What's the difference of a veteran and a retired soldier in the army?

Question

I'm doing a survey and they asked if my father was a veteran or just retired. He was in the Grenada War and retired with 100% disability. Since he was in a war, does that make him an army vet.?

My father doesn't like to talk about it. He was in the army for 22 years and retired when he was about 41 years old. We were watching the History Channel the other day and the guy on the T.V. described his first kill. I asked my dad if he remembered his first kill, and he said, "I don't want to talk about it." :(

Answer 1

A Veteran is someone that served some years in the services, but may have not necessarily completed the required 20 years of service for a Retirement.

Now a Veteran may be a combat Veteran or a non combat Veteran. Now the first, the combat Veteran is someone that not only served in the military but also served in combat, and is entittled to be in the American Legion and the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars); the later, the non combat Veteran is someone that served in the military but did not served in combat zones/combat, and is eligible to be in the American Legion only.
A Retired Servicemen or Servicewomen is someone that has completed at least 20 years of service. There are also medical retirements or separations, which are early retirement due to a medical condition that is too severe for that military person to be able to continue his service.

A retiree is also a Veteran, but a Veteran may not be necessarily a Retiree.

And in the case of your father, yes he is a Combat Veteran, retired because of injuries (that is the 100% disability rating).

An give him my Thank You for his supreme sacrifice and service.

Answer 2

In the US, a veteran is anyone who went through boot camp, basically. From that time on, we all get veteran's benefits of some kind, and the longer we serve, the more we get. You don't have to be a veteran of a war to be a veteran, you just have to serve.

Those who retire do so after serving for 20 years and are paid a retirement pension.

One way of knowing your father's status is to look at the payments he gets. If they come from DFAS, he's a retiree. If they come from the VA, he's a veteran.

Answer 3

Your father is a Grenada War Veteran and a retired soldier. The difference is that a retired soldier could not be a veteran but the veteran could be retired just like your father.

Answer 4

A veteran is anyone who has served for more than one year in the military. Retired soldier is someone who has spent twenty or more years in the service and receives a retirment payment. Keep in mind though someone can also be medically retired due to health issues.

Answer 5

Anyone who has served in the armed forces is a veteran. All retired service members are veterans. Not all veterans can put the (ret.) behind their name. Like your dad, I am both retired and a veteran. Pass on a salute from me to your father for his service.

Answer 6

Out of curiosity - what unit was he with in Grenada? I went with 16th MP BDE.

BTW - for those of you who think that Grenada does not count - Grenada had a higher casualty rate than Iraq.

Answer 7

i hardly think of grenada as a war, but yes a veteran. retired. same thing.

Answer 8

Not just a Vet,, He's a Combat veteran, you should be proud , Period!

Answer 9

fairly, i visit wish for Dell. God bless him & all people who who're wounded, suffering in all of techniques the two psychological & actual. Oh ! God how I pray daily for all of our militia. And Dell would be named all in the process the day as I carry him as much as our only wish, Jesus Christ. Father God, hear our prayers. To you we provide the attention. Amen ~~~~

Answer 10

No difference.