Honest question I have ... what defines someone in the military as a "veteran"?

[zbdent]

Thank you. I actually am unsure, and want to have it clarified in my head.

[barbtries]

1. i define it as someone who served

as opposed to active duty. i could be wrong.

[BR_Parkway]

2. Basically their service - there are different amounts of "time served" to qualify

for different veteran's benefits programs - but someone is normally referred to as a veteran if they've served in the military and not been dishonorably discharged.

[ejpoeta]

3. i think it depends. if you served in wartime, or in a combat zone i believe it's

different than if you didn't. my dad was considered a veteran.... he did not serve in wartime. i am not sure how long he was in the air force, but he did go to the VA to get his meds and to get medical treatment. he felt he didn't deserve it, though.... because he didn't serve in wartime.

[trumad]

4. I served 6 years in the Army--

82nd Airborne--- no war when I was in...But I am considered a Veteran.

[DrDan]

5. nope - that has nothing to do with it

if you served, you are a veteran.

Whether you are eligible to use VA hospitals is a separate issue. There are LOTS of veterans who are not eligible, but are still veterans.

[zbdent]

6. thanks to all for the info

it was very helpful.

I didn't want to say something incorrect about someone claiming to be a veteran ...

[Kaleva]

7. Serving in the military for any amount of time

Be it 2 years (or less) or 20 years (or more).

[zbdent]

8. Here's why I asked this question, and thanks to all for the clarification ...

I ran across Chuck Norris' newest drivel, and he claimed that he was a veteran. I never heard anything like that before, and wondered about it. In his book, he didn't spell out when he was in the service, but commented on how his brothers served in Vietnam, and he understood losing a sibling in that conflict.

I looked on Wikipedia, and saw that he enlisted in 1958, went to South Korea, and was discharged in 1962. As I recalled, and verified with Wikipedia, we weren't in a shooting war at that time with Korea, and Norris never appeared to be in any conflict.

So I needed to be sure of how the term "veteran" is applied, before I criticized him for claiming "veteran" status. Normally, when I heard the term "veteran", it always seemed to be in reference to someone who actually was in the service during a conflict.

Now that I have the facts, I won't make a bad statement about this.

On a side note ... I would suspect there will be a massive outcry when Ted Kennedy passes away ... since he would qualify to be called a "veteran" (as Carlos Ray Norris can claim), there would probably be a lot of freepturds' heads exploding when Ted is afforded full military honors that any person in the service would be afforded.

[Kaleva]

9. I use the term "combat veteran" to...

differentiate those who were involved in actual fighting from those who never did even if there was a conflict going on while they were in service. But that's just me and it's not an official term altough the VA does provide some extra benefits to those who served, be it on the front lines or in Omaha, Nebraska during a recognized conflict.

[votingupstart]

13. just a clarification -

"I looked on Wikipedia, and saw that he enlisted in 1958, went to South Korea, and was discharged in 1962. As I recalled, and verified with Wikipedia, we weren't in a shooting war at that time with Korea, and Norris never appeared to be in any conflict."

------

not to agree or disagree with you - just a clarification while there is an armistice - there has never been a final, written cessation of hostilities

as a side note i believe that North Korea has actually pulled out of the armistice in May 2009

i also believe your prediction of Sen. Kennedy's burial (and right wing questions) will prove correct.

[TahitiNut]

10. The more meaningful distinction is between "veteran," "Viet Nam veteran," and "Vietnam-era veteran,"

imho

While this distinction has been overcome by the tides of time and the adventurism in the Middle East during Bush41 and Bush43, it has been the nub of a lot of both intentional misrepresentation and unintended misunderstanding.

I have abiding respect for all who serve honorably and who honestly represent the nature of their service. I have little-to-no respect for those who misrepresent the character and nature of their service.

[Angleae]

11. Anyone who served and was not discharged dishonerably or with a bad conduct discharge.

Or was discharged early under "entry level seperation".

[rakeeb]

12. 180 days in the military.....

and no Dishonorable or Bad Conduct Discharge.

Or at least thats how the DoD and DVA define it.