Got into verbal argument at a bar today

[pcgeek11]

Well to be fair, she isn't a vet. Unless she works on some German Shepards.


And yea is 2nd LC even a real Navy rank?

No it isn't

Ltjg
Lt.
Lt Commander
Commander

... No such thing as a 2nd Lt Cmdr.

 

[pcgeek11]

I would have asked him for his military background. You could have turned the whole thing around on his dumb ass.

Also, what the fuck is with all of those other people agreeing with him? Are you from some bumfuck southern town? I wouldn't expect those people to value a role that relies on intelligence instead of brute force.

Your ignorance is showing. WTF does a southern town have to do with anything? There are plenty of dumb fuckers up north also...

 

[pcgeek11]

Umm, no. Wrong.

Ummm no. He is correct and you are wrong.


I like the following definition, which was once penned by an unknown author:

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his/her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including my life."

 

[Zebo]

No it wouldn't:

Navy Seals
Navy Corpsmen ( They are the Marine Corps Medics )
Navy PBRs
Navy Pilots
the list goes on and on....

Or pilots or para rescue who saves them in Air Force. IMO the thinking mans force who smartly sends officers into combat instead of enlisted.

 

[ichy]

This was the first example I could come up with, but I'm sure the family of Dr. Mark Taylor would be interested to learn that he's not a veteran.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/mo...x?n=mark-douglas-taylor&pid=2126910&fhid=2440

http://www.leighbureau.com/speakers/AGawande/essays/CasualtiesofWar.pdf

 

[Scotteq]

I like the following definition, which was once penned by an unknown author:

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his/her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including my life."

This


US Government form DD-214 says I'm a Veteran. Just as it does for every other service member. Period. End.

OTOH - There's nothing preventing (you) from saying "Combat Veteran", either. The combat guys/gals earned that distinction, too.

 

[ViviTheMage]

sounds like he/they were bitter about something ...

 

[Macamus Prime]

OP, what was this guy's rank & experience in the military?

 

[Mursilis]

by that fucked up stupid logic millions of others would not get the title "vet". since they were cooks, onboad ships, mechanics etc.

you serve in a warzone in a time of war you are a vet.

That's true except for the "in a warzone" or "in time of war" part. You're a vet if you served in the military honorably, end of story.

 

[xanis]

by that fucked up stupid logic millions of others would not get the title "vet". since they were cooks, onboad ships, mechanics etc.

you serve in a warzone in a time of war you are a vet. I don't give a shit if you have a gun or a scalpel.

/thread on the first response.

 

[LTC8K6]

Yep, I'm definitely a veteran.

No combat though, unless you count going downrange at night in Uijongbu...

 

[SKORPI0]

Veteran

Military veterans, i.e., a person who has served or is serving in the armed forces, and has direct exposure to acts of military conflict, commonly known as war veterans (although not all military conflicts, or areas in which armed combat takes place, are necessarily referred to as "wars").

The most common usage is for former armed services personnel. A veteran is one who has served in the armed forces, especially one who has served in combat. It is especially applied to those who served for an entire career, usually of 20 years or more, but may be applied for someone who has only served one tour of duty.
A common misconception is that only those who have served in combat or those who have retired from active duty can be called military veterans.
-----------------------
vet·er·an

   [vet-er-uh

n, ve-truh

n]
–noun 1. a person who has had long service or experience in an occupation, office, or the like: a veteran of the police force; a veteran of many sports competitions.

2. a person who has served in a military force, especially one who has fought in a war: a Vietnam veteran.

 

[LTC8K6]

Veteran

Military veterans, i.e., a person who has served or is serving in the armed forces, and has direct exposure to acts of military conflict, commonly known as war veterans (although not all military conflicts, or areas in which armed combat takes place, are necessarily referred to as "wars").

The most common usage is for former armed services personnel. A veteran is one who has served in the armed forces, especially one who has served in combat. It is especially applied to those who served for an entire career, usually of 20 years or more, but may be applied for someone who has only served one tour of duty.
A common misconception is that only those who have served in combat or those who have retired from active duty can be called military veterans.
-----------------------
vet·er·an

   [vet-er-uh

n, ve-truh

n]
–noun 1. a person who has had long service or experience in an occupation, office, or the like: a veteran of the police force; a veteran of many sports competitions.

2. a person who has served in a military force, especially one who has fought in a war: a Vietnam veteran.

Yep, I knew I was a veteran.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Veteran

Military veterans, i.e., a person who has served or is serving in the armed forces, and has direct exposure to acts of military conflict, commonly known as war veterans (although not all military conflicts, or areas in which armed combat takes place, are necessarily referred to as "wars").

The most common usage is for former armed services personnel. A veteran is one who has served in the armed forces, especially one who has served in combat. It is especially applied to those who served for an entire career, usually of 20 years or more, but may be applied for someone who has only served one tour of duty.
A common misconception is that only those who have served in combat or those who have retired from active duty can be called military veterans.
-----------------------
vet·er·an

   [vet-er-uh

n, ve-truh

n]
–noun 1. a person who has had long service or experience in an occupation, office, or the like: a veteran of the police force; a veteran of many sports competitions.

2. a person who has served in a military force, especially one who has fought in a war: a Vietnam veteran.

Which is exactly what we've been saying. Anyone serving in the military is a veteran, while those directly in combat or serving other specific ways receive distinction for doing so beyond merely being a 'veteran'.

