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

Thank you for this question. I have been delaying my trip to the local VFW center to join. This wakes me up.

I'm on My sixth term as Commander of American Legion, Post 208, Millis, MA. one of the things We do is for our local Veteran's who wish to join who are still on active duty We pay their membership dues during the entire time they remain on active duty. We do have many WWII and Korean War Veterans active in the post but of course their numbers a shrinking. Most of the current elected Post Officers are veterans of the Viet Nam War or Persian Gulf war. We have a social coffee every Thursday morning all year round and those that attend don't have to be Legion Members, just Veterans. This is 100% social, not a formal meeting at all. We have good attendance at this once a week gathering. We have also started having guest speakers with interesting subjects to get beyond just the formal part of the meetings We do of course need more of the younger Veterans to come in and take the reigns. I'm a Viet Nam Veteran Myself, as is My 1st Vice Commander . The 2nd Vice Commander is of the Persian Gulf War era. Our membership is still growing but there is a way to go.

As a veteran of no war but the Cold war (78-84) I have been told that if I didn't serve in Korea I don't count. I live far out of town and don't feel like being told one more time that my service didn't matter by one more person. So I am Done with all the clubs that haven't accepted me. I couldn't even get a job in my MOS because no one wanted a clerk that actually knew automotive supply, they wanted cutesy eye candy for the front desk.

You want the honest truth? Its a clique. Unless you fought in the jungle hand-to-hand or knocked out tanks in the field, most people won't talk to you. Every one I've been to has been the same. And to be fair, I can sit and home and drink by myself, right? Pain in the ass to go somewhere special and be ignored.

I was checking my phone this morning and I will give you a prime example of why the younger generation is avoiding the VFW! Someone said it is because younger veterans are given everything! What the hell is that about. All veterans are receiving the same benefits. When you walk into the VA they do not ask you if you are Vietnam vet or Korea War Vet, instead they treat you that is even if you get treated. When asking for you to become a member or make a donation the older veterans are all about being about the veterans. But let a new group spring up and watch how fast the damn claws come out. I have traveled through several states in this country and there is rarely a time that a VFW member has approached me about anything. Just walk into any VFW and watch as the silence starts and the heads turn and stare at you. No one talks to you. I have been a member for ten years and the only contact I had was with the magazine and a letter challenging my membership. I was fine to provide them what they wanted, but This is the attitude that make me upset. Then someone comes along says we are given everything. I for one am not given everything, and I know other veterans in the same boat. WWP and CV4A have events that I am invited to. I get calls from the veterans with other groups, I was ask to stand and talk about something. I got out on a boat, I went to the stables, WWP has offered to pay for aquatics therapy to help me get into shape. These are all newly created organizations. Look at the history of your post and you will see that your organizations started with the same fire. We can't stand together long enough to make changes. When ask if someone wants to help recovery work from the flood, it was my dad and me and one other person from the post, there were no others that wanted to do anything. If your organizations are doing great things for the veterans then why is there a drop. Because older veterans do not welcome the newer veterans. Like all organizations few want to actually get out and work and everyone else avoids work. So before you start dissing younger veterans, try to remember these are the same veterans that you depend on to grow. Look at your post today..When it comes to being a forward thinking positive experience the next time a young soldier walks in just watch how you react? Or go check out the work that is being done by your VFW, see how many people actually show up and are in a motivated mood to get the work done. If you did not get what you deserve when you returned and benefits were not what you wanted then ask yourself what did you do to change it? How many letters have you written your congress. How many times have you without seeking glory done something within the community just for the sake of doing it and not for a reward? I am sorry that CV4A and WWP, along with IAVA have better outreach programs. Stop complaining and join these groups as well. I belong to CV4A, IAVA, and WWP. I am a life member of the VFW and I am the founder of the Granbury Cheetahs Special Olympics Texas Team, and I am still getting into anything where I see the motivation is there and people are serious about this work. Weather doing things for the community or doing things for fellow veterans, it seems to me we have more important things to worry about than to fight each other who is the better veteran. We all love our country. But if you want to insult, first take a close look at where this country is!!! Where is it going!!! and who is going to stand up for freedom. Every time there is a burning of a flag or a protest at a funeral there should be the loudest out cry from you. Stop watching the country fail and start yelling and getting attention. Wake the hell up!

