Would I be considered a combat veteran just for being in the combat zones, without ever having to participate in combat?

While I don’t want to minimize ANY veterans’ service, I do get irritated at those who come back hollering PTSD and they were never really in any danger, while there were those of us who went outside the wire on a daily basis. Places like Bagram were just like any stateside post, while places like the Korengal valley were not. I’d be careful throwing around claims of being a “combat veteran “, you might just get called out. Just being in a combat zone doesn’t make you a combat veteran.

Yuppers! You are a Gulf War Veteran!

Of course!

Why ask me? You were there, i wasn’t. Put the patch on. If someone asks, tell them what unit you were in. Beyond that they are being nosy.

Were you fired upon by an enemy, and did you return fire? That's called combat. No Marines get a Combat Action Ribbon unless these conditions are met. Not a textbook legal answer but the bottom line.

Yes, if you were over there assigned for 1 day or 30 days*, (at 30 for sure) and you should have the SSAM-South-West- Asia service medal (aka Gulf War Medal)- the default medal for being there. Should be on your 214. That is what the gov 1st recognizes for gov/VA purposes.

* depends on your duty classification.

I assume you were a unit cook there for the duration, so yea you're a Gulf War Vet, medal or not, but the medal(on a 214 and/or orders for it) or at least pay/deploment orders is "proof" so to speak.
Also , if you got authorization to wear a Div combat patch, well guess what, you would be considered by default, a combat vet as well.

If you don't have the medal, IMO you could probably get one/or orders for it, if you have/get supporting documentation(orders for it/pay records/deployment orders) and go though the VA. to tack on/amend your 214.(note: this info is all kinda fuzzy as its been 30 years since my time in, and 20+ years since I dealt with any records issues.

People who didn't make it to the sand-box, and stayed in the USA or elswhere during Desert Storm/Shield received the "Warm Body Award- National Defence Medal- Making them Gulf War-Era Vets but not actually Gulf War Vets. (my info is for US Army -might vary some for other services)

You are a veteran (a man or woman who served in the military) who served in a combat zone and as many people have already pointed out, when you wake up every day you have no idea whether what will happen. Did you earn a Combat Infantryman Badge? No, just as you don't earn Aiborne wings if you don't at least make the 5 jumps and pass the school.

IMHO (In My Humble Opinion), the people who try to pull themselves up by pulling others down-civilian or military-don't understand that the way to increase pride one's pride, is to do things you are proud of. The way to increase one's joy, is to do more of the things that give you joy, amd less of those that do not. The way to decrease depression, is to empty rhe overflowing cup of depression that comes from two things: a hyper-focus on the past that you cannot change at the expense of you "no a" amd your future, and giving a flying fig what other people hhink of you and the choices you made in your life.

I read once that in order to be combat effective,, every combat service member needs 5 or 6 support soldiers, Marines, Coasties, Sailors, or Airmen (Airpersons?) doing there just just as efficiently and proficiently. YOU sir, made that infantryman or tankers job possible: you and the countless others small-minded, unhappy people try who try to make themselves feel better...by making you,, and me,, and the rest of is feel "less than."

I'm also a Desert Storm Army veteran who went back to get my Masters in clinical social work at 56 so I could help decrease that society and self-imposed pain, shame, and judgement countless veterans struggle with from every service and every time period. The biggest lesson I have learned in MT studies and my practice is that the definition of PTSD (reference only here, not suggesting you have it) is participating in, OR witnessing, OR Hearing about life-threatening events. Not everyone experiences PTSD from military service, Amymore than everyone who is in a car accident can never drive a car again. What really counts is to remember you did your best, with the resources you had available, each and every day you served.

Soing that, in a combat theater of operations, is my textbook definition of a combat veteran.

I fought with this question too for a long time as I was all the way forward with 1st infantry...but my job was food supply to the cooks and soldiers ...we dealt with the headcounts of the diff parts of the division as the moved and travelled with the units and sometimes to the units and sometimes ahead of the units in staging areas issuing food and bottled water and anything else we could get our hands on through supply lines

If you deployed to an area where you received hostile fire pay and we were engaged in combat operations, regardless of if you personally were engaged in said operations... you are legally a combat veteran. I spent my first tour in Kuwait... no active combat. My second tour... I can now say I've had shit shot at me. I have the CAB as proof. Don't sell your experience and contributions short.

If you are a member of a unit deployed in a designated combat zone ,and receive combat pay ,you are a combat veteran.That's my take on the subject.