 

[soulcougher73]

For some reason im pictuing that Pearl Harbor (movie) scene where she tells the guy she didnt have to stick her fingers in his neck either. Would love to see this guy get shot in battle and her come up to him in her battle medic gear and go "oh sorry im not a real vet, ill go on down the line to the next injured man"

 

[soulcougher73]

Umm, no. Wrong.

No he's not. At least here in the US. Im a vet and did 4 years shore duty during peace time.

 

[LTC8K6]

Actually just serving during certain periods makes a difference in what you may qualify for, etc.

I served during the Gulf War period, for example.

 

[BurnItDwn]

I remember reading something about how the medics were essentially treated like "a joke" in basic training in early 1940s.

After D-Day, that changed

Something like 70-75% of any fighting force is usually behind the lines. Logistics, field hospitals, headquarters, etc ....

To say that a doctor isn't a veteran because they are behind the lines is a disgrace.

What about all the doctors in WW2 who were killed when the nazi's took over the field hospitals which had been in the rear, but got overran?

What about all the doctors on ships that were sunk?

Are they not veterans too?

Navy is "safe" compared to 1940s when our enemies were capable of sinking quite a few of our ships, however, it's still an armed service, and it's still a hazardous place to be.

Just my 2 bits.

 

[sonicdrummer20]

Situation:
Out drinking with some friends and the bar was doing some stuff for Veterans and military. More or less just people who had family got discounts on food, free shots or pints, that sort of stuff. Before the karoke started, they had gone through some of the crowd to ask them who they knew that was a veteran that sort of thing. I answered my sister (who was not with us, as she is stationed on base in VA). They asked her rank, I replied she's an MD with a rank of 2nd Lt. Commander in the navy.

Apparently this sparked some random dude's scorn and opprobrium. He came up to me and my pals saying that she is not a vet nor should ever be considered one since she never sees combat, nor would she as a medical doctor. My response was that regardless of whether or not she carries a gun (which they give a choice and she opted not to with the hippocratic oath and all), saw any war time, she is serving her country and when she exits the military she is and should be considered a veteran. She also sees and patches up the guys who are blown up from IEDs while in the hot zones. Her particular speciality is Gastroenterology, since so many of the guys now have problems from not just the stress and food, but also actual trauma caused by driving over IEDs and having half of your digestive tract blow off. She has been deloyed to Gitmo, Afganistan, and Iraq, totaling 5 times, and in fact just returned from a 9 month stint in Germany at the rehab base.

His response was still that since she never gets fired at or fires a gun, it discludes her from the title "vet". What is worse, a bunch of random people in the bar also agree with his stance, though not so strongly and loudly. Many people side with me, it starts to get ugly, bar kicks me and my pals out, the other dude and his pals, then calls the cops. we were driving off as cops were showing up.

I couldn't beleive so many people thought you have to be in combat to be a vet and that a medical doctor in the service isn't as "brave or honorable" way to serve your country as combat postions.

In any case, I am home now at 8 pm, and think I will just call it a night and count my blessings dude didn't hit me in the head over this. Thanks for letting me vent ATOT.

FYI not trying to be a trolling asshat, but look up Navy ranks, there is no 2nd LT Commander.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Navy+officer+ranks

 

[davmat787]

I suspect the guy isn't a 'real' vet himself. Only an asshole who hasn't seen combat would disrepect a medic of any stripe.

This. Anyone who has been in the shit knows full well the value of an MD. Probably the guy who started it has issues with his rank and what he did in the military.

 

[SKORPI0]

OP, we need picture of your veteran sister in uniform when she served the country.

 

[Dulanic]

Every last citizen who is in uniform serving the USA deserves the utmost respect from their fellow Americans. Who gives a flying fuck "how" they served or "where" they served. Any member can be redeployed to anywhere if need arises.

If anyone believes that field combat troops could be out there serving without support that isn't on the front lines they are fools too.

 

[BoomerD]

Everyone who serves is a veteran.

I've always believed that there should be 2 categories of "Veteran" with different benefits.

Veteran. One who served in the military but never in a combat theater.

Combat Veteran. One who served in a combat theater.

I knew many guys who served in the US Army during the Vietnam War, yet spent their time in Germany or one of the other European countries. They get the same benefits as one of the grunts who fought in Vietnam.

Each class should get the same basic benefits...VA loans, GI Bill, etc., but the combat vets should get a bit more...they put their lives on the line daily.
Maybe extra credit for those who hire them, lower interest rate on VA loans, etc.

 

[Scotteq]

Everyone who serves is a veteran.

I've always believed that there should be 2 categories of "Veteran" with different benefits.

Veteran. One who served in the military but never in a combat theater.

Combat Veteran. One who served in a combat theater.

I knew many guys who served in the US Army during the Vietnam War, yet spent their time in Germany or one of the other European countries. They get the same benefits as one of the grunts who fought in Vietnam.

Each class should get the same basic benefits...VA loans, GI Bill, etc., but the combat vets should get a bit more...they put their lives on the line daily.
Maybe extra credit for those who hire them, lower interest rate on VA loans, etc.

I believe there are some extras: http://www.military.com/benefits/veterans-health-care/combat-veteran-health-care-eligibility

 

[Nintendesert]

The VA does differentiate between simply Veterans and Combat Veterans. General populace doesn't, but it is a distinction based on their DD214 and listed combat deployments or lack thereof.