War Veterans

[catkrazy99]

Is everyone who served during a conflict considered a war veteran or just those that saw combat?

[catkrazy99]

Anyone who served. During peacetime or conflicts.

I'm talking about the term "war veteran" not just a veteran.

I hear someone say that they are a war vet, and was wondering if that meant that they saw combat or just served during a conflict.

Hope that makes sense.

[JudyJudyJudy]

Based on the info I find while researching family history, there is a period of time that is considered "war" whether the person actually saw combat or not.

[Sadalsuud]

We believe that anyone who served during times of war/conflict would be considered a war veteran, but only those who saw combat would be considered combat veterans. All who serve, regardless of whether or not there is peace/war, would be considered a veteran.

A majority of the men (and a lot of women) in both my and dh's family served in the military. We consider my fil and mil, fil's mother, my maternal gpa, both of my uncles and my aunt, and my bil to be War Veterans as they served in the military during times of war, but we consider fil's father, my dad (who I'm really proud to say is *very* highly decorated), my paternal gpa, and mil's father to be Combat Veterans, as they saw combat during the war. Currently, my dh's best friend, who is also a very good friend of mine, is serving in Baghdad. We now consider him a combat veteran because he is now seeing combat.

[catkrazy99]

Thanks!

I was asked if I was a "war veteran" today and didn't know if I should say yes or no. It makes sense that I am a war veteran but not a combat war veteran - again, thanks!

[AtWorkShhhh]

War veteran is not an official military term. Check with your service, but the VFW membership guidelines are a good place to start.

Eligibility.
Membership requires US citizenship and one of the following:
• Members of the US Armed Forces—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard—currently deployed to an area where they are receiving Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay
• Members of the US Armed Forces currently stationed in Korea
• Past deployment to an area where Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay was awarded
• Past deployment to an area where an overseas campaign service ribbon was awarded
• Past deployment to Korea for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days.
• Other qualifiers include receipt of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Combat Medic Badge, the Combat Action Badge, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Air Force Combat Action Medal, the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Combat Frame, and the SSBN Deterrent Patrol Insignia.

[JudyJudyJudy]

Membership requires US citizenship
I think that sucks.