Would you consider this person a veteran?

[Accipiter22]

I have this friend, he took his asvab or whatever they call it, tested well, and signed up for the navy. He got in a fight with his gf so he decided he wanted his ship out date moved up. The navy told him he wouldn't have a very good job if he moved his ship out date up, because the position they were going to put him in wasn't vacated yet. He said he didn't care. He ended up on an aircraft carrier off of japan. He never saw combat, or was ever within 8,000 miles of it. He constantly bitched while in the navy about how bad it sucked. He got drunk and got caught repeatedly, broke rules, even jumped off a bridge once while on shore leave. (he wasn't suicidal he was just trying to 'rebel'). So they throw him in the brig for several months and were going to give him a dishonorable discharge, until he cried and whined and a psychologist decided to help him get an other than honorable discharge (not honorable, not dishonorable). Basically the guy just felt bad for my friend and decided to help him.

The part that gets me ripped is he refers to himself as 'a veteran'. I say a veteran is someone who served with honor, courage, and dignity, whether they were scared, disgruntled, or not. This kid is a disgrace to the uniform and everyone who's served and/or died in the services. What would you call him? I just call him a disgrace to the uniform.

 

[Gunslinger08]

Yes, anyone who has been served with official orders and reported to duty is a veteran.

 

[Mikey]

Originally posted by: joshsquall
Yes, anyone who has been served with official orders and reported to duty is a veteran.

QFT

 

[Winchester]

Originally posted by: Mikey

Originally posted by: joshsquall
Yes, anyone who has been served with official orders and reported to duty is a veteran.

QFT

They are still in danger no matter where they are so yes, still a veteran.

 

[Kenazo]

If someone developed a mental disorder while serving, and did these things I'd still consider him a veteran. This guy sounds like a whiner, not a veteran.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I think a veteran is just someone who has served in the military. If he was in the military then I guess he can lay claim to that title however short or irrelevant the time that he served was.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Your friend is a loser.

 

[Accipiter22]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Your friend is a loser.

indeed.




TECHNICALLY he's a veteran, like on a college app he could say i was a veteran of 18 months or whatever. But he's using it to brag, like 'oh I'm a veteran, etc.' when he talks to girls. I haven't called him out on it in front of anyone yet, but it's grating on my nerves.

 

[Baked]

No wonder the US can't win any wars after WWII. We keep recruiting whiny bitches like your friend. He should've jump off a taller bridge. Better yet, jump off a building so he can hit solid concrete.

 

[Accipiter22]

Originally posted by: Baked
No wonder the US can't win any wars after WWII. We keep recruiting whiny bitches like your friend. He should've jump off a taller bridge. Better yet, jump off a building so he can hit solid concrete.

I almost told him the other day that if killing him would bring back even one veteran who died honorably in a war, for just one day, i'd do it.

 

[FoBoT]

if he didn't get a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge, then he is probably technically a veternarian

 

[PrinceofWands]

eh, *shrug*

By definition a veteran is anyone who served. I wouldn't mind excluding dishonorables from that, except that there are so many ways to get a dh or oth.

I went in during the first gulf war knowing I disagreed with 90% of what I would encounter. Because of that it was easier for me to deal with all the vile crap. Even so I faced serious legal consequences a number of times. Fortunately I was never actually charged with anything and I did leave with an honorable discharge (as well as decorations and very rapid advancement), but I did get out after only 2 years of a 6 year obligation. In that 2 years I never got near combat, in fact I never left the SE United States.

I call myself a veteran because I joined, served during a time of war, and earned an honorable discharge. Others might not consider me a veteran because I opposed much of what I encountered in the military, faced near constant conflict resulting in threats of court martial (or rather captain's mast), and left my enlistment before my full time was up. So, form your own opinions.

 

[BoomerD]

I meet the general description of a Veteran, since I served 4 yrs in the USMC, served 22 months in Vietnam, and did not receive a dishonorable discharge. (those who get dishonorably discharged are STILL veterans, just may lose their veteran benefits)
From Merriam Webster:
Main Entry: vet·er·an
Pronunciation: 've-t&-r&n, 've-tr&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin veteranus, from veteranus, adjective, old, of long experience, from veter-, vetus old -- more at WETHER
1 a : an old soldier of long service b : a former member of the armed forces
2 : a person of long experience usually in some occupation or skill (as politics or the arts)
- veteran adjective

 

[potato28]

If he's feeling bad, let him have it. But truly, he aint no vetren because he didnt do any fighting...

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Accipiter22

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Your friend is a loser.

indeed.




TECHNICALLY he's a veteran, like on a college app he could say i was a veteran of 18 months or whatever. But he's using it to brag, like 'oh I'm a veteran, etc.' when he talks to girls. I haven't called him out on it in front of anyone yet, but it's grating on my nerves.

FYI, reservists who are never called up are not considered veterans by any of the legal definitions used.

 

[JoeFahey]

I feel your pain, but he is a veteran.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: JoeFahey1
I feel your pain, but he is a veteran.

 

[BoomerD]

From the VA:

"General Eligibility

Eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions. Active service means full-time service, other than active duty for training, as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or as a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service, Environmental Science Services Administration or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or its predecessor, the Coast and Geodetic Survey. Generally, men and women veterans with similar service may be entitled to the same VA benefits.

Dishonorable and bad conduct discharges issued by general courts-martial may bar VA benefits. Veterans in prison and parolees must contact a VA regional office to determine eligibility. VA benefits will not be provided to any veteran or dependent wanted for an outstanding felony warrant."

 

[mugs]

I always thought a veteran was someone who had fought in a war (i.e. VFW = Veterans of Foreign Wars), but the dictionary tells me I was wrong. Your friend is technically a veteran, but he's still a loser.

 

[OutHouse]

Timothy McVeigh got a veterns funeral.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: mugs
I always thought a veteran was someone who had fought in a war (i.e. VFW = Veterans of Foreign Wars), but the dictionary tells me I was wrong. Your friend is technically a veteran, but he's still a loser.

:thumbsup:

There were tons of "office wienie" types, (clerks, quartermasters, etc) who never sas a minute of combat, yet got Purple Hearts for "paper cuts, or other non-combat related injuries, becuase technically, they were "hurt" in a combat zone. It got to a point where many deserving men refused to accept them for "real wounds" because pukes like that dishonored/devalued the meaning of the medal. They finally re-wrote the standards, giving back some of the meaning to the honor.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: Accipiter22

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Your friend is a loser.

indeed.




TECHNICALLY he's a veteran, like on a college app he could say i was a veteran of 18 months or whatever. But he's using it to brag, like 'oh I'm a veteran, etc.' when he talks to girls. I haven't called him out on it in front of anyone yet, but it's grating on my nerves.

FYI, reservists who are never called up are not considered veterans by any of the legal definitions used.

I would disagree.

 

[Brutuskend]

Well I didn't care all that much for the Marines when I was in, still I finished my tour.

He's a Vet. Though not a very good example of one IMO.

 

[bennylong]

I would call your friend a loser and a big disgrace to all the brave men in the military that are risking their life everyday.

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: Accipiter22
...

Definitely a veteran.

Not a great example of one, but a veteran nonetheless.