The reason why fewer vets are joining, is because there is a stigma with these organisations. Everyone thinks they are for older people, to sit around and tell war stories. That is the furthest thing from the truth. The VFW, or American Legion posts needs to change this attitude, offer more out reach to younger vets, inform them how they can help them, especially as far as cutting through a lot of VA's red tape. These organizations need to figure out a way to appeal to the younger vets, give them things that will draw them in, keep them coming back. I have seen one VFW post do this sort of thing, VFW Post 392 in Virginia Beach, they offer themselves as a private club, they offer events anything from Karaoke night, live DJ's, and Steak Nights. They serve meals on a regular basis, practically nightly. Their door is always open, and they are very reachable. They visit with VA Hospital in Hampton VA monthly, they talk to the young service-members stationed throughout Hampton Roads/Tidewater

Great question! I think you and others nailed it though. Many, including myself thought of these VSOs as an Old Mans Club. I joined the American Legion 5 years ago at the age of 27 - 6 years after getting out of the Marine Corps, and after getting married and having kids. Now, I'm the 1st Vice Commander and truly understand the importance these organizations serve. It's not just an old mans club, but a social gathering place filled with history, camaraderie, esprit de drops, etc. The VSOs do a lot in their communities for Veterans, Active Duty members and especially children.

I think I know the reason. Out of 20+ VFW's and AL's I been to, only one was willing to let me in the door and that is because they were expecting my brothers and I. To put it this way, I stopped at a random American legion in West Virginia and asked to use the latrine because I was on a motorcycle ride with a buddy of mine (also a vet). They told me that I can't come in. I told them I have my CAC card in my pocket, and they replied "sorry, can't help you bud." Really??? After that, I was done!!! Who wants to be part of an organization like that???? Sorry, but that is complete disrespect in my book!!!

I don't think that today's young veterans are encountering the same reception that Vietnam Vets experienced when they approached veterans organizations such as the American Legion and the VFW. We were shunned and dismissed as not being "real soldiers". We lost our war (of course a fallacious claim). We were drug addicts and baby killers.

As a consequence, the "Big 2", the American Legion and the VFW, are mere shadows of their former selves. Membership has declined as those who rejected us, WWII and Korean Vets, are dying off, and only a smattering of Vietnam Vets are returning to take their places. Fortunately, Vietnam Vets are determined to not repeat the mistakes of the WWII and Korean Vets.

I didn't join the American Legion and the VFW until I was 71 and I could be accused of hanging around at their meetings just to feel young again. (For those who have trouble deciphering my suggestion allow me to add that the average age of the membership seems to be approaching the century mark.) It's not the kind of place where young people would feel comfortable. The only thing we share in common is the fact that we too served.

I'm trying to change that.

I volunteered to take over the website and give it a younger, hipper flair. I'm also working on a mobile version to appeal to the fact that younger people prefer to use mobile devices such as iPads and smart phones.

A few of us are lobbying for programs and services that address the needs of younger veterans: Young adult education and helping with careers and job searches.

Still, it's a battle. Two young female veterans showed up at our December meeting and many of us were overjoyed. We took pains to make them feel welcome, but it appears that we failed. They didn't return in January and I can only hope that we'll see them at the February meeting. Someone needs to call them to encourage them to return and bring their friends...

I think that today most people's lives are busier than they have been in the past. I am an active member of my VFW post but I miss several meetings because I am still an active Guardsman and Miltech. I try to work the Poppy sales and other events, but unless it's a holiday that relieves me from my regular duties then it is difficult for me to make it. Attending schools or training can also interfere even with holidays.