VFW2216 - Membership

Membership

Who We Are: Veterans. Families.
Times are changing. Only a small percentage of US citizens have served in our military. Fewer still can claim to have served this country in areas where they have faced imminent danger. The VFW prides itself on having an elite membership. Every member has either been in, or directly supported, combat service. We call them veterans of overseas campaigns, and many continue to wear the uniform proudly.

Eligibility.
Membership requires US citizenship and one of the following:
• Members of the US Armed Forces—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard—currently deployed to an area where they are receiving Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay
• Members of the US Armed Forces currently stationed in Korea
• Past deployment to an area where Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay was awarded
• Past deployment to an area where an overseas campaign service ribbon was awarded
• Past deployment to Korea for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days.
• Other qualifiers include receipt of the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Combat Medic Badge, the Combat Action Badge, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Air Force Combat Action Medal, the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Combat Frame, and the SSBN Deterrent Patrol Insignia.

Elite Service Then. Elite Service Now.
The VFW is a grassroots organization. Unlike other national-level organizations, the building block of the VFW is the local neighborhood, community, and city. VFW Posts are more than brick and mortar—VFW Posts are the members. We are first and foremost a place for veterans and their families to belong. Each VFW Post has a different character. Some focus on community activity; others are dedicated to honoring the service of our citizen-soldiers; still others exist to support specific military units in their community. The best way to learn about a Post is to meet the people from that post.

Is there a place for people who support the mission of the VFW but have not found a post to call home yet? Absolutely. We call it At-Large Membership. More importantly, we call those veterans “VFW members.” We will continue working to improve a member’s ability to control their membership through the Internet or by phone. Your VFW membership goes where you go.

Strong membership translates into strong veterans’ advocacy.
The VFW is at the forefront of the battle to ensure that veterans, deployed service members, and their families receive the assistance they have so richly earned. This translates into support for the individual veteran and his or her family, as well as a strong voice in our nation’s capitol.

So long as men and women answer this nation’s call, we will be there to support them.
Our members know what it means to fight this country’s battles. Organizations of noble veterans and supporters arise to support our Armed Forces in times of crisis. The VFW is there even when the cameras aren’t rolling. We support our warriors in Iraq and Afghanistan—and our members serving there—just as we have supported all of our veterans of conflicts large and small: World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo . . . and the list goes on with training missions in the Horn of Africa and Panama, evacuations of US citizens living abroad, humanitarian relief missions, joint exercises with foreign militaries, and a slew of other war-fighting missions in all shapes and sizes. The truth is that this nation has always had troops in harm’s way and will continue to have troops fighting this country’s battles for the foreseeable future. And the VFW will be there, supporting the troops, the families, and the returning veterans.

The VFW is a part of the American landscape. And like America itself, it stretches into all 50 states, Puerto Rico, as well as Posts in Europe, the Pacific Area, Central and Latin America.

Families and the VFW.
There was a time when we thought only members of our Armed Forces went to war. Now we know that it is not just the US Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines making the sacrifice—it is the entire family. Husbands and wives know that what they do on the home front directly impacts their loved ones. Managing bills, corresponding with family and friends, trying to work and raise a family on their own . . . these are too often the overlooked sacrifices. While only the service member can join the VFW, most Posts offer membership to family members in the VFW’s Auxiliaries. Even without this membership, families are a vital part of the VFW. Most Posts recognize this. In a world where so many of today’s veterans are still in the military—and can expect future deployments—we invite members to contact several posts and find out which one best serves them and their families.

Need More?
Not that long ago, many of this country’s leading citizens were themselves veterans of our US Armed Forces. The Department of Veterans Affairs reports that there are currently fewer than 24 million veterans in the United States. The dedication, pride, and motivation of these veterans and their families are beyond measure. Much as today’s service members choose to belong to the greatest military in the world, today’s VFW members choose . . .

. . . To honor our men and women in uniform
. . . To honor the sacrifice of our military families
. . . To make sure that veterans are looked after once they take off that uniform
. . . To honor the Flag, the Constitution, and those who died in their defense
. . . To teach future generations about patriotism, love of country, and sacrifice
. . . And to testify that there are some things worth fighting for.
Here are just some of your VFW membership benefits:
• Free Honor Roll Listing
• Personal assistance securing government benefits and entitlements for veterans.
• Discounts on prescriptions, hotel and car rentals
• Eligible for membership in the Pentagon Federal Credit Union
• VFW Real Estate and Mortgage Services
• Dell Discount Computers
• Subscription to VFW Magazine
• Multiple group-rate insurance programs
• $1,000/$1,500 Personal Accident Insurance
• Vehicle Insurance Plan
• Long-Term Care
• Cancer Insurance
• Medicare Advantage, Supplement and Prescription Drug Plans
• Senior Term Life
• Pet Insurance
• Condo and Cruise Program

• All are subject to availability and restrictions.