Posted on Aug 15, 2014
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Our WWII Veteran ranks are very thin, and we are losing many Korean War Veterans now. Vietnam Veterans are in their upper 60s or 70s already. My point is, our stories and our history is shared across the generations in lodges and halls across the country, but fewer Veterans are joining these organizations post military. Who will tell their stories when they are all gone....who will tell our stories? Curious to others opinions on this subject! Thanks in advance! AATW!
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 238
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I know this thread is a bit old but here goes my 2 cents. We have an American Legion post in my little town but you never, ever see anybody there. I used to hear that they did a monthly dance or hoedown or whatever but it didn't seem to be my kind of crowd. The one or two vets I've run into that were members were older than my parents. I didn't feel any connection.
It reminded me of when you go to the VA hospital for whatever reason (I've been there a lot for my mother who is a retired vet) and you see all the old timers wearing pins on their hats and vests or what have you. It is just a different culture than people from my generation and younger. Maybe I'll have to join via the national chapter or something.
I do understand the responsibility to support our service organizations but can't seem to find one that would be comfortable. It's like finding yourself in the Chief's club somehow as a junior enlisted...you have a lot of respect for them but aren't comfortable buying a round.
It reminded me of when you go to the VA hospital for whatever reason (I've been there a lot for my mother who is a retired vet) and you see all the old timers wearing pins on their hats and vests or what have you. It is just a different culture than people from my generation and younger. Maybe I'll have to join via the national chapter or something.
I do understand the responsibility to support our service organizations but can't seem to find one that would be comfortable. It's like finding yourself in the Chief's club somehow as a junior enlisted...you have a lot of respect for them but aren't comfortable buying a round.
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SN Jennifer M.
I couldn't agree more. I absolutely HATE going to the VA. It is an all day thing. I am a SAHM. I can't have a babysitter all day. I have only gone there once. Not going there again. Thank GOD I have Tricare.
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I don't know if any other veterans have come across this, but one reason I haven't joined any of these great organizations is that a lot of veterans before the Gulf War don't believe we belong there. Even though it is a ""foreign war", we are generally looked down upon as inferior veterans. I do agree with you in the aspect that our stories should be shared.
Maybe I just had a bad experience and should try again somewhere else, since I now live in San Antonio, TX. But like I said, this was one reason I hadn't tried again.
Maybe I just had a bad experience and should try again somewhere else, since I now live in San Antonio, TX. But like I said, this was one reason I hadn't tried again.
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Suspended Profile
Paul I live in Nevada and there is sense of we have to prove ourselves all over again to some in these organizations. I recommend if you join one, join with some of your peers. It's up to us to make the organization friendly for our generation. Nevada just had it's first state commander who is an OIF veteran. Some of the "old boys" actively work against him. This is not how we are supposed to operate. My post has a few officers which look down on us. I am also a post officer so its tougher for me to be positive dealing with it all the time. When elections come around next year we are making the necessary changes according to the rules. i.e. voting in more of our generation to take the officer spots.
It's tough. Take your time, research, and always be open to explore an organization. There is nothing saying you have to join an organization. If you do make sure you feel comfortable there. If you aren't comfortable then it's not a healthy relationship you need. But I do encourage you to join when you're ready.
It's tough. Take your time, research, and always be open to explore an organization. There is nothing saying you have to join an organization. If you do make sure you feel comfortable there. If you aren't comfortable then it's not a healthy relationship you need. But I do encourage you to join when you're ready.
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I am the J.V. Commander for VFW Post 2554, and there are three things that we've done to help boost membership for our younger generations. One, is by having the post and it's members heavily promote VFW functions through our website and various social media outlets and show the importance of maintaining camaraderie with vets in the community. Two, get our members involved in various activities allowing them to engage the community (talking to kids at schools, participate in special local events, sponsor events, community cleanup, etc.). Three, not running a post "watering hole" and promoting the very idea that our organization is a bunch of old drunks telling war stories. It basically boils down to having a good, active public relations program.
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To be 100% honest. I just don't have time to dedicate to that. A lot of younger guys like me, we get out and go to school. School takes up a bit of time.
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Another theory I have, though this is more conjecture, is that veterans of this generation's wars may feel like they don't "rate" being in a class of veterans of Vietnam or Korea. In boot camp, we learn all about the Marine Corp's famous battles of old: Frozen Chosin, Hue City, Okinawa, and many more. We're told that the Marine Corps has never taken home more glory than it did then. Now, with the way today's wars are fought, there very, very few big battles. Most combat that today's veterans see is short contacts with few enemy combatants. And I think that this may lead some veterans to feel "unworthy", especially in the presence of Marines who can recall fighting off hordes of Viet Cong and conducting real bayonet assaults against the enemy.
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GySgt James Marchinke
Marine Martuneac,
Not true, I served from 81 to 84 and enjoy the camaraderie of all war era Veterans
Not true, I served from 81 to 84 and enjoy the camaraderie of all war era Veterans
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how about making female vets welcome? we are veterans too!!! we don't want to join the wife's club. plenty of us out there, but everyone acts like we don't count. I notice all you posters are male.
