What is the difference between the American Legion and the VFW?
Imaqt1962 from Illinois
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VFW stands for Veterans of Foreign Wars to be be a member you had to have served in the military during war time on foreign soil. My husband is member of both along with Fleet Reserves and Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
I am auxillary member and it is amazing the community work these people do. I am about the youngest yet these women ring circles around me.
My husband served in Desert Storm and was in excellent health when he left with a physical to prove it and now he uses a cane to walk or wheelchair and takes so many meds. he cannot drive and he just turned 38 ! Yet no pity for him, he volunteers with the VFW and lobbies for Veteran rights and for those serving now. My husband talks to Sens. & Congressmen/women, Gov of our state went to Washington DC with VFW and does his best to keep benefits from being cut back. At the moment the current administration is trying to make each Veteran PAY for services at the VA Veterans Administration for health benefits that have always been PROMISED to our military.
If I can stress one thing..... Please if you know a Veteran they may be eligible for benefits throught the VA they can see the VFW Representiives who there to help Veterans with Paperwork, filing, etc so art DAV reps. and some American Legions do this too. PLEASE remember the VFW has certified service officers who there to help VETERANS and families so please let them know. Often many vets do no know this.
I know I got long winded here however this is something people should know.
Your comment that you have to serve during overseas during a war is incorrect, it should say during a foreign conflict which means anyone stationed in Korea since 1951 for more than 30 days is eligible
I am a life member of the VFW I only received a disability rating of 10%. I have PTSD, Heart Disease, Sleep Apnea and hearing loss. But the VA only recognizes the ringing in my ears. I get my health care, eye glasses, hearing aids through the VA and they are about to put me on the Heart Transplant List.
I was stationed in Korea 77-78 can I get assistance. I am a female veteran. I am also dependent of a deceased service member.
i think american legian is power trip vfw is better they treat u better
Correct. I joined the VFW with my Korean Defense Ribbon.
No American Legion isn't a power trip. It's your state of mind. I am American Legion from two different places. I was well treated. My father was France Germany WW2.. thank you!
A Veteran is any person that has been in a combat zone. Education instead of speculation
The American Legion accepts both peacetime and wartime vets. To be in the Legion, you don't ever have to leave the US...but MOST members have. I'd say the majority of Legionairres have seen combat or have been deployed to a hostile area.
The VFW states you have to have served in a combat area to become a member.
Both are great organizations..the only difference between the two is requirements for membership. I'm a member of both.
I am the widow of a thirty-two year air force veteran. I am trying to access my widows benefits. I am going to be homeless soon. My husband served in ww2, Korean War, Vietnam, desert storm, and died from a service related injuries. I need help finding affordable housing and filling out the forms for my benefits. Do you know anyone, or anyplace I can get help with these things. Thank you for your time. Glenda newton Bopp, 760 898 2776
This is not true. Peacetime Veterans are not eligible to join. I have tried and been turned away. As well as the VFW.
You stated that the VFW helps all veterans on claims? That also is a bold face lie!
Legion accepts wartime veterans not peacetime
Wrong, the vfw states you must have served in an area of foreign conflict, so if you were stationed in Korea since 1951 for more than30 days you are eligible
Your comments are completely false. It is not required that you serve in combat or that you serve in an area currently considered as an active combat zone. The vfw allows you to serve in korea post war and a dozen other places where American troops were either no longer in combat or never in close combat at all. They allow members who sat on ships hundreds of miles away because someone launched a missile or a plane from a boat they were on or because they supported a bombing squadron that was never less than a hundred miles from anything resembling danger.
This is incorrect. I am current commander and past adjutant for my post. American Legion eligibility for membership is ONLY during times of conflict. There are very specific dates of service.
This is incorrect. The American Legion is the largest Combat Era veterans service organization. The Combat Eras are determined by Congress as a result of the American Legion's Congressional Charter. The Combat Eras include, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon/Grenada, Panama, Gulf War/War on Terrorism. At this time, they do not accept military members who only served during time of Peace.
The American Legion - Its not where you served but when. If you served at least one day on active duty during the prescribed eligibility dates you're in.
VFW You have to have served at least 30 days in a combat zone & received a combat award too. IE Campaign, Expeditionary, Purple Heart, or Battle ribbon
This is because the Korean War has never officially ended. It is only under a cease fire. No treaty has ever been adopted between N & S Korea and the other belligerents. Conflict incidents at the border happen frequently. War could still break out there at any moment!
