Join the VFW: Find Out How and Why Here!

[Guest]

[easingwr670]

The award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is the only qualification you need.

[dogface]

I know I qualify for membership, but I do not know which chapter to join. I have visited the oldest VFW post in Texas in San Antonio and I liked what I saw. Is there one similar to that one in the Houston? 

[DoggyDaddy]

Dogface,

You can easily locate find VFW Posts by zip code but Houston has many zip codes.
http://emem.vfw.org/findpost.aspx

Also some posts have personal websites: 
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=mbr.leveld&did=737&tok=1

But because your looking for something special, I suggest you contact the Department of TX Adjutant/Quartermaster Roy J. Grona.    roy@texasvfw.org

He should have your answer.  If by chance he does not, ask him for the e-mail address or phone number of the District Commander responsible for the Houston Area.  He definitely should have the answer for you.

Hope this information is of help.  Welcome to the WebCom and don't be a stranger.   

[jeanie0918]

hello everyone, I was curious to know if I was eligible. I was honorably discharged from the army, and served in Iraq in 2004. I didnt know if that counted. If anyone can help please let me know. Thank you.

[fabulous fifth]

   Jeanie:  That counts! Locate your nearest VFW Post and join, or you can join on-line at vfw.org.

[dogface]

Doggydaddy,

Thanks for the info!!!

[dbf403]

DepthCharge711:
The VFW membership criteria includes "...or have ever recieved ...imminent danger pay, then you are eligible..."  If you, in fact, served aboard a submarine, then you recieved imminent danger pay and are eligible for membership.  IMHO

[VN-Wil]

Hello -
What is the VFW's position on war vets who were discharged under 'general under honorable conditions'? Do this preclude eligibility?

Thanx!
wil

[DoggyDaddy]

Both a "Honorable Discharge" and a "General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions" are accepted as "Honorable Service"to the VFW and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

VFW By-Laws state:
ARTICLE I - MEMBERS
Sec. 101--Eligibility.

Any citizen of the United States may be a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of
the United States who is serving or has served honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States:
 
(1) in a foreign war, insurrection, or expedition, which service has been recognized as
campaign medal service and is governed by the authorization of the award of a cam-
paign badge by the Government of the United States; or
(2) on the Korean peninsula or in its territorial waters for not less than 30 consecutive
days, or a total of 60 days, after June 30, 1949; or
(3) while a member of the armed forces serving in an area which entitled the individual
to receive special pay for duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger.
Refer to Section 101 of the Manual of Procedure.   

I have only one regret in joining the VFW 25 years ago [1982] ,
and that is not being asked to join ten years earlier when I was eligible.

So if you meet eligibility, I am inviting you to join!
 

[VN-Wil]

Thanks Capt. Kleinsmith!

When i mustered out in 1968 the VFW was not accepting Vietnam vets (California area). I guess i have been sulking for long enough .... and i will take your suggestion and join right away!

Thanks for your help ......

[VN-Wil]

Is there an online site for the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs where their position on 'honorable conditions' can be accessed?

Here in NH the legislature considers general discharges under honorable conditions as the same as OTH (other than honorable) and bar us from qualifying for State credits.

I looked online but could not find anything but individual state departments.

Thanks,
wil

[DoggyDaddy]

Will,  these three sites may help you

http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/dischdocs.asp

http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/eligibility/DetermineEligibility.asp

Army Regulation 635–5
Titled: Personnel Separations
Separation Documents
http://www.army.mil/usapa/epubs/pdf/r635_5.pdf

Review of the above regulation reflects:


Paragraph 1-4b(6) reads: "DD Form 257A (General Discharge Certificate Under Honorable Conditions).

Paragraph 2-4 Completing DD Form 21
Para 2-4h(24) CHARACTER OF SERVICE. [READS] Correct entry is vital since it affects a soldiers’ eligibility for post–service benefits. Characterization or description of service is determined by directives authorizing separation. For a soldier being released from custody and control of the Army due to a void or voided enlistment, enter “hyphens.”
Otherwise, the entry must be one of the following:
(a) HONORABLE.
(b) UNDER HONORABLE CONDITIONS (GENERAL).
(c) UNDER OTHER THAN HONORABLE CONDITIONS.
(d) BAD CONDUCT.
(e) DISHONORABLE.
(f) UNCHARACTERIZED.

[VN-Wil]

Thanks for the info on 'honorable conditions' discharges. Even after all the info we passed on to the NH legislature, they still consider this type of discharge as equal to 'dishonorable'.

Recently i joined the VFW online and they accepted my application. But they did not ask for my DD214, and even that does not show my VN service (i received those medals after discharge). How do they know that I, in fact, am qualified to join?

Thanx!
Wil

[Troy in KC]

"How do they know that I, in fact, am qualified to join?"

The short answer is we don't 100% of the time. We look at qualifying campaign medals, imminent danger/hostile fire pay, or overseas service time on the applications. Many times--particularly for early participants in Vietnam and those who saw service on ships in hostile areas--no awards were given (or now have to be requested retroactively through US Human Resource Command) so our first check is overseas service times and locations. Most applications we reject are of veterans with honorable service, but who have never been in combat service and so don't meet any of our criteria. There is also a large group of applicants to which we send more information. Only at that time would you be asked to submit a redacted copy of your DD214, a pay stub showing hostile fire/imminent danger pay, or correspondence with a recognizable overseas address.

We make the decision not to require applicants to send in supporting documents for the following reasons:
-Currently deployed military service members do not have a DD214 showing their overseas service, may not have a printed version of orders or LES on them, and will not be awarded campaign medals until they redeploy
-Most potential members who join online are doing it for the convenience and, if asked to wait an additional month for correspondence to be sent, received, and reviewed, would not bother
-We give veterans the benefit of the doubt.

Based on a review of all online applicants who have joined since 7 January 2008 (when the newest version of the online application was made active), over 50% were submitted by currently deployed service members and those with Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom experience. The second largest group was made up of Vietnam vets, followed by Korean service vets (and those currently serving), Desert Storm vets, and then all others.

In instances where fraud is determined, applicants' information is handed over to the proper authorities. All at-large members must still be voted in to join a local post and in most cases are required to further provide proof at that time. There have been instances where at-large members were rejected by local posts. This has occurred so infrequently that the decision for now is not to punish everyone for a few people without honor.

Hope that helps
Troy

[VN-Wil]

Thanks Troy -
That brings up a question i had been wondering about:

Other than on-line acceptance to the 'at-large' organization, am i to expect more, say, a card or some item denoting my membership?

Also, as i read your response, i am lead to wonder if i must also pay local dues when i apply here?

Thanks for your help. I appreciate your time and valuable service.
wil