Posted on Mar 11, 2016
What would be a number of things that would influence you as a younger Veteran to become active in a American Legion or VFW Post?
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Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
The American Legion
Millennials
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 4
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The biggest and most difficult thing would be to accept new younger veterans and their ideas. The people currently in these organizations have to freely accept new younger members and their ideas. They also need to be more active in the community that at one time in our lives protected. They need to show a presence at all community events. As a younger veteran myself, I want to see my local American Legion Post thrive. However, the only way it will is if it has younger veterans like myself join and breath new life into the posts. They need to recognize that they are getting to the point where they should enjoy their lives. These posts should be somewhere that veterans can go to without fear of judgement. It needs to have a social, welcoming atmosphere. It needs to also become modernized and with the current times. These posts need someone who knows how to run a website as well as social media. They need someone who knows the local community and their events. They need someone who will go to those events and spread the word about the post. They need someone who will be active and keep the best interest of the post in mind. The people in these posts are often closed and hard to approach. This is the exact opposite of what is necessary to ensure that these organizations posts are still around when the current generation of active/reserve personnel retire.
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PO2 Jeffrey Sheibels
Well, I actually cannot join the VFW due to not having a combat award of some kind. I may have been to a "combat" zone but I never saw actual combat. So the only thing I can do is join the Auxiliary using my Grandfathers military experience to push my membership. However, I am not sure if he saw combat or not.
With that said, I have joined the American Legion Post 409 in San Bruno, CA. I don't really care about it being non-smoking or a family game room. What I care about is how they help other veterans and also continue to serve the local community. The only aspect I care for is that they have a bar that seems to be only open when the hall is rented out. I would like to see it open at least on Friday and Saturday nights at the least. Ideally I would like to see it open all week. It would be a great revenue stream for them and they already have the licenses required for a bar. Ultimately I would like to see more active members. There are 200 members registered to that post but only about 20 active members. I would like to see that number change to at least 50/50 of active to inactive. But there is a lot of work to be done and the hardest thing is going to be getting the current members to accept new ideas and make some changes.
With that said, I have joined the American Legion Post 409 in San Bruno, CA. I don't really care about it being non-smoking or a family game room. What I care about is how they help other veterans and also continue to serve the local community. The only aspect I care for is that they have a bar that seems to be only open when the hall is rented out. I would like to see it open at least on Friday and Saturday nights at the least. Ideally I would like to see it open all week. It would be a great revenue stream for them and they already have the licenses required for a bar. Ultimately I would like to see more active members. There are 200 members registered to that post but only about 20 active members. I would like to see that number change to at least 50/50 of active to inactive. But there is a lot of work to be done and the hardest thing is going to be getting the current members to accept new ideas and make some changes.
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Cpl James Norrie
If you've been to a combat zone, and received Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger Pay you are eligible for VFW membership
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PO2 Jeffrey Sheibels
Cpl James Norrie - The problem is that while I have been to what was classified as a combat zone, I did not receive hostile fire and I don't remember if I received Imminent Danger Pay. It was also only for one day and no medal or ribbon was awarded to anyone involved.
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CPO Jim Turner
PO Sheibels' response is what is needed, he shares specific examples, like a web page, active club, help for vets, etc. I read other replies with open carry and other gun training. Needs to move on from a place to smoke and drink.
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A leadership climate that encouraged input from younger veterans and invited them to become involved in the activities/committees/leadership posts of the organization.
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SPC Paul Prevost
My problem currently is that those I have reached out to say we aren't providing any activity they are interested in, that's why I am asking, "what are the thing's you're interested in?"
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SPC Paul Prevost
Would you be more likely to be active in your American Legion or VFW if it were non-smoking? If there was a Family Game Room?
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That's a great question. I honestly don't have an answer to it. I would surmise I might be more interested in the VFW if I felt like I was actually welcome and/or wanted as a member. The last two posts I looked into joining was met with "You aren't a Nam vet. Why are you here?" mentality.
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SPC Paul Prevost
funny, not funny HaHa, but funny, I remember when I first returned from Germany in 88 the VFW in my home town didn't except Vietnam Vets because their war was classified as a Police Action... Of course they didn't want me either because I had not gone to a WAR either. This is 2016 though and anyone who served in Iraq or Afghanistan went to a WAR and has every right to be a member, piss on them and their shity attitude. I am trying to save an American Legion Post from dying off, without Veterans from the Dessert Wars not only will my post die off but many will. I consider the loss of all that history a shame.
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MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P
That's what I was thinking. Let's face it, the Viet Nam Era veterans aren't exactly 20-somethings any more. Without new membership, the various organizations are doomed to become extinct due to normal attrition. I don't know what conflict might occur in the future but I would hope the "Desert" Era veterans like myself wouldn't look at them and say "Well, you weren't in Shield, Storm, or OEF/OIF so you aren't a REAL veteran....."
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SPC Paul Prevost
Would you be more likely to be active in your American Legion or VFW if it were non-smoking? If there was a Family Game Room?
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