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.

[PaulR]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by 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?

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!

[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.