As of 2019 American Legion accepts any person who has served from 1941 to now, any location overseas or stateside. This is new. The only requirement is currently serving or honorably discharged.
Well the VFW does not help the vets that was in combat. I have asked VFW many times for help and they turned me down. I served in the desert storm. And I am not happy with the VFW . I am also member of the VFW. If I known that they were this way I would not joined up
Good point: The DMZ is considered one of the most heavily armed regions in the world. The CIB badge is authorize for service on the Korea DMZ from January 4, 1969 to March 31, 1994. (As long as all the requirements are met.)
All service members who served in Korea after the cease fire are eligible for the Korea Defense Service Medal just like any other foreign service Campaign Medal.
10 U.S. Code Section 7286 - Korea Defense Service Medal:
(a) Army shall issue a campaign medal, to be known as the Korea Defense Service Medal, to each person who while a member of the Army served in the Republic of Korea or the waters adjacent thereto during the KDSM eligibility period and met the service requirements for the award of that medal prescribed under subsection (c).
(b) In this section, the term KDSM eligibility period means the period beginning on July 28, 1954, and ending on such date after the date of the enactment of this section as may be determined by the Secretary of Defense to be appropriate for terminating eligibility for the Korea Defense Service Medal.
(c) The Secretary of the Army shall prescribe service requirements for eligibility for the Korea Defense Service Medal. Those requirements shall not be more stringent than the service requirements for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for instances in which the award of that medal is authorized.
I served in military when women were not allowed in battle zones. I also serverved in Korea when they gave us a 5 minute limit if N. Korea decided to attack. I was just after 8 years of reserve and other aspects of the the military, allowed to be a Legionnaire. They would not take my DD-14 to join Aux. That was a slap in my face! VFW took my membership, with that. Maybe I'm not suppose to be there be with them but I'm proud of them. I know it's not legion doing but wrong. And for what I've seen from legion, got questions if this legion knows what honor is. Can I enter a AL with VFW card?
Hello. The legion now accepts ALL time periods, both during war and peacetime. Before, it used to be only during war, but after realizing that we were going to lose a lot of veterans that qualified and served, it was opened to all that served.
This is no longer correct. Per the Legion act singed by Congress in 2019. If you served one day of federal active duty (title 10) from Dec 7th 1941 to a date to be determined, you are eligible for the American Legion.
The American Legion requires that a Veteran served during designated specific periods of conflict regardless of where they served. The VFW requires that a Veteran must have earned a Campaign Medal, Expeditionary Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon, Combat Infantry/Combat Medic/Combat Action Badge, or Korea Defense Service Medal. So a Veteran who served in Europe during the period of the Vietnam War would be eligible to join the American Legion, but not the VFW. Basically, all VFW members are eligible to join the Legion, but not all Legion members can join the VFW.
I beg to differ. I am one of the rare cases where my service falls into a narrow slot between two congressionally recognized conflicts. However, I am a combat veteran because I am an SSBN sailor.
I am not eligible for the American Legion, but I am a member of the VFW
Please get your facts straight about The American Legion and don't give out false information. I am a US Navy Veteran that happens to work for The American Legion. I am not eligible because I served during peacetime (1985-1989). They currently only accept veterans that have served during wartime. Now, until the House votes on the current ruling and always all veterans to join, the current requirements are honorable discharge and must have served during eligible war dates.
IM A VIETNAM VETERAN AND IM A MEMBER OF BOTH VFW AND THE AMERICAN LEGION
The American Legion by an act of Congress anyone who served from December 7 0f 1941 to a date to be determined are eligible for the American Legion.
10 U.S. Code Section 7286- Korea Defense Service Medal: (a) Army shall issue a campaign medal, to be known as the Korea Defense Service Medal, to each person who while a member of the Army served in the Republic of Korea or the waters adjacent thereto during the KDSM eligibility period and met the service requirements for the award of that medal prescribed under subsection (c).
(b) In this section, the term KDSM eligibility period means the period beginning on July 28, 1954, and ending on such date after the date of the enactment of this section as may be determined by the Secretary of Defense to be appropriate for terminating eligibility for the Korea Defense Service Medal.
(c) The Secretary of the Army shall prescribe service requirements for eligibility for the Korea Defense Service Medal. Those requirements shall not be more stringent than the service requirements for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for instances in which the award of that medal is authorized.
Sorry but you got it backwards. Not all VFW members are eligible to join the American Legion. Im a Lifetime Member and current Post Commander in the VFW with my membership being in virtue of my Korea Defense Service Medal. I am not, however welcome to join the American Legion.