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PO1 Daniel Hazley
Good point Jody, the VFW's, and Legions need to get with the times. This includes opening their "Auxiliaries" to the male non-military spouse, or better yet...God forbid, "Same Sex" spouse.
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CPO Bobby Welch
Woodard,
VFW Post 450, Alsip, IL... you are welcome here anytime. We have several female members and one in particular who is very active in the post.
Hazley,
while i will admit that there are some posts out there that are stuck in their old ways... there are also good ones. the ones that are stuck will not be around much longer. as far as your concerns about the auxiliaries... this year at the national convention it was voted to combine the ladies and mens auxiliaries. this will happen by 2016 after the bylaws are re-written. same sex spouses are allowed to my knowledge. i believe it depends on the laws of the state. they are allowed in IL, I know a female commander here in IL whose partner is Aux.
for both of you i am sorry that you have had poor experiences at you respective posts, just look around and find out which ones do the most in the community, that's what i did. the ones that dont are usually just bars...
VFW Post 450, Alsip, IL... you are welcome here anytime. We have several female members and one in particular who is very active in the post.
Hazley,
while i will admit that there are some posts out there that are stuck in their old ways... there are also good ones. the ones that are stuck will not be around much longer. as far as your concerns about the auxiliaries... this year at the national convention it was voted to combine the ladies and mens auxiliaries. this will happen by 2016 after the bylaws are re-written. same sex spouses are allowed to my knowledge. i believe it depends on the laws of the state. they are allowed in IL, I know a female commander here in IL whose partner is Aux.
for both of you i am sorry that you have had poor experiences at you respective posts, just look around and find out which ones do the most in the community, that's what i did. the ones that dont are usually just bars...
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CW2 Scott Williams
PO1 Hazley, just because the branches started that insanity of including predatory homosexuals does not mean VSO's have to follow suit. You do that and the places will become ghost towns and rightfully so. At some point we will wake up from this nightmare and decent people once again wil be at the helm of this government.
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SPC Robin Price-Dirks
You aren't the only female on here, I just don't have much time to devote to the computer with kids, cats, dogs, and a former Marine hubby teasing me about my ARMY service. YEAH I know it is a mixed marriage, what can I say, lol. I get treated like that annoying kid sister that followed my brothers every where, which I did. I followed my brothers into the ARMY after they left. Neither one of my brothers have joined any veteran organizations at all. They are too busy and don't feel the need. I miss my friends from service, I miss the camaraderie, I miss my family that I left behind. I love my brothers don't get me wrong but, we were never close. They are 9 and 6 years older than me. There are a lot of disaffected, disconnected people looking for what they left behind in the military, a family. The Esprit de corps, the belonging and acceptance of a fellow soldier. The old clubs don't give that feel. I want to bring my kids and say these are my brothers and sisters and I can't. That feeling of being cast adrift with no anchor and alone doesn't hit everyone, but It does hit. We need a place to go home to not have another door slammed in our faces. Sorry I am on a rant here but that is what it comes down to, and we wonder why so many vets turn to suicide.........OK no I am not going to harm myself. I just see it out there and it bothers me. DROP THE MIC!
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1SG I had considered joining my local VFW until I had a bad experience with the one nearest me. I was going through my med board and was advised to get with them to review my case and either further it or recommend what I could do to get my percentage up. I drove there, met a few people (very nice folks), and went home with the phone numbers I had to use for contacting them. I ended up calling the entire lodges phone directory to include the bar to get an answer. In that time, my board was coming up and no contact from anyone there at that lodge. So I said forget it, and Google became my best friend and what I needed done was done...by me (which was great. Learned something in the process). Two months after my board was over, I got a call from the lodge and it was someone I left multiple messages with, and he was clueless as to what I wanted done, how to do it, and call someone else. I told him no need and thank you (no point in being rude) and went on my way. I don't hold THE VFW in a bad light because one of their lodges didn't have their stuff together, but for right now I don't see me joining because of that instance which I'm sure I'm not alone with. But again there are some GREAT individuals there and I won't take anything away from them.
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SGM Matthew West
This obviously is a late reply, however, I am not sure if everyone here knows or understands what the VFWs and their officers can actually do. Med Boards, Chapters and the like are handled by Service Judge Advocates. Here at Fort Polk, we actually have a Military Lawyer who only handles Med Boards, Trial Defense provides guidance and legal access for those being Chapter, or receiving UCMJ. The VFWs, Legions, IAVA, Team Rubicon etc are there to provide assistance to Veterans post service. I just hope that the incident you discusses was not the only reason you refused to be a member. Now that your MEB is completed you are most likely out or the military, this is when you can you find what you need to help within the organization. Again, just my opinion, I could be wrong.
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I have found that when asked, younger active duty, guard and reserve members readily join The American Legion. There are two issues, the first is getting the word out about what the Legion, VFW and DAV do. The second is to go to where they are, job fairs, local fairs, etc. This past year we did exactly that and we were very successful. There is a perception that they need to volunteer. It would be great to have more workers, but we need to educate the younger generation (I am Lebanon/Grenada era) what our organizations have done, like the Legion was the originator of the GI Bill. I had two younger vets join recently and they are very active, the reason, thier kids have grown and no they are ready to reconnect.
