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

When I was on a cross-country bicycle ride for a children's charity and walked into a VFW, AL, or DAV lodge I was usually met with a lot of silent stares from the bar. It seemed like people who had given up were the ones hanging out in these establishments. (NOT ALL, there are definitely some great lodges out here!)

With programs like Team Rubicon around who wants to waste their time in a bar?

It's simple. There is not enough advertisement about the organizations. I never knew anything about them until about 10 years ago. I heard about the VFW through a friend and did some research and then joined. It's a simple process, but the word has to get out there what these organizations do for us. Most think it's all about cheap drinks, but they don't realize how much clout they have on capital hill.

Honestly, I recently returned my membership to The American Legion due to the fact of little activity that I was aware of. There was little way of finding out what was forth coming and I always had to push to find any information of what was going on. Most of the existing leadership refuse to let anyone of the newer generation take over and run with ideas. But this was only my experience.

Simple some of them Just Simple don't know, all this Organization need to be included as a part of pay day activities or NCODP like American Legion and VFW they do lots of fund raising and pay for Soldier to go to Army Balls etc, etc

I live in Durango, Colorado and go to school at Fort Lewis College where I am currently the FLC Veterans club president. I have been working with the VFW once a year to borrow flags and things. I am trying to bring the Veteran students, DAV and VFW together. It is hard for me because they do not show up to many events. I cancelled taps on campus this year in hopes that my fellow student vets would show up and participate in the parade. Nothing... I think for the next event, I will have it catered at the VFW and maybe it will work out! Bar, pool table, outside sitting area and friends! Never know, but I will give it a try. VFWs, find the President of the Veterans club at all schools and go from there! Cater a free meal event also with posters that are young and fresh in order to help bring the Veteran students to your post.

I will say for me the experience left much to be desired. I joined both my Local VFW and American Legion and found that they really didn't do anything other than the Thursday night bingo, Friday night band/drinking.

You hear all about the aging membership in these organizations but it doesn't seem they offer the type of activities our current war veterans seek, and yes SGM West I understand joining for numbers in congress etc. and that is why I am still a member of both but I haven't attended a meeting at either in over 2 yrs.

What I don't get is why IAVA needed to be stood up? Was there that much of dissimilarity between them and the VFW? And why is there one? I have cousin pushing boots at GL currently and he's with the VFW.

"For the Few, By the Few" seems to be the modus operandi for the veterans service organizations that I have affiliated with in the past. In my experience, I am never taken seriously as a "real" veteran because all of my service was Cold War Era. Mind you, I am a lifetime member of DAV because of the awesome advocacy they provided on my VA claim (ultimately 100% service-connected) - but that love did not translate to a good experience at the local level - because I don't "look" disabled from any combat related experience. Similar experience with two different AL Post. Nothing but negative experiences for me with the mostly alcohol related events and non-stop chain smoking members. And don't get me started with the mainly arch-conservative politics with the national magazines I receive - they don't make it out of the post office. In my town (Yuma AZ) - the visceral and constant negative comments about POTUS as our Commander-in-Chief is another reason for me to distant myself from an obviously polarized veteran community. So, in short, I do not believe that most existing veterans organizations support a healthy lifestyle and the politics of membership does not appreciate multi-generational service members who proudly served. It seems that if you did not "suffer" enough during your time in service - then you do not rate membership. I watch national representatives begging for memberships at national events from existing veterans and its quite clear that they only want to generate membership revenue stream to fill the coffers and bragging rights about how many members are on-board (politically) for their lobbying efforts. That is a major reason why I throw my support and participation behind Team Red White & Blue and Team Rubicon. It's "sweat equity" that is behind these TRWB & TR memberships - not politics or out-of-touch members who think endless "meat draws" and "fish frys" announcements are going to sustain veterans and their interests.

I don't know about VFW's as a whole but I chose not to join the local chapter for several reasons. Mostly, they have a pretty rough reputation for DUI's, sexual assaults/harassment, and corruption. I think they are working to repair that but for now, it's not something I want my name to be associated with.

It is very important that Veterans join these organizations, as they do lobby for Veterans rights and try to preserve our benefits. If they go away, it is one less voice for Veterans in D.C.