What's the difference between the American Legion and the VFW besides being a veterans bar to go and have some drinks?

2016-03-30T01:06:22-04:00

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2016 1:16 AM

2016-03-30T01:16:01-04:00

The major difference that I'm aware of is that the American Legion offers membership to any former members of the armed forces. The VFW as it's name implies only accepts members who have been deployed in support of armed conflict.

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Mar 30 at 2016 2:17 AM

2016-03-30T02:17:36-04:00

SSG Jerry Eidson - Based upon the AL and VFW in my area, I'd say the VFW has a much better draft selection... (and what SSgt Private RallyPoint Member said)

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2016 2:34 AM

2016-03-30T02:34:04-04:00

The American Legion is the oldest and largest military organization in the country. However, it does not let any military person in. Membership is dependent upon serving IN or DURING specified military wars, conflicts, and campaigns. One example, a Cold War military member does not qualify for membership. The Veterans of Foreign Wars implies exactly that: membership is strictly limited to military personnel who served in the contiguous waters of or on the foreign soil during a declared foreign war. Again, a Cold War veteran would not be able to join. Era veterans are also not able to join. This is one reason that AMVETS and VIETNAM VETERANS of AMERICA were formed. They have no limitations on membership, except the latter is for actual Nam Vets or Era Veterans. I am a Life Member in the AL and the VFW, and a past post commander in each.

BTW, though both organizations do have the ability to seek and acquire a liquor license to operate a bar, the total number of actual posts that have done so is far less than fifty percent.

Response by SPC Matthew Morris made Mar 30 at 2016 2:35 AM

2016-03-30T02:35:22-04:00

In my area, the VFW seems to struggle more with membership and funding than the AL

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2016 3:52 AM

2016-03-30T03:52:50-04:00

One is a military club with a drinking theme and the other is a drinking club with a military theme.

Response by SSG Waldo Yamada made Mar 30 at 2016 5:08 AM

2016-03-30T05:08:09-04:00

I know VFW and AMVETS are like a congregation place to be and have some drinks but I rarely seen an American Legion have bars to drink at. Maybe it's my town that doesn't have American Legion barst. I do know that American Legion is like a more well organized organization to help vets with what they need. The same for VFW but I think American Legion has a more pronounced support in politics due to the fact that it fights for Veteran rights in US Congress and such. When I was in Fort Hood, they are usually well expressed in our Permanent Party welcome and orientation for newcomers.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2016 6:25 AM

2016-03-30T06:25:28-04:00

The beer they serve.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 30 at 2016 6:35 AM

2016-03-30T06:35:38-04:00

American Legion: Veterans
VFW: Combat Veterans

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2016 9:46 AM

2016-03-30T09:46:05-04:00

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member is absolutely correct. The American Legion will accept membership from any former armed service members and they do not have to be veterans. The VFW is strictly for veterans with wartime deployments.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2016 10:02 AM

2016-03-30T10:02:15-04:00

I "grew up" inside a Legion Post alongside my father. As a current member of Post 53, Harriman, TN...I sometimes feel shocked at the perceptions frequently expressed. First off, let's clear up the question of membership: The Legion is for veterans who served during time of war. As the decades since WWI have gone by, this definition has, by necessity, expanded such that there's actually a very broad spectrum of periods classified as applicable service.

AUGUST 2, 1990 TO TODAY (PERSIAN GULF/ WAR ON TERRORISM)
DECEMBER 20, 1989 TO JANUARY 31, 1990 (OPERATION JUST CAUSE - PANAMA)
AUGUST 24, 1982 TO JULY 31, 1984 (LEBANON/GRENADA)
FEBRUARY 28, 1961 TO MAY 7, 1975 (VIETNAM)
JUNE 25, 1950 TO JANUARY 31, 1955 (KOREA)
DECEMBER 7, 1941 TO DECEMBER 31, 1946 (WORLD WAR II)
APRIL 6, 1917 TO NOVEMBER 11, 1918 (WORLD WAR I)

It's that "Cold War" period that causes some controversy, as someone who served from '84-'90, '75-'82, '55-'61, or '46-'50 might be excluded. From what I gather, there are FREQUENT exceptions made, though I have no documented evidence to support it.

By contrast, the VFW's eligibility criteria is as follows:

"received a campaign medal for overseas service; have served 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in Korea; or have ever received hostile fire or imminent danger pay, then you're eligible to join our ranks"

The VFW is essentially more "inclusive", as a member could've been forward deployed on the DMZ, or been part of operations not connected to the above actions, and still join.