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Look at the comments below and there's your answer. Get over yourself and get on social media. "Adapt and overcome." Remember that gentlemen?
Also, what is the VFW doing to market itself to the gigantic population of female vets from the GWOT?
Honestly, until I saw this RP post, the thought of joining a veterans organization never crossed my mind.
Also, what is the VFW doing to market itself to the gigantic population of female vets from the GWOT?
Honestly, until I saw this RP post, the thought of joining a veterans organization never crossed my mind.
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PO1 (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) Oh most of us remember - but you'll find many of the members don't have the skills. For many of the WWII veterans, having a telephone was only a dream. I'll bet I can walk into any barracks today and ask which guy or gal grew up without a cell phone available and not one will raise their hands. When I grew up we had party lines - IF your family could afford to get a phone line put in! Texting? Oh yeah....grab a sheet of paper and borrow your dad's pen from his two pen collection, find an envelope and go to the post office and hope you had enough pennies to buy a stamp.....that's texting.
You're dealing with various ages - some are older than your grandfather. Unfortuantely, there are age groups in which you cannot expect them to "rise to the occasion"....not because they aren't willing, because they are unable......
You're dealing with various ages - some are older than your grandfather. Unfortuantely, there are age groups in which you cannot expect them to "rise to the occasion"....not because they aren't willing, because they are unable......
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When I became a lifetime member of the DAV and joined DAV Chapter 7 in Jackson, TN I noticed that I was the youngest member of that Chapter at the age of 45. The DAV is a great help to our Disabled Veterans when it comes to VA Disability Claims assistance and to the Veterans in our community. At my first DAV Chapter meeting I was discouraged because there were no younger Veterans at the meeting and felt strongly that changes needed to be made. The only way to make a difference in my newly joined DAV Chapter was to be an actively involved member. I believe that the only way a Veterans Service Organization is going to grow in membership (young or old) is to encourage the members to be an active participant.
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GySgt William Hardy
When the Marine Corps League started in Jackson, I was there from day one until many months later when things started changing. I looked forward to the monthly meeting and getting together with other Marines in the area. Once everything got into place, they began doing their services to the community. Everything they did benefited Jackson. Well I had to travel 50 miles to be in this organization and it seemed not right some how for me to make the effort and then do community service for another community, so I quit.
Then came the change in the Jackson NG Armory. The 30th SAB was no more and the 194th ENG came in. I joined the 30th SAB Association. I made what meetings I could up until I left for Iraq. Keeping in mind that during those early years they met on Saturday mornings at the Armory and it was on drill day so being there was no problem. They set up the history room and it was OK. When I came back from Iraq, I was able to make the first meeting because I was on terminal leave. After that, because the meetings were during the weekday (Thursdays if memory serves me) for lunch. Being a working person, I couldn't make any more regular meetings. I did make the Christmas dinner a couple of years, but it just became too hard to make it. When dues were coming up for the next year, I simply did not rejoin. Then I got word that membership was way down and they were going to rename the group so that anyone who drilled in Jackson could join. I don't know how that is going or how it went..I am out of touch nowdays.
Just to give you an idea of my reasons.
I also have not had a good experience with the VFW and the American Legion. It just seems to have turned into a place for getting together and having drinks. In Carroll County, we have recently allowed liquor to be sold, but there are no bars and only a few restaurants offer beer. Veterans joined the VFW to have a place to drink since the national charter allows booze in the building even though the county might be dry. Same goes for the organizations. In other words, I have nothing against those guys, but it is not what I was looking for in those types of organizations. So even among us older guys, we have our reasons.
Then came the change in the Jackson NG Armory. The 30th SAB was no more and the 194th ENG came in. I joined the 30th SAB Association. I made what meetings I could up until I left for Iraq. Keeping in mind that during those early years they met on Saturday mornings at the Armory and it was on drill day so being there was no problem. They set up the history room and it was OK. When I came back from Iraq, I was able to make the first meeting because I was on terminal leave. After that, because the meetings were during the weekday (Thursdays if memory serves me) for lunch. Being a working person, I couldn't make any more regular meetings. I did make the Christmas dinner a couple of years, but it just became too hard to make it. When dues were coming up for the next year, I simply did not rejoin. Then I got word that membership was way down and they were going to rename the group so that anyone who drilled in Jackson could join. I don't know how that is going or how it went..I am out of touch nowdays.
Just to give you an idea of my reasons.
I also have not had a good experience with the VFW and the American Legion. It just seems to have turned into a place for getting together and having drinks. In Carroll County, we have recently allowed liquor to be sold, but there are no bars and only a few restaurants offer beer. Veterans joined the VFW to have a place to drink since the national charter allows booze in the building even though the county might be dry. Same goes for the organizations. In other words, I have nothing against those guys, but it is not what I was looking for in those types of organizations. So even among us older guys, we have our reasons.
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