Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) - Afghanistan
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) - Afghanistan
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 9 mo ago
Responses: 94
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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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1st Lt James Lipski
SPC Gregg Bothell - Thank you for the information. I will be sending in an application to join.
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SGT Beth Day
1st Lt James Lipski - You can now. It was changed a year or so ago. (They wanted our money :) )
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SrA Cecelia Eareckson
The heck they are for anyone who served. All the VSO's have terrible records of refusing to accept women.
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SGM Mikel Dawson
SrA Cecelia Eareckson - I live in Denmark. I have been trying to get a VSO for 3 months. So far zero, zip, nadda. So I continue to work on my own.
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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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SGT Juan Robledo
Sgt (Join to see) Where are they, if you tie everyone's hands, how are they going to increase membership, many are dying every year, at what point do you say it's time to open membership to everyone who served, I'm a LifeTime member with the DAV and I wish I knew better, these people who are supposed to help you along with your Claim for Disability were a JOKE, if I could I would ask for a refund, the Texas Veterans Commission isn't any better, I did my own paperwork and moved from 30%-50%-70%-80%-90% all by myself, I just couldn't move on from there, finally hired me an Attorney and got my 100% after 35 years, so open the MEMBERSHIP to every Veteran that has served regardless, unless you want to be the last there
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TSgt Bobby Dick Jr.
I used the AMerican Legion and they took care of all my needs. This is an organization for all veterans was as the VFW specifically is for veterans that have seen combat. I was in during Vietnam but never was in country so therefore I am not a combat vet so I do not feel that I should be able to be a member. I have used the VFW but never ask to join
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SMSgt Lloyd Knopp
TSgt Bobby Dick Jr. - All these organizations, AL, VFW, DAV, VVA, Purple Heart, and any of the myriad of other military/veteran organizations, be they Afghanistan, Iraq or Gulf War Vets (which I have seen more recently) are only as good as the individual, local chapter VSOs. If they are active, interested VSOs they can accomplish what one might need. I got mine thru the local VVA Chapter. I have been attempting to assist my wife in navigating some of these same hurdles to no avail. The local VVA is defunct. The AL/VFW doesn't have active VSOs. I have researched the DAV chapters within a 100 mile radius. Their phones are disconnected, their websites are not being maintained, they don't respond to e-mail. I went to the DAV office at the VAMC where we are being treated, they are 'only' a "transportation unit".
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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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SP5 Gerald Santomassimo
I'm wondering why the sudden change. Is the VFW membership shrinking drastically? It seems to me that would be the best and only reason for this.
I only did a tour in Germany from 1972 so I don't believe I qualify for anything but the Legion. Not an issue for me at all, because I understand the need for our Veterans who were in the war zone to have a special advocacy for their unique needs. Frankly I'd be embarrassed to compare my short time in Schweinfurt to the hell that those who served in active combat went through. After all, the "combat" back then was trying to stay sober.....
I only did a tour in Germany from 1972 so I don't believe I qualify for anything but the Legion. Not an issue for me at all, because I understand the need for our Veterans who were in the war zone to have a special advocacy for their unique needs. Frankly I'd be embarrassed to compare my short time in Schweinfurt to the hell that those who served in active combat went through. After all, the "combat" back then was trying to stay sober.....
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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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