Would you consider yourself a Dysfunctional Veteran (DV)?

SGT Justin Singleton — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 17:34:36 -0400

If you aren't aware, there is a group on Facebook called Dysfunctional Veterans. They have rather lively discussion and a radio show. The show and page is know for its vulgarity and "dysfunctional" ways. Question: Would you consider yourself a dysfunctional veteran, and how far should veterans take the "fun"?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2015 6:24 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 18:24:35 -0400

I don't consider myself a dysfunctional veteran, SGT Justin Singleton. I guess that's an interesting way for vets to poke fun - hopefully in a good-natured way - at each other. The question of how far to take the "fun" is important. I think they need to be careful not to carry it too far, lest they step into an area of being disrespectful, which is what I've read in another post on RallyPoint about the Havok Journal post. That's what the author of this blog is talking about: Veterans taking it too far and making it worse:

http://www.havokjournal.com/culture/22tozero-veterans-are-making-it-worse/

#22toZero: Veterans Are Making it Worse

Veterans kill themselves at the rate of 22 every day, and what does the veteran community do about it? Encourage more of it.

Response by SPC Christopher Smith made Mar 16 at 2015 7:55 PM

SPC Christopher Smith — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 19:55:21 -0400

I honestly resent this group, I personally believe they bring bad light to Veterans injured and not. I also feel like they help fuel the stigma that Veterans are a half a second away from harming people around them. PTSD is still very misunderstood by the majority of the civilian population, and with more and more vets looking for work, we do not need our civilian counterparts to feel anymore uncomfortable than they might already be.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 16 at 2015 9:48 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 21:48:41 -0400

The advantage of large social media platforms like Facebook are just how wide the net gets. The disadvantage is how many "fish" the net catches.

Much of DV is about letting loose. Unfortunately, it is essentially unmoderated.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2015 8:21 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:21:53 -0400

No, I am not a dysfunctional veteran. I do have a DD 214, but I am not divorced nor have bad credit.

Response by SSG Leonard Johnson made Mar 17 at 2015 8:15 PM

SSG Leonard Johnson — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 20:15:32 -0400

Luv DV....SUCH a great conservative right wing group....I try to buy some of the products supported....Great veteran organization

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 18 at 2015 12:07 AM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 00:07:10 -0400

I see the humor... but I also don't see the humor.... To each his own. I think the moniker reflects poorly on all veterans.

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2015 1:52 AM

LCpl Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Apr 2015 01:52:25 -0400

I hang with the DV crew, they're a little far to the right politically speaking for me, but they're good people and it's all in good fun. No different then the smoke pit back at the bricks. Honestly? Considering how things work for other "minority" groups, with the creation of safe spaces to express themselves freely without concern for censure, I don't see why veterans shouldn't be able to throttle up and do likewise. We might step on some toes, but for the most part those toes walked into a room that isn't for them any way.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 26 at 2015 2:13 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 14:13:31 -0400

Things like this irritate me. Don't make yourself or other veterans look bad.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2015 10:17 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 10:17:33 -0400

I just joined this site and the first thing I do is look for a dysfunctional veterans page. Does anyone know if there is one on rally point?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2015 3:01 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 15:01:42 -0400

I had a Dysfunctional Vet patch on my motorcycle vest before they started.

I am a member on FB and think harmless fun on the internet is fine. People with a stick up their butt don't need that FB group to have something to bitch about.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 18 at 2015 3:15 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 15:15:35 -0400

I would say to an extent I am dysfunctional. My short term memory is horrible. Sometimes I make myself numb instead of feeling the alternative.

Response by Cpl Theril Andrews Jr. made Oct 29 at 2015 10:40 AM

Cpl Theril Andrews Jr. — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 10:40:37 -0400

I think whoever created this "dysfunctional veteran" brand did not take into consideration for literal term of dysfunctional. I am a veteran and disabled through the VA and I find this DV brand of clothing and stickers repulsive. The reasoning for my repulsiveness towards this DV brand is that it labels veterans that we cannot successful assimilate back into society. I do not want a brand to define who I am so those people who were the stay back 20 feet or something to that wording; it's insulting like saying we're some type of crazed lunatics. I am honored to be a veteran and I hate that some organization or brand has to create repulsive clothing to reiterate the fact that we don't function in a normal society. I know some veterans have deep issues with society and such, but I believe broadcasting it with a shirt is a little much. This is just my opinion.

