Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
Posted on Aug 2, 2023
What do you think about the "Veterans of Foreign Wars" (VFW) one day changing their policies to include veterans with no foreign service?
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The VFW which is appropriately titled "Veterans of Foreign Wars" has been a topic of discussion for many of today's Veterans. Should they one day changing their Policies to include Veterans who do not have a Overseas or 'Foreign' Way on their DD214. This has been an issue or at least a question for a long time. Veterans who serve do so at the whim of a detailer who sends them where needed. Many Marines I served with Volunteered for Afghanistand and/or Iraq dozen of time to no avail. In many cases they were 'NEEDED' elsewhere due to their expertise in a 'non-combat' field or MOS. One in particual was a Black Belt Marine Corps Martial Arts Program 'MCMAP' Trainer and trained new Officers at the OCS academy where young Lieutenants went to train and learn their 'Combat' skills. He was never allowed to deploy due to his expertise and eventually got out of the service without a Foreign Deployment through no fault of his own but now he is 'Penalized' for not having a Deployment. He has been told to 'Go join the American Legion' but all of our freind groups are VFW...
Deployment
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) - Afghanistan
South Korea
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 158
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That is the reason there is the American Legion. They are for all Service members who have served, deployed or not. He will get the same services from them as with the VFW.
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SSG Mark G Smith
I agree with SGM. If the group of friends in VFW want to join their friend who did not serve in a foreign war, they can join the American Legion. Lowering or changing the standards to accommodate those who do not meet the standards is not the right answer.
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SPC Daniel Rankin
Sometimes in our valley both groups do a meet and greet because they are all friends. No matter what group you are in you can still be friends. Like it was said both groups hold the same standards and both also respect all soldiers in the same way. I know that I do. I was deployed to two different fronts. One to South Korea, my first duty station and the second to Kuwait. When you do patrols on either front you see the same things. Enemies in the far distant.
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SPC Ramon Cruz
Not true about American Legion. I tried to join there first because I was a peacetime Cold War Vet. I was on Active Duty for a couple of things in there requirements. I went to sign up and got the most disrespected hard time I ever got from a Veteran's group.
The first thing they asked was what war did you fight in? And then he said I could join the Junior Auxiliary Sons of the American Legion because my Dad fought in the Phillipines in WWII. Then he basically bum-rushed me out the door.
The first thing they asked was what war did you fight in? And then he said I could join the Junior Auxiliary Sons of the American Legion because my Dad fought in the Phillipines in WWII. Then he basically bum-rushed me out the door.
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As a Vietnam Veteran, I signed up as a lifetime member of the VFW. I do not want the VFW to change their policy.
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MSgt Thomas S. Benedict
SrA Cecelia Eareckson - I'm sorry that happened to you, it sounds like someone may have been biased about who they wanted to have in their organization, or not very knowledgeable. The manual for VFW clearly states who is eligible to join. Bylaws, Article I, section-101-eligibility.
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SrA Cecelia Eareckson
MSgt Thomas S. Benedict I appreciate the info and intent, but so far, nothing has outweighed that enough to that I would pursue membership. Some of my disappointment with all the big, traditionsl VSO’s goes further bsck to when they refused to rep a claim for PTSD due to MST. One MOPH rep did, but a VA social worker pushed him, and he admitted that he did not work it vigorously. It entered a 7 year cycle of Board and Court appeals, while I became homeless.
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MSgt Thomas S. Benedict
SrA Cecelia Eareckson - Some VSO's are ill-trained if at all and some are just lazy. I have experienced both over the years but I am fortunate to live in Oregon now and the service I experience here is excellent. You may want to check with your County or State to see if they have the help you need. Good Luck & don't give up, I wish you well.
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PO2 Frank Ushler
SrA Cecelia Eareckson - Well ThAT WAS JUST WRONG AND IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOOKED AT BY THE COMMANDER. DID YOU FILL OUT A REQUEST TO JOIN. iT WOULD HAVE BEEN SCREENED BUT THE POST OFFICERS ALONG WITH YOUR dd 215.tHAT HAS YOUR INFO ON IT TO QUALIFY YOU.
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By "change their policies", I assume you mean "have Congress significantly alter the federal charter for the VFW spelled out in 36 USC Chapter 2301*", correct?
While I'm eligible to join the VFW six times over, I'm not a member, so really have no "dog in the fight". However, I respect the organization's purpose and do not see any value in changing them to become "another American Legion" because some that want to join are not allowed to because they lack the eligibility.
There are numerous reasons for and against any change to the charter, however most of the reasons for changing it to seems to benefit those primarily that want to join. The reasons for keeping the charter as it is heavily come down on the side of the organization.
