Posted on Feb 11, 2015
What's in your DD 214: Is the Senator a "Combat" Veteran?
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Is this a sexist case of "only her hairdresser knows for sure"? Or one of those perceptual inductions like the Bronze Star is awarded only to heroes? More soldiers have been in combat zones drawing combat/hazardous duty/hostile fire pay than were ever on the actual firing line. She did her duty.
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/joni-ernst-combat-veteran-115080.html#ixzz3RPBC0FuL
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/02/joni-ernst-combat-veteran-115080.html#ixzz3RPBC0FuL
Combat
Politics
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 16
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I would say there is a distinction. A veteran (military service) and Combat Veteran (being in theater) shear fact of either. If such were the case only combat MOS' would be considered combat vets.
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CPT Patrick Boling - There is a difference between being a veteran and being a combat veteran. I'm a veteran by God's grace I did not see action, however being in combat makes you different. A Marine or soldier who served in the Iraq or Afghan wars are combat veterans they have earned every bit of their honor. Did they see the same thing that Marines & soldiers saw in the Pacific during WWII when thousands were dying in a day, no thank God.
Now if someone is saying she is not a veteran because she is never saw combat they are wrong.
Now if someone is saying she is not a veteran because she is never saw combat they are wrong.
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Sir,
I believe this discussion is related https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-s-in-your-dd-214-is-the-senator-a-combat-veteran
I believe this discussion is related https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-s-in-your-dd-214-is-the-senator-a-combat-veteran
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Out of morbid curiosity, I pulled up my DD-214.
Block 13. Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and campaign ribbons awarded or authorized is pretty much the only place you "might" find something that says "Combat" veteran.
I wasn't able to locate it. I know "back in the day" the USMC used to have "Combat FitReps" for E5+.
But hell.... the government & the VA have just made so many different categories of Veterans, it has just gotten out of hand. I get sub-dividing us by "era." That makes sense administratively, but I think it's getting out of hand.
Block 13. Decorations, Medals, Badges, Citations and campaign ribbons awarded or authorized is pretty much the only place you "might" find something that says "Combat" veteran.
I wasn't able to locate it. I know "back in the day" the USMC used to have "Combat FitReps" for E5+.
But hell.... the government & the VA have just made so many different categories of Veterans, it has just gotten out of hand. I get sub-dividing us by "era." That makes sense administratively, but I think it's getting out of hand.
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Cpl Jeff N.
@sgt aaron kennedy Aaron, wouldn't a combat action ribbon be the award (for Marines) that demonstrated you were in combat and consequently a combat veteran vs being a veteran that served in Iraq or Afghanistan? I view a combat veterans as someone that took fire and/or fired on the enemy in combat. Perhaps that is too restricitive of a view. If everyone is a combat veteran, no one is a combat veteran (it loses it's meanning),
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Cpl Jeff N. CAR is a personal award, so generally yes. That definitively answers the question.
However, what about our artillery men who rain fire on the enemy? Or our Forward Observers who call it in? Or Air Officers?
The CAR specifically recognizes E1-O5 for ground/surface engagements, or "active" combat. It wasn't until very recent history that it started to recognize more "passive" types of combat such as IED.
What that means is that the truth is somewhere between an Expeditionary Medal and a CAR.
However, what about our artillery men who rain fire on the enemy? Or our Forward Observers who call it in? Or Air Officers?
The CAR specifically recognizes E1-O5 for ground/surface engagements, or "active" combat. It wasn't until very recent history that it started to recognize more "passive" types of combat such as IED.
What that means is that the truth is somewhere between an Expeditionary Medal and a CAR.
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Technically yes, but we have a different understanding than the other 99.5% of the American public.
I'm betting that when most people hear "combat veteran" they think of someone directly engaging in combat with the enemy (taking or returning fire).
That being said - I don't really call or consider myself a combat veteran despite spending 6 months in Iraq at Camp Al Taqqadum. I felt like the Marines and Soldiers that went out from the Camp everyday on patrol when I only left a few times my entire 6 months were the real combat veterans. I don't have any shiny stuff, but I had a few opportunities to take and return fire while in Iraq. I just did what I should have been doing while there in the situations that I ended up involved in.
I'm betting that when most people hear "combat veteran" they think of someone directly engaging in combat with the enemy (taking or returning fire).
That being said - I don't really call or consider myself a combat veteran despite spending 6 months in Iraq at Camp Al Taqqadum. I felt like the Marines and Soldiers that went out from the Camp everyday on patrol when I only left a few times my entire 6 months were the real combat veterans. I don't have any shiny stuff, but I had a few opportunities to take and return fire while in Iraq. I just did what I should have been doing while there in the situations that I ended up involved in.
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