As to the drinking-I've never personally been at a Legion event where alcohol was served, though I realize that's more about the region, than the percentages. Our Post actually hosts the AA chapter, and provides significant support to rehabilitation. Again, to the best of my knowledge, none of our members are in AA.

We do perform a great deal of civic service; BSA, local high school support, scholarships, veterans support, VA liaison, etc.

Overall, my experience has always been a good one.

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Mar 30 at 2016 6:28 PM

2016-03-30T18:28:54-04:00

Ouch.....

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2016 8:34 PM

2016-04-01T20:34:23-04:00

Not much difference. The Legion has a motorcycle riding club. Other than that, Legion allows all veterans while the VFW only allows combat vets.

Response by SSgt Jose "Joe" Diaz made Aug 5 at 2016 7:10 PM

2016-08-05T19:10:42-04:00

The American Legion IS NOT open to all. You must have served during congress designated times of war or conflict to join. There are plenty of Veterans that are not eligible to join the American legion or the VFW.

Response by SGT James Hammons made Aug 17 at 2016 11:01 AM

2016-08-17T11:01:55-04:00

Be aware that the club is not the VFW, although it is nice to have the bar and it helps pay the bills. If you want to be more involved then join the local post. VFW has is for Veterans who have served in foreign Wars. http://www.vfw.org/?gclid=COGHyp7byM4CFY-GaQodeK8HIQ

VFW - Veterans of Foreign Wars USA

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the US is the official nonprofit service organization for USA military veterans benefits, VFW programs, community service, patriotic and world events, American flag sales, and services to military veterans and communities.

Response by SGT James Hammons made Aug 17 at 2016 11:16 AM

2016-08-17T11:16:04-04:00

These are your organizations get involved and make them what you need them to be.

Response by PO1 Bob Underwood made May 6 at 2017 8:57 AM

2017-05-06T08:57:33-04:00

It's sad that with all the good work for Veterans and the community around the posts, people associate them by the few with a 'bar'. A large number of posts don't even have a building to call a home. Any with bars made them with permission of their National office and local ordinances to serve their members with a place to socialize with their peers. When they were created, this was a norm of society. They've continued operation as society changed. Veterans have long used group socializing like this as self-prescribed therapy to the trials of war. But by pushing the Government for benefit change, society now expects them to get doctor-monitored therapy that includes prescribed sedatives. Look beyond this small blemish, see the greater things these VSO's do. Over 2 million of your fellow veterans can't be wrong for joining them.

Response by CPT Ernest Cook made May 15 at 2017 2:57 PM

2017-05-15T14:57:53-04:00

On a related note, with declining enrollment in all veterans organizations perhaps it is time to consider merging the organizations together? As an American Legion member who does not qualify for VFW, I understand we might need to have a way to give those who have served in a hostile area (VFW members) with a special designation within the new organization. i.e. a single organization with special destinations for character of service.

Response by Cpl Bernie Stanaway made Oct 13 at 2017 7:51 PM

2017-10-13T19:51:22-04:00

It all depends on your area. Some places the VFW is larger and others the American Legion is larger. It all depends. All service organizations are having trouble with membership. The younger people are not coming in at the rate that is needed.

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Oct 19 at 2017 4:43 PM

2017-10-19T16:43:29-04:00

What is ironic is that some can qualify for VFW membership but not qualify for American Legion membership. Now how can that be if VFW eligibility requires "in theater" wartime service and the American Legion only requires service during designated war-time periods? Here is one example- The VFW recognizes 30 consecutive days or more in Korea from the start of the Korean war to the present as qualifying service for membership eligibility. So a veteran who did a tour or deployment longer than 30 days in Korea at any time can join the VFW, but can't join the American Legion if their service period doesn't fall into any of the eligibility date windows. That wasn't always the case, they changed their by-laws to help with lagging membership. The American Legion would be well served to do the same thing and open to Cold War veterans, but requires so much bureaucratic red tape and Congressional approval, it will never happen. One thing the American Legion did do, was keep the eligibility dates open from the start of Desert Shield/Storm to the present, their longest eligibility date window.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2017 10:00 PM

2017-11-13T22:00:25-05:00

American legion have to have either been in the service or have a direct relative who has. To be in the VFW you need to have been deployed to a foreign war I believe.

Response by CPL Dee Dyer made Mar 22 at 2018 7:11 PM

2018-03-22T19:11:54-04:00

so what can you join if you served but not in or during an active period of war?

Response by CPL Thurston F. (Frankie) Garner made Apr 24 at 2018 2:53 PM

2018-04-24T14:53:00-04:00

Whichever one will accept me, being that I served from 81 to 86