Posted on Apr 8, 2015
Veterans: Have you joined the American Legion or VFW? Why or why not?
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As I wrote this, responses to that question were arriving every minute from the "Vietnam Veterans Only" group on Facebook. It seems my question hit a nerve. Take a look at a random sampling of the responses in the image...
Can you imagine my surprise?
I was fortunate that, when I completed my tour of duty in Vietnam, I was assigned to a post in Hawaii where there was little hostility between the military and civilian communities. Thus, I was spared the abuses that many Vietnam Veterans experienced on their return to CONUS (the Continental United States). I am appalled to learn that my comrades could not find sanctuary even among other veterans. It seems “The Greatest Generation” wasn't as great as I once believed.
On Veterans Day and Memorial Day over the years, as we passed Veterans soliciting donations in exchange for a “Buddy Poppy”, my wife would ask me, “Why don't you join?” I merely shrugged and replied, “Those organizations are for 'real' soldiers. They don't want any REMFs hanging around.”
REMFs are Rear Echelon Mother F*****s, the ones who served “in the rear with the gear”. To be more precise, they were the commanders who sent troops in harm’s way, often disastrously, without exposing themselves to danger. So no, I wasn't one of those and, in truth, there weren't many “rear areas” in Vietnam. Base camps, such as the one to which I was assigned, were located all over the countryside and every perimeter was a front line. Also, in addition to administrative duties, I was a platoon leader for the base camp security force inasmuch as I was a trained infantry officer. Thus, my real reason for not joining, I suppose, was that I never felt the need.
Things changed as news broke about the scandals within the Veterans Administration. As we learned of Veterans dying while languishing on secret waiting lists and other systemic failures, I decided that I had to do something. We were taught as Soldiers to take care of one another on the battlefield. How could we do any less in these circumstances?
I joined both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars and attended a couple meetings for both. The VFW post in my community seemed better organized, and I began focusing my attentions there; however, I intend on devoting more time to the American Legion once I'm settled into the VFW.
We visit patients at the Veterans Hospital in Long Beach and the Navy Hospital near Camp Pendleton to cater events for them, sponsor student competitions and award prizes for scholarship, sanction Boy Scout units, and provide honor guards for Veterans' burials as well as community events. One of our most valuable services is helping Veterans apply for VA benefits and shepherding them through the red tape jungle. Like all other VFW posts, we contribute to our national organization and the homes they maintain for widows and orphans of Veterans who have fought in foreign wars.
I'm sure the activities vary from one post to another, but there hasn't been any drinking or smoking at mine (yet).
To be honest, there are a few WWII and Korean Veterans still hanging on, but Vietnam Veterans seem to predominate, at least among those who attend meetings. I'm especially happy to see younger veterans fresh from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq joining. Hopefully, we can help them network for education and job opportunities as they transition to civilian life. I certainly won't be displaying the behavior Vietnam Veterans experienced when they attempted to join, and I won't permit it to go unchallenged if others try.
Can you imagine my surprise?
I was fortunate that, when I completed my tour of duty in Vietnam, I was assigned to a post in Hawaii where there was little hostility between the military and civilian communities. Thus, I was spared the abuses that many Vietnam Veterans experienced on their return to CONUS (the Continental United States). I am appalled to learn that my comrades could not find sanctuary even among other veterans. It seems “The Greatest Generation” wasn't as great as I once believed.
On Veterans Day and Memorial Day over the years, as we passed Veterans soliciting donations in exchange for a “Buddy Poppy”, my wife would ask me, “Why don't you join?” I merely shrugged and replied, “Those organizations are for 'real' soldiers. They don't want any REMFs hanging around.”
REMFs are Rear Echelon Mother F*****s, the ones who served “in the rear with the gear”. To be more precise, they were the commanders who sent troops in harm’s way, often disastrously, without exposing themselves to danger. So no, I wasn't one of those and, in truth, there weren't many “rear areas” in Vietnam. Base camps, such as the one to which I was assigned, were located all over the countryside and every perimeter was a front line. Also, in addition to administrative duties, I was a platoon leader for the base camp security force inasmuch as I was a trained infantry officer. Thus, my real reason for not joining, I suppose, was that I never felt the need.
Things changed as news broke about the scandals within the Veterans Administration. As we learned of Veterans dying while languishing on secret waiting lists and other systemic failures, I decided that I had to do something. We were taught as Soldiers to take care of one another on the battlefield. How could we do any less in these circumstances?
I joined both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars and attended a couple meetings for both. The VFW post in my community seemed better organized, and I began focusing my attentions there; however, I intend on devoting more time to the American Legion once I'm settled into the VFW.
We visit patients at the Veterans Hospital in Long Beach and the Navy Hospital near Camp Pendleton to cater events for them, sponsor student competitions and award prizes for scholarship, sanction Boy Scout units, and provide honor guards for Veterans' burials as well as community events. One of our most valuable services is helping Veterans apply for VA benefits and shepherding them through the red tape jungle. Like all other VFW posts, we contribute to our national organization and the homes they maintain for widows and orphans of Veterans who have fought in foreign wars.
I'm sure the activities vary from one post to another, but there hasn't been any drinking or smoking at mine (yet).
To be honest, there are a few WWII and Korean Veterans still hanging on, but Vietnam Veterans seem to predominate, at least among those who attend meetings. I'm especially happy to see younger veterans fresh from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq joining. Hopefully, we can help them network for education and job opportunities as they transition to civilian life. I certainly won't be displaying the behavior Vietnam Veterans experienced when they attempted to join, and I won't permit it to go unchallenged if others try.
