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

So I've been on the fence about joining any of the organizations, to be honest. I've looked into some of the meeting structures and though I've not attended any meetings here in Jacksonville, NC, I do talk to all the organizations frequently at the various military job fairs and such that I attend representing my company (we are in the vocational rehabilitation field and hold military contracts which we use as training sites for our program). At the Veterans Stand Down yesterday, the local DAV commander yet again asked me if I would consider joining. As usual, I told him I wasn't sure if I could do so at this point. In the conversation, it came out that I have (for years now) been trying to figure out ways to assist veterans beyond the career transition work I already do. I've got a lot of experience on the personal and professional ends both with VA claims, benefits, have a lot of contacts - and the commander told me they desperately need female VSOs at the DAV. Apparently female veterans have said they're a bit uncomfortable at times talking to males about female issues if that is involved in a claim of benefit application. I loved the idea, but thought it was a membership grab in the making. I was told you don't have to be a DAV member to be a DAV VSO. Does that sound right to anyone? It seemed weird to me. I need to make a decision about accepting this very part-time volunteer position either today or tomorrow, as they have to send their list of names for the annual training (held March 9th this year) in on Friday. I've worked extensively with the county VSOs on my own claims and my husband's. I was not impressed by the DAV VSO I talked to first back int eh day. Maybe I could bring fresh blood and tech savvy to that office (which desperately needed it, as I recall). I want to help but I don't know that I want to join. Logistics are a whole different hurdle I have to consider, but I know very little about the DAV's VSO training, even after talking to their senior VSO on the phone earlier today when he called me as a follow up. Does anyone have insights or suggestions, anything? It's very tempting but would require me to do some shuffling (that I really need to do anyway...) , and I am very comfortable with the system, the bureaucracy, all of that. I want to help. I also want to know what I might be getting myself into if I accept - BEFORE I have to start talking to my boss about a half day off each week when we're already re-negotiating my medical leave accommodations at the moment. Ideas, anyone?

I scanned the responses and I don't think I mentioned this before on this thread.

Years ago a Marine started contacting local Marines with the purpose of getting a Marine Corps League chapter started in the area. I was called and said I would come. The city were the League was to be located was 45 miles away, but I made the trip. We had a nice dinner and spent a fair amount of time talking to one another about our days in the Corps. The next month came and I went again. I had a really good time and began looking forward to the meetings. After many months, we finally had enough people and the paperwork was submitted to start a local chapter. We continued to meet and we finally got permission. After a few more meetings, the leadership said it was time to start our public service activities, and that's when I started thinking. After the next meeting I talked to the leadership and told them I was not returning and I wished them the best of luck. If all the service activities were going to be in the "big city" I saw no purpose in volunteering my time to help those in a city 45 miles from where I lived. I left that meeting never to return again. I missed the comradely, but if I am going to do any service activities, I would like to help my community and not one that is an hour's drive away.

Perhaps some of the people here might have had a similar experience.

Personal invite to anyone returning, I am in Hurst Texas and you can swing by and visit us anytime. We are located behind the cobra club before you get to Bell on Hurst Blvd.

There is a veterans organization chapter not too far from me. After reading these posts and despite my prior experience with that one other one I visited, I am going to give it a try, again. Maybe, I'll join.

I am in my 60s and because of my "personality", I just don't want to join any veteran's group. On the other hand, my youngest son, who is in his 40s, a retired veteran of Desert Storm and Iraq, wanted to join our local VFW but was given the run around. He finally got frustrated and told them where to go.

There are two reasons. I just never had the desire and my son got the run around.

I joined my local VFW (3150 John Lyon Post) when I got back (it helped that my dad, also a member, offered to pay half the lifetime fee). I think that the VSO do a good job and many of the younger veterans don't understand the long battle it took IOT get the benefits that we now have (and if not protected how quickly they will erode). The two main VSO's (VFW and AL) have taken a long time to get "hip" and market themselves to the new generation (my post does a good job, but it is a post by post thing) and some of the new organizations (IAVA, Team RWB) have cut in to those traditional spaces. I personally have been mostly disengaged in my membership, but that is due to having my real job, my part (hah) time job (Company Commander in the ARNG) and two toddlers at home.

Your concerns are quite valid. The youngest World War II vets are almost 90 the youngest Korean war vets are almost 80 and the youngest Vietnam Vets are almost 60.
I believe that the cycle of veterans of prior conflicts welcoming home returning veterans was disrupted during the Vietnam war. Many veterans including myself did not feel welcomed by the then World War II era veterans who populated the post. Instead there was a great deal of criticism for the way the war was conducted and dissatisfaction off and blaming the veterans that were involved.
We can never let this happen again and we have to play catch-up to somehow re-establish the culture of veterans supporting those returning from current Duty assignment. it's incumbent on us now to support currently deployed veterans families and reach out to returning veterans.
With the current multiple deployments they are experiencing it is critical that we just don't tell them our stories but listen to theirs and try to understand and let them know we are all Brothers.
Alan Decato, Commander American Legion Post 87, West Rutland, VT

I think part of it is the changing times. being a member of one of various service orgs used to be a key element in one's life to help find jobs and be around people like yourself...the younger folks don't make longer ranged decisions like those or even stick in one town all that long anymore.

Younger people are even more mobile than my generation was (born in 1960) and roots are shallower. They don't stay in one job or place as long. That changes for many of course as they age so it may be that they will look at service orgs later in life....

I can tell you I've looked into a few of them (American Legion and DAV mainly), but I will not join due to the religious components involved in some. The prayers, the use of religious terminology, etc. I got out in my late 20s. I'm early 40s now. I'm a member of a recognized religious faith, but it is not Judeo-Christian. I also happen to be in the Bible Belt, which means if I joined and (respectfully) refrained from participating in those portions of meetings, I would be singled out and chastised. I attended an AL meeting once just to check it out and that happened then, even as a guest. I've heard it has happened to others I know as well in similar situations. I don't have the time, energy, nor desire to participate in that particular battle. I have a very good working relationship (both as a disabled veteran and as a professional also in the disability field) with my local VSO, and that seems to do just fine for my needs at this time.

If the larger organizations would at least acknowledge and even welcome veterans from different faith backgrounds by secularizing their meeting format (I have a copy of a meeting format script for the AL somewhere, I think the one welcoming a new member and it includes a very Christian prayer), I personally would feel far more comfortable participating in such organizations, being at meetings, etc. As is it, I am distinctly uncomfortable and thus have no interest in joining. I serve disabled veterans and the military as a contractor with local military installations providing contracted services which just happen to be performed largely by disabled individuals, many f whom are veterans. As a result of THAT, I also don't have a very strong urge to "give back" because I already am and have been since just about the day I was discharged.

So short answer: Inclusion of faith-based elements within these groups are my personal turn-off and reason for not joining these organizations.

Well, as an officer in Post #44 on Kwajalein Atoll, RMI. We have very few active member who are Vietnam Era or older. 90% of our members are post Vietnam Era members. But ours is different than most posts as we are located on a military base, and most of members are Vets working as contractors on the base. Most are between the ages of 35 to 65.