, and was deployed to Djibouti, Afghanistan, Qatar, and other places. I would say I did a hell of a lot more than most people did in any war zone but my local VFW won't let me join. The post commander had the audacity to say he "didn't want to dilute the mission [of the VFW]". As far as I'm concerned, the VFW can continue its slide into obscurity because it isn't keeping up with the times. Yes, there is ample reason to keep membership for people who have served in a war zone but to insult those who did so in an 'unconventional' manner is stupid.
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Most of my military times was overseas, five and a half years to be exact but I don't qualify for the VFW because I didn't serve in a foreign country during the wars that I served during. I wasn't in Panama nor the Persian Gulf during the ORIGINAL war there. I have heard about another veteran who is a member of the VFW even though she didn't serve in any foreign country. What are you considering to be "overseas"? Should Navy veterans who were "near" Vietnam on ships but not actually in the country qualify for the VFW?
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My father, a WWII combat veteran with a DFC and Air Medal w/3 OLCs, refused to join the VFW because they didn’t admit all veterans.
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I never heard of this! All the qualifications to apply at a VFW is you were involved in a overseas conflict.
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Nope! I am a retired Army 1SG with over 20 years but never saw any actual combat. I would not insult the VFW by attempting to join.
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The American Legion is there for vets who have military service. Any veteran qualifies for membership so long as the requirements of the charter are met. Even those vets who qualify for VFW membership are eligible for Legion membership.
It seems that each state has a charter for VFW posts, all of which refer back to the requirements of the National Charter. That being the case, I strongly suggest one become familiar with the charters, both state and national for the definitive answer to this question.
In the end, we're all veterans who served where we were most needed at any given time during our tour. Is the distinction REALLY that critical?
And, before you become critical of those REMFs, remember that if they weren't there, you would not have received mail, rations, and all the things that go along with accomplishing your assigned mission.
It seems that each state has a charter for VFW posts, all of which refer back to the requirements of the National Charter. That being the case, I strongly suggest one become familiar with the charters, both state and national for the definitive answer to this question.
In the end, we're all veterans who served where we were most needed at any given time during our tour. Is the distinction REALLY that critical?
And, before you become critical of those REMFs, remember that if they weren't there, you would not have received mail, rations, and all the things that go along with accomplishing your assigned mission.
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This is getting confusing.
"Overseas or 'Foreign' Way on their DD214"
I have "overseas" duty on my DD-214. I am not eligible for the VFW. I was a bit late for combat in Germany. And I would not claim eligibility.
"Deployment" ?
When I served. 65-68. We had: Going overseas. Stateside duty. Or going to Vietnam. No deployment. Today. If I said I was deployed during my service. Some would think I served in Combat. Negative.
I had a grade school classmate that was shot and killed on the Korean DMZ. Is he eligible for the VFW.? Posthumously, of course, if there is such a thing.
And finally. With all due respect to the Major. The question is not phrased properly.
"to include veterans with no foreign service?"
Should read:
"to include veterans with no combat zone service?"
"Overseas or 'Foreign' Way on their DD214"
I have "overseas" duty on my DD-214. I am not eligible for the VFW. I was a bit late for combat in Germany. And I would not claim eligibility.
"Deployment" ?
When I served. 65-68. We had: Going overseas. Stateside duty. Or going to Vietnam. No deployment. Today. If I said I was deployed during my service. Some would think I served in Combat. Negative.
I had a grade school classmate that was shot and killed on the Korean DMZ. Is he eligible for the VFW.? Posthumously, of course, if there is such a thing.
And finally. With all due respect to the Major. The question is not phrased properly.
"to include veterans with no foreign service?"
Should read:
"to include veterans with no combat zone service?"
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I joined the American legion while stationed At Fort Campbell. We had no choice of being deployed or not. I could have joined the VFW as both my farther and grandfather both served overseas. Gramps in France WW1, and my farther in Korea. Both were drafted. I enlisted. To be honest I could care less as long as they serve the needs of Vets I'm for them.
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They served their country regardless of their duty station. I served in Germany , I enlisted as RA unassigned. I could have gone to Nam, but they sent me to Germany. That's about all I can say without causing an argument on here.
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