what qualifies a person to be a war vet?

Answer 1

The length of service needs to be 90 days or more during a time of war (US Code Title 38 Part 2 Chapter 11 Sub Chapter 2 Sub Section 11:12). For the purposes of this subchapter and subchapter V of this chapter and notwithstanding the provisions of sections 1132 and 1133 of this subchapter, the provisions of sections 1111, 1112, and 1113 of this chapter shall be applicable in the case of any veteran who served in the active military, naval, or air service after December 31, 1946. (US Code TITLE 38 PART 2 CHAPTER 11 SUBCHAPTER IV § 1137). WWII Veterans would start on 12-7-1941.

WWII 1941-56

Answer 2

To be a war vet you must serve in the military during a war and earned the National Defense Ribbon (which you earn just for serving during war time, whether you went to war or not).

The qualifications to join the VFW are different:

"Your military service must included being deployed in a particular theater of operations recognized as military service that qualifies you for membership or you must have been awarded a recognized campaign medal as set forth in the VFW Charter and/or By-Laws.
Your discharge papers or other official military records must reflect your campaign medal and/or show clearly that you served in a particular theater of operations that would qualify you for membership."

But to be called a "war vet" you must only have served in the military during a time of war. For instance, my husband is a "war vet" because he was in Boot Camp during Desert Storm. He doesn't call himself a war vet because, honestly, he was in Boot Camp, but he does qualify.

I hope that answers your question!

Answer 3

This should be an easy, straight-forward question, but it isn't.

The obvious answers might be "having served in the Armed Forces in combat", or "having served in the Armed Forces in time of war". However, it's not that easy.

First, "time of war" is a tricky phrase-- the U.S. hasn't been at war, legally, since World War II. To be at war requires a formal declaration of war by Congress, not just the President sending U.S. troops into combat. Korea was a "police action", Vietnam an "armed conflict", and we're not sure exactly what the Iraq war is-- a mission, or an armed conflict, or possibly one battlefield of the (undeclared as such) War on Terror.

Further complicating things... the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion consider you a war veteran if you served during time of war, even if you didn't get orders to anyplace there was actual shooting. They set certain dates (for instance, their Vietnam period ended, I think, in '75, and the current 'qualifying dates' started on 9/11/01 and continue through now), and anyone serving during those dates is qualified for membership (VFW requires overseas service). Thus, someone who was stationed in California for an entire enlistment is considered the same as someone who does two tours in Iraq-- the idea is that what's important is willingness to go-- understanding who actually sees combat depends on what orders the military issues him or her.

The military itself doesn't have this one figured out-- they issue Combat Action ribbons or badges to people in direct combat, and now a different one for those who aren't in designated combat units but are involved in direct combat with an enemy, and then there's the National Defense Service Medal (or, "gedunk ribbon"!), given for serving during wartime (but not necessarily in combat).

This is partly a recognition that you can't judge much by who serves in combat units anymore-- in this day of IEDs and guerrilla warfare, there is no longer a "front", and the man or woman driving the truck or cooking the meals is as likely to get shot at or blown up as the infantry soldier or grunt Marine-- and is equally expected to shoot back.

Even "having served in combat" is hard to pin down... how do you classify the Sailors on nuclear ballistic missile subs, who know that every time they're called to high alert it may mean Armageddon (especially during the Cold War, when most war was 'bluff-guess tight-or die)? Or how about when the Marines who guard our embassies overseas are attacked-- as when the Kenyan embassy was attacked? How about all those people, enlisted and officers, who came under direct attack when the plane was flown into the Pentagon?

All that said, I would go with the less-stringent definition. Anyone who serves in the military during war time is a "war vet"-- and in this day of volunteer service, has volunteered to go into harm's way for our nation. Some war vets are also combat vets-- those whom the military has ordered into combat. Anyone, though, who volunteers to go into the military, and thus to put his or her life on the line, for friends, family and nation, deserves to be honored.

Answer 4

Having served in the military while in a war zone.

Answer 5

Having gone to war and returning.

Answer 6

Active duty in a war or conflict.

Answer 7

should..............
kill.......
10,000 enemy troops... hahaha