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

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

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.

American Legion: Veterans
VFW: Combat Veterans

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.