Some of the top reasons I've heard about opening up eligibility are that it will have increased membership potential, be able to address non-combat veterans issues, expand the benefits and resources that the VFW gives to it's members, "you can help combat all veteran suicide" and other reasons of that type ("help all veterans with isolation", "help all vets with mental challenges", etc.), and "you aren't honoring all veterans for their sacrifice and service if you don't".
The main reasons I've heard against the expansion of the eligibility are almost all about the VFW maintaining it's identity, focus, tradition and conservation of certain resources. While the VFW's membership and focus on veterans with foreign service, the majority of their assistance and advocacy programs (VA claims, financial assistance, VA health care, etc.) are open to, or advocate for, all veterans - usually in partnership with other VSOs.
While I agree that all of the reasons for opening membership are true, that isn't the focus of the VFW. Does the VFW have services that can help all veterans facing challenging issues? Absolutely. Does ONLY the VFW have those services? No. In fact, they are literally one of dozens and dozens of organizations that can give assistance a plethora of veteran issues.
The VFW's mission is, "To foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts. To serve our veterans, the military and our communities. To advocate on behalf of all veterans." From an advocacy and assistance view, they are true to the last two parts of their mission. Expanding membership beyond what it is now is being untrue to their mission, loses focus and discards the history and traditions of the organization.
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* 36 USC Ch. 2301 - https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title36/subtitle2/partB/chapter2301&edition=prelim
While I'm eligible to join the VFW six times over, I'm not a member, so really have no "dog in the fight". However, I respect the organization's purpose and do not see any value in changing them to become "another American Legion" because some that want to join are not allowed to because they lack the eligibility.
There are numerous reasons for and against any change to the charter, however most of the reasons for changing it to seems to benefit those primarily that want to join. The reasons for keeping the charter as it is heavily come down on the side of the organization.
Some of the top reasons I've heard about opening up eligibility are that it will have increased membership potential, be able to address non-combat veterans issues, expand the benefits and resources that the VFW gives to it's members, "you can help combat all veteran suicide" and other reasons of that type ("help all veterans with isolation", "help all vets with mental challenges", etc.), and "you aren't honoring all veterans for their sacrifice and service if you don't".
The main reasons I've heard against the expansion of the eligibility are almost all about the VFW maintaining it's identity, focus, tradition and conservation of certain resources. While the VFW's membership and focus on veterans with foreign service, the majority of their assistance and advocacy programs (VA claims, financial assistance, VA health care, etc.) are open to, or advocate for, all veterans - usually in partnership with other VSOs.
While I agree that all of the reasons for opening membership are true, that isn't the focus of the VFW. Does the VFW have services that can help all veterans facing challenging issues? Absolutely. Does ONLY the VFW have those services? No. In fact, they are literally one of dozens and dozens of organizations that can give assistance a plethora of veteran issues.
The VFW's mission is, "To foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflicts. To serve our veterans, the military and our communities. To advocate on behalf of all veterans." From an advocacy and assistance view, they are true to the last two parts of their mission. Expanding membership beyond what it is now is being untrue to their mission, loses focus and discards the history and traditions of the organization.
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* 36 USC Ch. 2301 - https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title36/subtitle2/partB/chapter2301&edition=prelim
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SPC Joseph Nastasi
SPC Joseph Kopac - I was in ft hood 1975 till 77 the 1st Cav unit split and we became 7 / 17th ACCB [Air Cav Combat Brigade]..... I was in C troop we did Cobra gunships,,, I was a crewcheif on cobra's 68-17074 and 68-17072 SP4 joe nastasi some others in C troop Wilcox, Mack Dobkins, Rich Bebout, Al Stewart, do we know each other?
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PO3 Michelle Tremblay
I too am an eligible non member, but agree that VFW is for just that. Leave it alone
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CPT Jerry Lucas
You bring up a good point that Veterans Service Organizations such as the VFW and AL have congressional charters to do what they do and have to operate within the parameters of their charter. They are authorized to do certain things to assist veterans and the veterans they represent. I am a VFW life member and I was also an AL member until the local post upset me. I have friends that are members of the VFW, AL, MOPH, and VVA, as they were eligible for membership in each organization and felt each was worthy of their support. I recently used the VFW service officer staff at my local VA hospital to get my disability rating due to Desert Storm burn pit issues.
I urge all veterans to join a VSO they are eligible for and support them, even if you don't need help with the VA, as many other veterans need help and have a hard time navigating the VA system.
I urge all veterans to join a VSO they are eligible for and support them, even if you don't need help with the VA, as many other veterans need help and have a hard time navigating the VA system.
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SPC Joseph Nastasi
SPC Joseph Nastasi - Im still here and I see/speak to Mack Dobkins often lost track of AL and dont know about the rest
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