Would you look down on someone who hasn't deployed?

A Vet used to boast about playing in a military band got hurt when some gal said he's not a "real Veteran". I told him I'm not that impressed with his band duty either. I am more impressed with the fact that you signed a contract, basically signing your life over to the USofA for 4 years to do whatever your country needs of you. He got to spend 4 years playing a tuba? Good for him, at least he signed up....

I would never look down on anyone, unless I am picking them up.

Did 10 years in the Navy and only did one Westpac Cruise. Majority of my time was in Japan, considered "Forward Deployed". I would not look down on someone who hadn't "deployed" based on duty stations, unless the bragged about it an made a point of it. It often is the luck of the draw when it comes to getting your orders.

Geez..... seven years with SAC stationed at Grand Forks and Offutt. Either sitting in the egg or sitting in an EC-135 flying around in circles. Nope, I never deployed.

I think it all depends on the situation. Nobody "WANTS' to be deployed but you are in the armed forces and you took an oath to defend our country from anyone who threatens it. Now if you are not trying to get out of going, I think it's a, " good for you", but, if you are actively trying to get out of deployment, to me thats just like desertion. You knew what was expected of you when you put on that uniform. You may get shot or killed or missing a limb but it's your duty to serve. I agree with the Cpl.

After 18 years, I am surprised at those, especially with many years in service, who have not deployed. It may not be fair, but I "wonder" about a ten year+ veteran who never deployed.

I wouldn't because I'm one of them. I have been all over the world in 25 years, to include combat zones, but never in one long enough to qualify for a patch. My wife and I ran down to the JP and got married because we were under orders for the first Gulf War, but we were told to stand down before we went anywhere. When it kicked off again, we were sent to Bosnia on SFOR-14, a NATO mission. Anyway, lots of folks from the 80's and 90's went lots of places, but never received a patch. Our sister unit, flying Chinooks, has been to the sand box 7 times. They carrier the table Schwarzkopf used for the Desert Storm surrender.

Some times its just luck of the draw, or unlucky depending on how you view it.

I think I read somewhere that the rules for a patch have changed anyway.

The only ones I look down on are the ones working the system to dodge deployment because some people will never deploy due to their job, etc.

I enlisted as an 11 Bravo in 1968 and I was never deployed.

I was in the Marines from 1978 - 1981. There was no conflict to deploy to. After MOS school I was stationed with Air Wing in 29 Palms, a 3 year posting. Which meant that I never left the States. Because of that I have had many Vets not only look down on me, some would not consider me as a vet. 1LT what would you do then?