VFW Status

[PaulR]

I was reading a thread that sparked a question...

If someone was deployed on a NATO or UN mission(Like Bosnia, for example) with the US Armed forces, are they eligible for VFW status?

[ang1sgt]

The Best thing to do for any VFW question is go to their eligibility site which is this:

http://www.jointheelite.org/engine.html

This site is quite comprehensive and covers every known criteria. Give it a try and see if it works for you.

[PaulR]

Thanks First Sergeant!

[wukong]

When I was working (I use the term rarely) in Dayton, Ohio, I had an apartment in Enon across from the VFW. I joined as it was a convenient place to get a gin & tonic. I was chatting with a person at the bar and asked what war he was involved in. He replied that he joined thru his mother who was once in the Coast Guard.:D

[PaulR]

When I was working (I use the term rarely) in Dayton, Ohio, I had an apartment in Enon across from the VFW. I joined as it was a convenient place to get a gin & tonic. I was chatting with a person at the bar and asked what war he was involved in. He replied that he joined thru his mother who was once in the Coast Guard.:D

Hi!

How is that possible? Perhaps a VFW auxiliary member?

[ang1sgt]

I've seen and heard of some pretty strange Membership rules at some Legions and VFW's. The problem is that some of these Chapters are really having issues with recruiting new members and with their older members dying off it makes it difficult to keep these Units open. We have had the local Legion and the VFW combine just to stay afloat. The VFW had just built a wonderful new building on donated land, only to close it two years after it was open.

So, you have some Chapters that will allow certain folks membership, hopefully without any voting rights, just to have people showing up at the doors.

I know in the 60's and 70's, most VFW's were the cheap place in town to get a cold one and that brought a lot of folks in. Being one that hasn't drank in many years, this is not an interest for me. There are other reasons to be a member though and that is what the VFW's need to strengthen.

[Lee Ragan]

The subject of these veterans organizations (and to a lesser degree the sons/daughters organizations), has recently been discussed on the www.usmilitariaforum.com at some length. Some folks are pretty gung-ho on them and many are not. Seems many of the Vietnam era and later guys don't feel much of a connection with those organizations and a few are very much against belonging for various reasons.
I've belonged to the American Legion twice in years past and felt like it really wasn't for me. I always felt like it should welcome ANY honorably discharged veteran regardless of when they served, or where they served. Of course the VFW and VVA have their own set of membership rules and that's OK by me.

[Ben Shotalot]

I was reading a thread that sparked a question...

If someone was deployed on a NATO or UN mission(Like Bosnia, for example) with the US Armed forces, are they eligible for VFW status?

If you have a campaign or expeditionary medal, the VFW will let you join. That is about as simple as I can make it, because it is what it is! :D

:recon:

[PaulR]

Thanks Ben. This question was based off of a thread where a member had a Nato Service Medal without an Expeditionary Service Medal or Campaign medal of any type. Is this even possible? The fact that someone has a NATO service medal would indicate Foreign Service, but the fact is that the member does not have a US Campaign Medal. As this is the case, is he still considered a VFW eligible member?

[propwash1]

You must have either a service medal or campaign medal to join the VFW. Now with that said for service in Bosnia, if you drew hostile fire pay or IDP . Hostile fire pay areas qualifies one to join the VFW.

[pingjocky]

You must have either a service medal or campaign medal to join the VFW.

Or a SSBN Deterrent Patrol Pin, or a CIB / CMB / CAB, or a Combat Action Ribbon.

R/
Pingjocky

[PaulR]

Thanks for the clarification guys!

[moy3rd]

Some are eligible to join the VFW even if they never saw comat overseas.
I for instance am eligible because I served in West Berlin,German,in 1963
for a certain period of time. Berlin was a occupied city.

I received the AOM ....Army of Occupation Medal.

Its all spelled out on any VFW web site.

As far as Bosnia ,call your nearest VFW post & they will check it out for you.

