Posted on Jun 16, 2014
Should a PV1 who only made it through boot camp be considered a VETERAN?
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This probably stirs up the old argument about "who's a veteran and who's NOT a veteran"..... but it brings up a valid point and re-ignites the question: "Where do we draw the line?"
Does someone who apparently made it through boot but ended up being discharged for something other than a dishonorable discharge rate being a part of the discussion on anything in this forum? Or do we limit our discussions to a stricter standard?
Does someone who apparently made it through boot but ended up being discharged for something other than a dishonorable discharge rate being a part of the discussion on anything in this forum? Or do we limit our discussions to a stricter standard?
Posted in these groups: 
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Rights
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 10
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It depends on why they got out.
I knew a female in basic, PVT Jokumsen (sp?) and she was hardcore. She was tough, kept up with most of the guys, dedicated, never gave up.
We were both going to Huachuca for AIT (I would be lying if I wasn't daydreaming about sunset walks in the desert) but that all ended one day.
The drill sergeants, with about a week left, had some scheduled 'prove a point' day about 'smelling the barn' and smoked the equestrian feces out of us.
They had us in a small room until we 'made the walls cry' with sweat. Then they had us running up and down the concrete stairs inside the barracks. People started falling. Eventually one of them took her out and she bounced off of a few stairs.
Broke her hip and damaged a few other things. She ended up being medically discharged and never technically got to complete basic training (even though she had met every requirement and we were basically done).
In my mind, she is a veteran.
I knew a female in basic, PVT Jokumsen (sp?) and she was hardcore. She was tough, kept up with most of the guys, dedicated, never gave up.
We were both going to Huachuca for AIT (I would be lying if I wasn't daydreaming about sunset walks in the desert) but that all ended one day.
The drill sergeants, with about a week left, had some scheduled 'prove a point' day about 'smelling the barn' and smoked the equestrian feces out of us.
They had us in a small room until we 'made the walls cry' with sweat. Then they had us running up and down the concrete stairs inside the barracks. People started falling. Eventually one of them took her out and she bounced off of a few stairs.
Broke her hip and damaged a few other things. She ended up being medically discharged and never technically got to complete basic training (even though she had met every requirement and we were basically done).
In my mind, she is a veteran.
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I think if you served honorably and at least one contract you're a veteran. Deployments, 20 years TIS, and all that other stuff doesn't matter. You still wore a uniform and your country deemed your service honorable upon your discharge. That's a veteran.
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PO1 (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) I would tend to agree with you completely. If you served honorably for even one 2 year tour I have no problem calling you a veteran. There were individuals that were drafted, went to Viet Nam, got hurt, discharged and shipped home all in the space of 190 days. For me, there are several general keys in determining whether I personally consider someone a veteran. 1. Did they serve honorably and is it on their DD-214? 2. If injured, was it through their own negligence? 3. Are they representing themselves and their service honestly? 4. Have they maintained the faith with the service and our nation?
That's just me......
That's just me......
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If an individual receives a DD-214 under conditions other than dishonorable they may be considered a Veteran for VA Benefit purposes. That is the pure definition of a vet. I do not see any point in discussing it any further on this forum because all it will do is upset me.
Most of the people on this forum put in many years in order to earn the designation. I would have to really know a lot more to be upset one way or another about this individual.
Most of the people on this forum put in many years in order to earn the designation. I would have to really know a lot more to be upset one way or another about this individual.
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CMDCM Gene Treants
However, his dates of service were 2010 to 2011 and I believe that he would have had to have had 24 months of service to be a Vet for VA benefits.
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PO1 (Join to see)
Master Chief -
I fully understand your heartache. Not trying to upset you - or anyone else. However, from what I have been told, PV1 is considered a veteran.
Based on research; if he did not complete 24 months, but was discharged for medical reasons considered a service related disability (even 0%) the 24 month rule is no longer a requirement.
I fully understand your heartache. Not trying to upset you - or anyone else. However, from what I have been told, PV1 is considered a veteran.
Based on research; if he did not complete 24 months, but was discharged for medical reasons considered a service related disability (even 0%) the 24 month rule is no longer a requirement.
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CMDCM Gene Treants
That is absolutely true from my study of the rules too. I would have a hard time saying someone is not a Vet if he/she had a service connected disability. I am not upset, just not informed enough to fully understand his situation. I also respect privacy enough to not want to know the details since his status doe not affect me and the decision seems to have been made.
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MSG Wade Huffman
Actually, the VA has several different definitions of Veteran (as odd as that may sound). The definitions vary by era and by the benefit sought (as alluded to above) but, none of the definitions include rank (other than some distinctions between enlisted service and commissioned service).
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