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Who do you consider Veterans?
Today one of H's friends on Facebook said this-
I'm sorry but if you didn't deploy at one point during your military service, while I'll still respect you, I won't consider you a Veteran.
*I will DD that later since it's her actual status*
Does anyone agree with this? I don't. I know people who were in for years and didn't deploy and I consider them Veterans. H & some of his friends were pretty heated about this comment, but some people agreed with her. She was in herself and usually likes to have pissing contests on who's more important/the who's had it worse game, but I was wondering if anyone felt the same way.
Re: Who do you consider Veterans?
I still consider them veterans whether they have deployed or not. Although, personally I do slightly respect the men and women that have deployed more than those who have not. I also think deployments should play a bigger role in promotions and such, but that is a different story that I'm not willing to get into now.
Before people get their panties in a bunch, I'm not at all saying I don't respect those who haven't.
*shrugs* just my opinion.
Enh, if we want to quibble about who deserves to be called a vet, then I think we should talk about what really constitutes a deployment. If someone volunteered to join the military and their service isn't good enough because they happened to be in during peacetime, then Navy floats and AF trips to Guam don't count either. Combat deployments only! In fact, in theater? Big deal! Only if you fired a round.
/end sarcasm
ETA: I would, and I'm not kidding, post this on her status. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/veteran
I felt the same way about it being inappropriate, but also in a way kind of like thinking less of those who serve, but haven't deployed. She got out about 6 years ago, so seeing her say this was kind of like, well, tell us how you really feel.
If she deployed, then she's a VFW. She's already special. A vet is someone who has served. She must never get to feel sanctimonious about anything else.
Happy Veteran's Day! Thanks for volunteering to do whatever you were told to do, including deploy, even if you never had to!
I agree.
Stan you are a rock star
When I think of H being a VFW I think of a cute little old man sitting at a bar glad to be amongst brothers and sisters in arms, and sharing war stories. It warms my heart hehe
My H said this and I gave him some major side eye. No, you aren't a war vet but you're definately a veteran of the U.S. military.
Now I admit I get stabby when someone who served their 4 year commitment calls themselves a retiree but this quibbling over who is a vet is ridiculous.
Click me, click me!
Say wha?
It's a semantics thing. It's not that I consider them less worthy of admiration or their service less important but imo, if you didn't do 20 and/or draw a pension, you didn't retiree. You simply finished your committment.
For instance, my mom served 8 years. She's a vet. My father served 22. He's a retiree.
But I think that's more a documentary thing where they show these young things commenting on the Iraq war. Underneath their name it will often say Pfc Joe Iknowsomeonewhogotshotat Schmoe, retired.
Retired my ass. LOLOL okay so maybe you're all side eyeing me now. IDK.
Click me, click me!
No, I am with you. I always wondered about the documentary thing but didn't know if retirement requirements were different in the olden days. (It seems to be WW2 era docs that say PFC, retired.)
You can be a retired PFC. My grandpa was. He was medically retired after becoming disabled in WWII. He used to joke that the "PFC" on his ID card stood for "pretty fat colonel."
Regarding the original question, anyone who has served is a veteran. Even if you never deployed, you signed up accepting that you may required to.
I did totally side eye an old friend who went to USAFA for one semester and dropped out, but then tried to claim she was a vet. Um, no. And that's a huge insult to anyone who has served, including her two star general dad.
I changed my name
Click me, click me!