Why are fewer young Veterans joining Veteran organizations (VFW, American Legion) post military service?

I belong to American Legion Post 133 in Temple Texas. We have the same Problem! Of the 300+ members, I have yet to see any member under 50 or 55. Most are in their late 60's to 70's and even 80's. I attend every monthly gathering and participate in the monthly meetings every 2-3 months. Our post has a large hall that has Bingo 6 days a week! This provides us with a substantial income to allow us to make significant contributions to community projects. Also, every month we have a free dinner for all active members and Auxiliary members. Our biggest problem is we have a lot of "Stuck in the Dark Ages" members, probably 80 or 85%. We give two scholarships each year to deserving youths in the community. Every monthly meal is prepared and served by a local Organization. We pay them $6 per meal with a guarantee of 300 Meals! Even with all this going on, not one young face has showed up for our monthly gatherings in the 18 months I have been a member of this post. The leadership is trying to get members more involved in getting younger members, but only a handful even want to try. Alslo, the older (70+) members tend to gather in their own little groups and are not very friendly to "Outsiders". If this trend continues, I am afraid that this great organization will die out. Every month we hear of 1 or 2 more members that died! Does anyone have any suggestions on what we can do to reverse this trend? I don't have a younger view point since I will be 69 this fall.

Gen X and Gen Y have Internet and have found a way to be comfortable in being anti social. In addition the VA quickstart and predischarge program addresses most of the new veterans coming out VA needs and kind of eliminates the need for VSO for the veteran coming out. I predict that their will be a surge of Veterans joining these organizations again when they can afford to spend time away from trying to worry about gainful employment. Also back in 2008-2009 I signed up with the VFW in Riverside and they never processed my lifetime membership. At the time I believe it was 500 and now it was raised higher so I gave up on that endeavor because they never even contacted me even after I gave three different ways to do so.

A lot of young veterans are turned off by the face of the organizations. They appear to only cater to older veterans. Younger organizations are better suited to younger vets because they understand the challenges specifically facing young veterans today. Not only are we facing the usual challenges reintegrating into society, but we also are facing the challenges of our entire generation. We are fresh off an economic crash, and walking away from over a decade of war. The biggest turn off for me was dues. Because of the economy many of us are unemployed long after unemployment insurance runs out and cannot afford any discretionary spending. I was also unaware of the tradition of new vets in the area having their way paid in.

I was personally attracted to IAVA because they speak the language of myself and my peers. They are in the forefront making waves on capital hill, connecting vets across the country, and there are no dues. They have a huge presence on social media, something the VFWs and American Legions do not have. They must cross the generational gap if they want to survive. That means social media, and considering lowering, or even eliminating dues, when at public events the reps need to smile and interact with everyone. I was turned off completely in my hometown when I got cold stares from a veterans organization booth where the rest of the town was celebrating. This experience is not unique. It needs to stop.

I personally have never seen the need or benefit of joining. You mention passing down stories, but I pass them down to my children, not the people who were also there.

Maybe I just don't know anything about them.

None of you are right. I would never join my local legion as it's nothing but racist insurrectionists and this is not the diversity our young vets are used to.

AATW!

It is very difficult for that age group to find time to volunteer for anything especially if they are married and have kids. I think one way around it would be to market the membership more as a husband/wife activity to get out of the house and away from the kids. Even then there is the concern and expense with leaving the kids with a babysitter? Most younger Parents do not want to take their kids to a American Legion or VFW post because of the reputation it being a kind of drinking at a bar type club.

Maybe they less of an connection to the Military!

WE SHOULD SUPORT THE AMERICAN LEGIONS CAUSE

I was in the Navy from '72-'78, deplyed aboard the USS Constellation. I was informed I wasn't allowed to join due to my active duty not being in an active war zone, even though I am a Vietnam Era veteran. At the time I was interested in joining the VFW, I had no idea there was this type of discrimination between types of veterans in the eyes of the VFW!