VET Organizations - Your Thoughts

[TOM BECKWITH]

Was in USAF back in 50's and have never joined any organizations - VFW American Leigon, etc. Was enlisted and never wounded (unless a cooked off rocket counts) or shot at. Served in Japan (Itazuki) 2 1/2 years and SAC for a year (Ft Worth).

Would appreciate your thoughts as to what Group(s) to consider joining or avoiding. Don't need financial help and would not be very active other than contributions.

Thanks for your input.

 

[walnutred]

After looking at what the various Veterans organizations did for the local community I joined the American Legion. Things may be different in your location and I'm not trying to put any group down.

You might start by looking at what Veterans organizations you qualify for membership in.

 

[Old Seabee]

Vet groups

Google your outfit see if there are any reunions. Going to the 20 year reunion for my outfit , funny to see guys 45 years later.

 

[Bullzaye]

Membership in the VFW is not open to all veterans. There are specific years in which one must have served in order to be eligible for membership.

I was a member of the VFW for several years back in the 80's & 90's. The local chapter was mostly interested in their bar...so I quit.

Tim

 

[cobra44]

Went to the VFW and the American Legion a couple of times. Not sure what they do exactly, but the members were sure putting the drinks down.
I did not and do not drink, so there was no interest in either for me.
That is the way it is/was here, not sure about where you live.

 

[straightshooter1]

Same for me-all the VFW and Legion seems to be interested in is getting drunk. Not just drinking, but getting smashed.

I'm sure they do something else, too, and probably have some of their goals, aspirations and ways they help others on their web sites, etc., but from what I've seen they're just a bunch of heavy drinkers.

Why would anyone want to hang around them? I suppose one might join their organizations and just stay away from their "posts" but it's not for me.

Bob

 

[redsfan2]

Was in USAF back in 50's and have never joined any organizations - VFW American Leigon, etc. Was enlisted and never wounded (unless a cooked off rocket counts) or shot at. Served in Japan (Itazuki) 2 1/2 years and SAC for a year (Ft Worth).

Would appreciate your thoughts as to what Group(s) to consider joining or avoiding. Don't need financial help and would not be very active other than contributions.

Thanks for your input.

None of the above.

 

[norm]

Hi Tom, In my experience I have found that these orginizations differ greatly on a club to club basis. I asked around and in my town one club (amvets) was a good fit for me. My advice is to check around and make your decision an an individual basis.

 

[phs3194]

First, I am NOT a vet. I am posting because of my father's experience in the American Legion. His post provides an honor guard for funerals of local veterans. This is becoming harder to do due to the advancing age of those willing to participate (Dad is 85). The post bar also caused problems and drove some members away. If you can join an organization that provides this service to the community, it might make it a little easier to ignore the bar. As a side note, Dad is not a drinker either, so the bar at the post held no interest for him.

 

[LTC]

I served in the USAF from '66 to '70. Served overseas for a total of 12 months on 2 three month TDY's to the UK and 1 Six month TDY to Japan that included several weeks in RVN during Tet of '68. My service did not qualify me for membership in the VFW.

I looked at and join a local American Legion post about 8 years ago. I found the same attitude as above posters. A few regulars enjoying cheap drinks at the bar.

I did not renew my membership past the 1st year. I have not had any further interest in joining a similiar group.

LTC

 

[H Richard]

I looked into joining the American Legion as they were the original sponsors of our High School gun club, and are still the sponsors (in name only) of our Jr. Rifle Club. Found out they actually have no connection any longer, and the members fit the same category as many mentioned above. I did not join.

 

[FlYFiShErMaN]

I am currently still serving and have served since 1983. Served in Afghanistan, Korea, Panama and Honduras over the years as well as supported DEA operations and I belong to none of these organizations. If they have a BAR associated to their membership I will not join. I am first a Child of Christ, Husband, Father, Soldier and a brother Mason. That is all I have time for. I collect pistols and fly fish when I have time. What has happened down-range, stays down-range IMHO, and I do not have the need to drink and glorify what I have seen and done.
Sorry for the rant.....