Response by PO2 Spencer Wainright made Nov 15 at 2015 7:22 AM

PO2 Spencer Wainright — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 07:22:35 -0500

i AM A dYSfUNCTIONAL vETERAN OF THE vIET nAM eRA...wE ARE AND oUTSPOKEN GROUP OF PISSED OFF GUYS AND GALS THAT LIKE IN THE FILM..."I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE!"
GOT IT?

Response by Cpl Dr Ronnie Manns made Nov 15 at 2015 10:39 AM

Cpl Dr Ronnie Manns — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 10:39:42 -0500

http://mannslogistics.wix.com/mosci.

Response by SPC Rich Stiltner made Dec 10 at 2015 6:22 PM

SPC Rich Stiltner — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 18:22:50 -0500

WINDOW LICKER FOR LIFE!!! (DV)

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jan 9 at 2016 9:02 PM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 09 Jan 2016 21:02:19 -0500

Dysfunctional Veteran, leave me alone. I've got hats, shirts, and business cards!

Response by PO3 Michael Roush made Jun 5 at 2018 7:26 PM

PO3 Michael Roush — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 19:26:50 -0400

Navy - never again volunteer yourself, but I'm gullible so I would

Response by PO3 Michael Roush made Jun 5 at 2018 7:30 PM

PO3 Michael Roush — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 19:30:13 -0400

PTSD- post test subjects dying

Response by PO3 Michael Roush made Jun 5 at 2018 7:37 PM

PO3 Michael Roush — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 19:37:24 -0400

I wake up everyday and wonder why been going to the VA for 5 years now took me 20 some years to get the fuck in there they told me I got PTSD anxiety disorders some kind of paranoia fucking thing to tell me I live my own world I have three or four people in my head maybe more hell I don't know that started this I know what you mean I felt dysfunctional for years now they have me on his register National register so I have Persian Gulf syndrome Persian Gulf disease whatever the hell they call it I ended up with Stage 3 bladder cancerat 38 years old couldn't figure out why everything was getting worse over the years hell I'm 52 years old and I'm falling to fuck apart I won't even go into all of it I'm fucking ragheads fucking killed me after all my shirt short-term memory real bad the other daughter test in my head and see if I have head trauma my memory is fading I'm afraid one of these days I'm going to walk out of my house and I'm going to forget where I live or who my kids are who the fuck I already already lost me a lot of times for the VA

Response by PO3 Michael Roush made Jun 5 at 2018 7:42 PM

PO3 Michael Roush — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 19:42:46 -0400

Before the VA I don't know how many times I put a gun to my head Place week 3 times a week I don't know I spent so many years getting drunk and fucked up on shit I lost a lot now I'm medicated and look up to God just just taking everything day by day and hoping them bastards in my head would start to get the fucking wrong I hate when they fight anyway dysfunctional that I am, MR3 roush sighning out, over

Response by Russell Koepke made Jul 30 at 2020 2:37 PM

Russell Koepke — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 14:37:54 -0400

All the way

Response by SGT Arthur Cranston made Jul 30 at 2020 11:22 PM

SGT Arthur Cranston — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 23:22:10 -0400

I think I had a LT think so has a PVT. I think I improved has I got older but at time that would fit me.

Response by PO3 D H made Feb 7 at 2021 6:17 PM

PO3 D H — Sun, 07 Feb 2021 18:17:04 -0500

After thorough reflection the answer would be yes. I am a D.V.
I have yet to meet a Veteran that was not dysfunctional in one form or the other to this date.
"Liberte Par Vigilance"
"Semper Fi"

Response by SSG James Knopp made Oct 29 at 2021 9:20 PM

SSG James Knopp — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 21:20:04 -0400

What exactly is the definition of a dysfunctional veteran?
I think many of us who served are dysfunctional in some way. I have an issue of now being a bit obsessive compulsive in whatever I do. For 26 years I was told to check and double check to be certain things didn’t go south in the event something came up.
Now my family always ask me why things take so long for me to do. My response is that I don’t do things half ass.

Response by TSgt T Keogh made Dec 25 at 2021 12:08 PM

TSgt T Keogh — Sat, 25 Dec 2021 12:08:11 -0500

I'm a Disabled vet "DV" which is different from Dysfunctional Vet This could be confusing.

Response by SSgt Mike Edlin made Sep 18 at 2023 4:08 PM

SSgt Mike Edlin — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 16:08:09 -0400

Hell i have worn my DV hat to appointments at the VA. They liked it. Suck it up buttercups.