What is a Veteran?
Sunday November 9, 2008
What is a "veteran?" One would think that would be an easy question to answer. In the millions of laws passed over two centuries by Congress, you would think that at least one of them would define the term "military veteran."
In actuality, there is no standardized legal definition of "military veteran" in the United States. You see, veteran benefits weren't created all at one time. They've been added one-by-one for over 200 years by Congress. Each time Congress passed a new law authorizing and creating a new veteran benefit, they included eligibility requirements for that particular benefit. Whether or not one is considered a "veteran" by the federal government depends entirely upon which veteran program or benefit one is applying for.
In actuality, there is no standardized legal definition of "military veteran" in the United States. You see, veteran benefits weren't created all at one time. They've been added one-by-one for over 200 years by Congress. Each time Congress passed a new law authorizing and creating a new veteran benefit, they included eligibility requirements for that particular benefit. Whether or not one is considered a "veteran" by the federal government depends entirely upon which veteran program or benefit one is applying for.
Comments
I was told by my recruiter….I’m getting shipped out tommorrow, that a Veteran is someone who has been in the Military. Isn’t that what a veteran is?
I shall try to quote this anonymous author verbatim, ” A veteran is someone who at some point has written a check to Uncle Sam that reads: PAYABLE IN FULL UP TO THE AMOUNT OF MY LIFE, IF NECESSARY TO DEFEND OUR WAY OF LIFE.
Very few people, anymore, understand waht those words mean. Even fewer people are willing to live up to them.” I wish that I could take credit for that but I can’t. The author (to whom I must apologize in advance if I have misquoted him, or her)remains anonymous to this day.
I asked for a veteran’s discount at a hotel that offered one last month and the clerk wanted ID. I told him that I served 4 years and was discharged not retired, there was no ID. He would not give it to me with out some form of ID. I left and went elsewhere but there was no availability and came back. I came back in to explain what a veteran means just to speak my mind and ready to pay the higher rate. I don’t know that I got thru to him or just wore him down but he gave it to me.
If you are going to offer something to a “Veteran” You should at least know what a “veteran” is.
A veteran is anybody that signs the line weather or not the have been to war or not.As long as you served your country you are considered a veteran.
i think that a veteran it someone thats has seen combat. there is to many military personal who dont so any form of combat. that shouldn’t give them the wright to call them self’s veteran.
Danny,
Your comment shows that you lack a fundamental understanding of military units and how they operate.
I served in the Marine Corps from 2000-2004 as an 0311 Infantry Rifleman. By most standards Infantry Marines would be considered the “Tip of the Spear” in that they are thrust into combat first, before almost any other units.
They call it a the TIP of the spear for a reason though. Without the support of countless others that serve in “non-combat” roles, there would be absolutely no way for the Infantry Marine to even arrive at a combat zone, much less be victorious.
When a member of the military steps to the front lines there are as many as 300 support personnel standing with him…almost as if they were all contained in one person, because the serviceman in the combat zone would not be there without them.
It’s because of this quasi-spiritual truth that each and every member of the military is entitled to the honor of being considered a “Veteran”.
Those who go above and beyond and serve directly in a combat zone are given special recognition both in awards and benefits that are given only to those who have seen combat. Doubly so for those wounded in the line of service.
So some are given special recognition for their extra ordinary service, but all who serve deserve the title “Veteran”.