All I have to say is Thanks, as a CTI3 (or for you Army type 98Gulf or Charlie) Arabic Linguist aka Spook. We were considered to be always in war time conditions regardless of any declaration or lack there of plain and simple. I also deployed overseas to locations and for assignments that when discharged I had to sign non disclosure until such & such date etc etc. So forgive me for not having spent my active duty years during a congressional declared time frame. I can live with that. But how many of you know that there was a small window (I believe it was 5 months) back in 1985 when the old Vietnam era GI bill was phased out but Congress hadnt yet voted on its replacement that left a bunch of us (recruits) high and dry with no assistance for furthering our education. Nothing at all. And Congress refused to make the new bill retroactive to include every soldier, sailor, airman & marine who enlisted during that very brief window with nothing. And still refuse to even consider it. That in my humble opinion is the crux of the way vets are treated. Look it up and if I am mistaken 916-821-9162 and I will happily redacte what I just said. LG
NO A VETERAN IS A VETERAN REGARDLESS WHERE THEY CHOOSE TO SEND HIM OR HER THEY ANSWERED THE CALL AND DID NOT RUN
The American Legion no longer requires service during specific years. Today, all veterans are eligible for membership.
The American Legion is for all veterans, regardless of overseas duty or not, whether a declared war or not. It was. chartered by Congress in 1919, with revised membership criteria greatly expanded in 2014 with signing of The Legion Act. Chartered in 1936, The VFW is for people (men only until 2014), from combat soldier to finance clerk, and everyone in between, who served during times of declared war, in a hostile area. Serving overseas, even for years, as many did during the Cold War, does not qualify a veteran for the VFW. In the American Legion, a veteran is a veteran, if the served with the American military. VWF require citizenship. I am an American Legion Post Commander in Oregon.
The comment about VFW being only for men until 2014 is false. I'm a female who was recruited into VFW while assigned at Ramstein Air Base, Germany in 2009.
This is now incorrect. Anyone who served since 12/07/1941 can join the Legion. Time and honor rules still apply.
VFW and Auxiliary no longer require citizenship if you meet the other criteria.
America legion is for veterans that served on american soil. VFW is for veterans that served in foriegn countries/american soil . We appreciate both of them.
edie
Not the case, edie.
Though it may seem that way because of the eligibility requirements of the Legion, the real difference is whether or not "served on foreign soil during a conflict" is applicable.
To be a Legionnaire, there are date ranges that your service time must have fallen in, REGARDLESS of where you were stationed.
To be a Post member in VFW, you must have been oversees and received a campaign medal. This information is all on the DD214.
I know this full-well because I have gone through the process for both.
I am an Auxiliary member of both; VFW Auxiliary (under my grandfathers DD214) and Sons of American Legion member (also under GF, due to my service years being in the small window not accepted!).
Join both!
If you cannot get in on your own DD214, try a relative and join the Auxiliary side of them. YOU STILL GET TO HELP OUT!! And around here, they treat you the same at the posts. (If they do not in your area, THEN SHAME ON THEM!!)
How silly. When's the last time we had a war on American soil?
Pearl Harbor
9/11
Did this person ask when did the last war happen? SERIOUSLY? smh
Alaska, Goleta,CA (sub fire), of the Eastern Seaboard (subs), Gulf of Mexico (subs).
Kiska and attu islands in Alaska were. Occupied during ww2 by the japanese to help gaurd the Japanese flanks
This looks like an old post but I ran across it surfing the web looking for info on the VFW.
The VFW Post in my area is well known for assisting with VA Claims and they do a lot for our community. I'm filling out an application to join the VFW Auxiliary and was told I meet eligibility requirements because my dad served in Vietnam. This was after submitting a copy of his DD-214 to them for review. I'm not familiar enough with the American Legion to comment on their organization. There should be a Veteran Service Officer or local VA office that can assist with filing claims for benefits. Ours is located in the county courthouse. Also there are attorneys that can assist at low or no cost but they must be designated by the VA to do so. You should be able to find this info through VA.gov and your state's VA website.
My father was enlisted but recieved a medical discharge due to injuries during boot camp. Am I eligible to join either the VFW or the American Legion? Or did he have to actually "serve" an amount of time? I would very much enjoy being a part of the auxillary.
I served 5 and a half years overseas as a Security Police NCO. Not eligible for the VFW. Post Commander in the American Legion.
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