 

[TOM BECKWITH]

Thank all of you - first, for your service to our great country - and for your thoughts and experience with the various organizations. We (Anderson, SC area) have a Vets home and a cemetary. I am aware that some of the Leigon act as Honor Guards for funerals and do work with the Vets in the facility. The ones I have seen are old timers like myself. I will try and do some local investigation as to who is what, and where I might fit in.

I tend to be active in local politics and with gun collecting and NRA related and SCACA related work, along with a PWC (jet ski) trip or so a year - so time is an issue.

Again, thanks for your input.

 

[Rule 303]

I'm not a big joiner, but I'm a life member of the DAV and
a member of the two Veterans Organizations of the Units I served in combat with. Other than that, I was a member of IALEFI.

Rule 303

 

[Munsterf18]

There are some National Organizations that do good things, if you're desire is just to stay tuned in and keep up.

I'm Navy, we have the NRA (Naval Reserve Organization), Tailhook Association, there are Retired Officer/Enlisted Associations, etc.

Basically, it's pay annual dues, read the magazine, and just sort of keep the connection along with the current climate. Many have annual gatherings that are a common place for reunions, etc. Some give scholarships.

Check out Military.com or the Army or Navy Times.
Good luck,
H C

 

[rock doc]

"I certainly wouldn't want to join any organization that would be willing to have me as a member." – Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx

I received an invitation to join the VFW or was it the American Legion. Anyways I pitched it. Never served overseas or at a time of war, except for the Cold one.

 

[lonejacklarry]

The VFW is the only service group that requires the members to have served in a combat zone for some specified period of time.

The time frame referred to in an earlier post was not exactly accurate. If one served in Germany in the Vietnam War era, he/she would not be eligible to join unless one met the criteria in a combat zone at another time.

It all depends on what campaign ribbons one has been awarded. Not the hero awards but, for instance, the Vietnam Service Medal. If one has one of those, he/she is eligible for member ship in the VFW.

Any VFW Post quartermaster will be able to tell you if are eligible. The short version-if you served all your time in the US and never left, you would not be eligible.

The VFW has a long record of service to the community-honor guards, school programs, a home for veteran's children in Michigan, etc. They assist folks in need to include widows and other family members. There is another branch that used to be for wives but that has all changed to include spouses (male and female) and family. Overall, in my opinion, a worthwhile organization.

If you don't like bars, then there are a multitude of other things to do. Keep in mind that these are groups and group politics, dynamics, and problems are there as are in any other organization.

 

[Gatofeo]

I am a USAF veteran, 1974 to 1979. Security Police, law enforcement specialist. Never was in a combat area; served at Lowry AFB in Denver and Howard AFB in Panama.
I've never felt the need to join a veterans' organization.

My father was a World War II veteran and saw combat in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a member of the VFW in the 1950s, providing many honor guard details to the funerals of World War II and Korean War dead.
Then he got out of it; work and family became the priorities.
Long after he retired, he rejoined the VFW. He was disillusioned with the post because the emphasis seemed to be on individuals building empires within the group instead of helping veterans.
He gained a few supporters and many detractors at a meeting when he pointed out, "We should look forward to the day when the VFW and other veterans organizations die out, because that will mean there were no more wars."
He wasn't a believer in the "glory of war;" he'd seen too much of it.
Dad died in 1998. The VFW post to which he belonged, and had given so much time, didn't even send a representative to his service. One man showed up late, during the after-service snacks, to hand my brother and me a folded flag and offer a quick condolence and apology for being so late.
It will be a sunshiney, Free Icewater day in Hell before I join any veterans group.

 

[writerinmo]

Joined the American Legion after I got discharged, basically just a place to get away from the wife and get drunk cheap, I was married to an alcoholic at one point so that didn't work for me. My membership came up for renewal and no one from the local post bothered to contact me about renewing it so marked it down as a waste of time, never saw them do a thing for the community so passed it on by.

 

[M falcon]

Same as most of the above,enjoyed a few New Years partys when I was younger,and a pistol club @ Dearborn Mi. VFW.
M.Falcon