Posted in these groups: 
The American Legion
Camaraderie
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Command Post
Millennials
The American Legion Camaraderie Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Command Post Millennials
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 202
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I served active duty in the USN from 1984 to 1989 and inactive through 1992. During my time of service, there were no foreign wars. I was on inactive duty at the beginning of the Gulf conflicts. Thus, I was informed by the VFW and the American Legion that I do not qualify to belong to either organization. Does this fact still stand true?
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CPT Jack Durish
Obviously, the VFW is organized for veterans who deployed to foreign wars. The American Legion is open to anyone who served during war years whether they deployed or not. Many of us in the AL have supported eligibility for all who served. It wasn't your fault that the politicians refrained from starting a war while you served. You were still vulnerable to the vagaries of their misadventures.
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CPO David Sharp
For Sea Service Personnel there is the Fleet Reserve Association. The requirements are to be Honorably Discharged, Retired or Reserve and Active. I can assist you in locating a Branch in your area. If you wish please feel free to contact me at [login to see] .
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SP5 Daniel Morea
Due to Congressional charters for these organizations, that is a fact, you are entitled however to join AMVETS organization.
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I'm a member at large in the VFW, never actually been to a meeting at my local post. I am a member of the local post of the Legion. I've only made 1 meeting in the 2 years I've been a member though. I just always seem to have something else going on during the meetings or I just flat out forget. I'm not sure of the VFW, but I know the local Legion post here in my town has been going out of it's way trying to get younger vets to join and get involved. They understand that without them, the Legion doesn't have much time left really. Last time I was there, they were working with a new volunteer group at the local college campus to try and bring together the Legion and younger vets in school there.
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SP5 Daniel Morea
It's important to realize that we ( the veterans) need to be a force together. Advocating for healthcare compensation and pension benefits and other ancillary benefits for those veterans and surviving dependents who need these benefits take a unanimous voice by all era veterans.
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I became a lifetime member of the VFW upon my return from Afghanistan. Because the Legion lifetime membership cost significantly more than the VFW one, I enrolled there as a regular member.
Since then I have let my Legion membership lapse, and I am inactive in my VFW post. The legion post I was a part of spent its meetings drinking and smoking, and discussing who in the community needed to borrow a wheelchair or walker. I didn't feel as if I was contributing anything by being there.
The VFW posts have tended to be a bit better organized, and are more active in the community, but there still seems to be a trend where they are focused on the established, annual events (laying flowers on graves every Memorial Day, for example), and I can't recall a single incident of them taking action to respond to a major current event (like the VA scandal).
That, combined with the fact that all of the local posts meet on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays (which is when my Kempo class is), has contributed to my participation dropping significantly. Because I am a lifetime member, I am still on the books of my local VFW post, and I serve as one of their trustees, and help out with the odd community event, but that's it.
Since then I have let my Legion membership lapse, and I am inactive in my VFW post. The legion post I was a part of spent its meetings drinking and smoking, and discussing who in the community needed to borrow a wheelchair or walker. I didn't feel as if I was contributing anything by being there.
The VFW posts have tended to be a bit better organized, and are more active in the community, but there still seems to be a trend where they are focused on the established, annual events (laying flowers on graves every Memorial Day, for example), and I can't recall a single incident of them taking action to respond to a major current event (like the VA scandal).
That, combined with the fact that all of the local posts meet on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays (which is when my Kempo class is), has contributed to my participation dropping significantly. Because I am a lifetime member, I am still on the books of my local VFW post, and I serve as one of their trustees, and help out with the odd community event, but that's it.
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Joined both. Paid for life membership in the VFW. I let American Legion laps because the yearly dues were to high and the cost for being a Life Member was crazy high compared to the VFW.
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I am the Commander of my VFW POST. We do a lot of stuff for the veterans. We welcome all who are in the post, but the thing that ticks me off is when we have any kind of activity it's always the same 7 people who show up. My post has 70 members. Most of them I've never even met. So if you are going to join a post, show up to help out with activities, not only when there is free food. God Bless America and God Bless the VFW.
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CPT Jack Durish
Ten percent. That sounds about right. We have about 20 out of 250 who show up for meetings and participate in activities to help veterans. The national organization tells us, numbers count when it comes to lobbying Congress. Still, we look for ways to engage the others. Currently, we're pushing membership in our Facebook Group to get them to engage at least minimally. We're having a raffle among current members of the group each month for which we give away a Challenge Coin with proceeds going to the effort to build a national cemetery at Orange County Great Park (California). Group membership is limited to Post members and no purchase required. I'll let you know how that works out...
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PO1 Randy Darrah
I've gone as far as getting the roster of everyone in the post and sending them an e-mail. I get "Oh, I'll be there." Then they don't show up. What really bothers me is that most of them are retired and have all kinds of time on their hands. I work two jobs and am able to make meetings. Any ideas would be appreciated.
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I am a life member and the current Post Surgeon at VFW Post 2830. I initially looked into the VFW because my Senior Chief informed us about the organization and the good it does. Now that I have joined I definitely can see the weariness that the Vietnam era members have when the OIF/OEF dudes start to become actively involved in the post and want to update some things. I believe that puts off so many vets from the current wars from joining. I also struggle with getting information on how to properly execute my duties as Post Surgeon. The by-laws aren't exactly geared toward guiding that particular position and I had zero turnover from my predecessor. I didn't even know such a position existed until I was nominated--haha.
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CPO Mike Castro
I believe the bylaws are written to be vague. Post, District and Department(State) mirror National's. When you consider the different abilities Veterans have its best to leave what needs to be done to the individual. One thing you can do is look at what others are doing. If you go to the Pacific Areas website and read the Typhoon, a Department Newspaper the Surgeon puts out health information. Read something similuar at a meeting.
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CPt Jack Durish, Sir. Goodevening, I am a member of both the VFW, and American Legion they are listed on my likedin Professional Profile.
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