[Ben Shotalot]

This question was based off of a thread where a member had a Nato Service Medal without an Expeditionary Service Medal or Campaign medal of any type. Is this even possible?

If one was to get a NATO medal for Bosnia, he/she would no doubt should have received the AFEM, as I did. I have heard that the Armed Forces Service Medal was also awarded for Bosnia at one point (vice the AFEM).

:recon:

[moy3rd]

I have checked & it seems to vary state to state now...even post to post in some states.

Here is info from a post in NJ.

A Kosovo medal is listed,but it gives specific dates of service.

All medals listed have dates.

http://www.vfwpost6192.com/membership.htm

[armysc_25b]

I don't necessarily agree with one of the qualifying awards, but that's just my opinion. The post that moy3rd linked, and VFW Post 3233 (the one back home), and I'm assuming others as well (only because of moy's seems to vary comment) take personnel who qualify for the Korea Defense Service Medal. Granted yes, it is technically a combat zone, but given the situation there and that there really hasn't been any combat in a long time, I don't think I'd use that to join the VFW when I get out. Yes, there are some periods (which appear to be indicated) that I think qualify because of any action that occured over there, but not the inclusive timeframe of June 30, 1949 onward.

[DSEddie]

I am a life member of VFW post 10225, and we had a member that served in Bosnia. I won't rehash everthing everyone else has said, but if you have a question of eligibility and the VFW website doesn't answer your question you could always go to a VFW post and ask them if your service gets you in. Good luck.

[JohnP]

I am a life member of VFW post 10225, and we had a member that served in Bosnia. I won't rehash everthing everyone else has said, but if you have a question of eligibility and the VFW website doesn't answer your question you could always go to a VFW post and ask them if your service gets you in. Good luck.

As a side note, bring a copy of your 214 to prove you claim.

VFW Life Member # 1394561

Former National Aide de Camp

[BOHICA]

I went into the VFW in East Camden, AR (Pop 903) last month while TAD there and ran into a buddy I hadn't seen in 10 years. We were staring at each other for about 30-40 seconds before we realized who each other was. It really is a small world out there. :)

[booksbenji]

The Best thing to do for any VFW question is go to their eligibility site which is this:

http://www.jointheelite.org/engine.html

This site is quite comprehensive and covers every known criteria. Give it a try and see if it works for you.

Ok, let me get this straight, according to that site if you spent 30 consecutive days in Korea your eligiable? I did 45 days days for TS 87. So I'm eligible? Wow, always thought I couldnt join

[JohnP]

Ok, let me get this straight, according to that site if you spent 30 consecutive days in Korea your eligiable? I did 45 days days for TS 87. So I'm eligible? Wow, always thought I couldnt join

Take a copy of your orders from TS 87 and you should be welcome with open arms. If not, drop me a line. The current national commander of the VFW Glen Gardner is from Odessa, TX and we’ve met a few times. He’s big on getting membership back up. Anyone who’s turned down will be scrutinized on why if they have are qualified to be a member.

[DSEddie]

I've always wondered why the VFW has standards for membership allowing non-combat tours for membership. I joined in '03 after getting back from Iraq and found out I could have joined after getting back from Kosovo. To my knowledge, Kosovo was never declared a war, and when I was there it was a certified peace keeping mission with minimal threat to life. The only time we took any fire was when their aim was off.

I guess my question is why is it called Veterans of Foreign Wars if you don't have to be in a war to join?

[JohnP]

I've always wondered why the VFW has standards for membership allowing non-combat tours for membership. I joined in '03 after getting back from Iraq and found out I could have joined after getting back from Kosovo. To my knowledge, Kosovo was never declared a war, and when I was there it was a certified peace keeping mission with minimal threat to life. The only time we took any fire was when their aim was off.

I guess my question is why is it called Veterans of Foreign Wars if you don't have to be in a war to join?

Probably Veteran’s of Foreign Whores was taken by some MAC pilots. (Smile Wukong! :D)

The VFW’s history began with the Veteran’s of the Grand Army of the Republic. (Not a foreign war at all.) In was actually established in 1899 by Veterans of the Spanish American War. Since then the VFW has been around to honor all military members who have served in a conflict or deployment that has put them in harms way.

They are trying to tell the local posts to get the word out for better recruitment, but as with all organizations, change is very slow. I remember in the town I grew up in Viet Nam Vets had trouble becoming members because the WWII vets said it wasn’t a war. It’s now Viet Nam vets that are making it difficult for newer members to join. It’s a proprietary thing.

The word is slowly getting out. It takes forums like this and active recruitment to get these young men and women to become involved. When I was the Commander of the post in Colorado City, TX, it was very difficult to get over the stigma of having a bar and that was all the post was good for.

For more information: http://www.vfw.org/

[DSEddie]

Probably Veteran’s of Foreign Whores was taken by some MAC pilots. (Smile Wukong! :D)

The VFW’s history began with the Veteran’s of the Grand Army of the Republic. (Not a foreign war at all.) In was actually established in 1899 by Veterans of the Spanish American War. Since then the VFW has been around to honor all military members who have served in a conflict or deployment that has put them in harms way.

They are trying to tell the local posts to get the word out for better recruitment, but as with all organizations, change is very slow. I remember in the town I grew up in Viet Nam Vets had trouble becoming members because the WWII vets said it wasn’t a war. It’s now Viet Nam vets that are making it difficult for newer members to join. It’s a proprietary thing.

The word is slowly getting out. It takes forums like this and active recruitment to get these young men and women to become involved. When I was the Commander of the post in Colorado City, TX, it was very difficult to get over the stigma of having a bar and that was all the post was good for.

For more information: http://www.vfw.org/


That makes sense, and it also stands to reason that if the only vets allowed are those that serve in declared wars the organization probably would not last forever. Thanks for the breakdown John.

I've heard about the Vietnam vets being "discouraged" from joining back in the day by the WWII guys. Those were some of the first stories I was told when I joined. The then-Commander said he wanted to make sure that never happened in our post.

[wukong]

Probably Veteran’s of Foreign Whores was taken by some MAC pilots. (Smile Wukong! :D)

OK Poser, how did you get into the Fire Empire with out a flight suit. Admit it, you bought one on Fields Ave. Stolen Valor for sure.

[JohnP]

OK Poser, how did you get into the Fire Empire with out a flight suit. Admit it, you bought one on Fields Ave. Stolen Valor for sure.

You shouldn’t have left it hanging over the railing after you had the “samples!”

I wasn’t posing; I found it an opportunity to complete a mission without having to spend my own money. BTW, I think I still owe you about $5.00 that I pulled out of the leg pocket. That and some kind of chewing gum you had in a sealed, cellophane wrapper. Had a bad rubbery flavor to it.

[booksbenji]

I think VFW posts in iowa are exempt from the No smoking ban in bars in iowa

[wukong]

You shouldn’t have left it hanging over the railing after you had the “samples!”

I wasn’t posing; I found it an opportunity to complete a mission without having to spend my own money. BTW, I think I still owe you about $5.00 that I pulled out of the leg pocket. That and some kind of chewing gum you had in a sealed, cellophane wrapper. Had a bad rubbery flavor to it.

You owe me more than $5.00. I had to take 6 million of units of penicillin to recover from that theft. You deserve to stand in that long sick call line at Utapao on a Thursday.

[JohnP]

You owe me more than $5.00. I had to take 6 million of units of penicillin to recover from that theft. You deserve to stand in that long sick call line at Utapao on a Thursday.

That’s why you’re supposed to make friends with the PJ’s. They keep their own stock of both penicillin and the aforementioned gum wrappers.

Pararescue, never leave home without them! :lookaround: