A friend of mine recently (July 5) left for the Great Lakes for boot camp. Last night, he posted on FB saying that he was home, he received early separation for pre-existing medical conditions. This morning his status said that job hunting starts this morning and that "it should be easy since I'm a vet now." (His exact words.)

Which got me thinking, what is your definition of a military veteran?
Is it anyone who's made it to boot camp, even if they didn't make it all of the way? Someone who's graduated boot camp? Deployed at least once? Or do they have to see a war zone to be considered a vet?

hmm... when I think of a Vet I think of someone that has been in the military, most likely has been deployed (but not always). Someone that didn't even get through bootcamp though? No, they're not a vet to me lol.

I'd agree with Deidre. It's someone who made it through boot camp and their commitment (whatever that might be... 2 years or 20) unless they were honorably discharged for another reason (i.e. medical). And I'm willing to bet most employers would agree with that definition. If you never even got to play military because of pre-existing conditions, you're not a vet, IMHO.

Someone who has served is a Vet....he is going to look awfully stupid if he puts that down on applications and then has to explain it to them. I kinda think it's disrespectful to the other Vets to claim to be one when you didn't graduat. I thought technically you weren't a soldier/airman/marine until graduation anyway?

I would say after 20 years of service, or whatever qualifies you receive the benefits as a vet....like if you served 4 years, you dont get retirement or anything, so IMO thats not a vet.

I definitely dont see that as a vet. My cousin graduated Marine corp bootcamp and was at his first duty station for about 3 months before he was medically discharged and he doesnt consider himself a "vet" I think if you serve your term or are medically discharged after a considerable amount of time then you are a "vet"

I thought technically you weren't a soldier/airman/marine until graduation anyway?

That's always been my assumption/feeling as well.

I'm on the fence about where the line is drawn exactly. I definitely agree that someone who has not completed boot camp is not a vet. Bre raises a good point about receiving the benefits, but I'd also be inclined to view someone as a vet if they've spent several years in as well--especially if they've deployed.

The Merriam-Webster definition is fairly vague about a set 'time', saying that someone who's had "long" experience in a field of work.

Someone who has finished bootcamp and served out their contract (unless they encounter some sort of medical issue or injury that keeps them from finishing their contract). I do not think the "friend" in the OP is a vet and I agree that it is disrespectful to claim to be one. As someone else said, you don't earn the title soldier/marine/sailor/airman until graduation. In marine bootcamp you don't even rate to wear the full uniform until graduation.

BreBre-just curious why 20 years? You don't consider someone who has fought in Iraq, or Afghanistan a just because they didn't serve a full 20 years? What about those who wanted to stay in but were forced out for reasons beyond their control due to downsizing?

Eh every single MM is different. So if they served two years ad discharged medically but served overseas, I think that's a vet. Or like friends of mine who served 16yrs, got injured during the pt testing and w

sorry more came to me after I posted. I like this quote as the definition of a veteran "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."

brebre- they may not get retirement before 20 years, but most military members are still entitled to VA benefits whenever they get out, even if after only one enlistment. I can't speak for all branches but in the marines upon the end of their military service they can write off things such as bad back or knees due to carrying heavy packs over long distances, hearing problems sustained from operation artillery ect. It is not considered retirement but if these conditions are approved the member does receive monetary compensation much like retirees.

Well, if they didnt serve the full 20 yrs, and they are able to get the same benefits as a 20 yr vet, then I would consider them a vet. Because if they were discharged before 20 yrs and they still get the 20 yr benefits, then obviously they were seperated for reasons beyond their control. THats why I said serve 20 years *or* if they can still get retirment benefits. I don't consider a vet someone that served 4 years and got out becuase they moved on to other things. Looks like the DoD sees it that way too. Thats why they dont get the same benefits as well.

Bre, you don't think that someone who deployed and got shot at for 18 months and then got out after four years is a vet? The DoD just doesn't see it as they've served enough to merit paying them for the rest of their lives, not that they aren't a vet. There's a huge difference, IMO.

MrsKB- I get what your saying, but your husband joined the military during war time with the knowledge that he may deploy. Some people just don't ever make it there for one reason or another (this is different than the ones who purposefully try to avoid deployment, I might not consider them a vet) but that doesn't mean they haven't played an important part in this war.

yeah, but she asked us what our definition of a vet is... I was just gving mine.

Well, if they didnt serve the full 20 yrs, and they are able to get the same benefits as a 20 yr vet, then I would consider them a vet.

I think you misunderstood. ALMOST ALL military members are entitled to some sort of compensation even if they get out after only 4 years. They can write off hearing problems, back knee or other joint problems, even memory problems from being knocked around too much. This means they get a paycheck every month from the military though it is less than a 20 yr retirement paycheck would be. This compensation is a part of VA benefits. VETERAN Affairs benefits. If they are eligible for VA benefits how are they not a veteran?

Yeah, his job is min-manned so he can't just 'leave' and with the humanitarian he hasn't volunteered until his dad passes. He wants to, just hasn't. Now if he served 10, 15 or even 20+ without deploying I'd say yes but I just think he should be able to do his time SOMEWHERE other than home.

I found this definition by an unknown author, and I completely agree with it:

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."

A veteran is technically defined as someone who has served in the military. DH and I make the distinction that someone is a "Vietnam veteran" or "Iraq veteran", etc., if they have served/deployed during those wars.

Getting out of boot camp and calling yourself a veteran? Hardly.

For the purposes of the OP, I say no. I wouldn't even consider him a marine/sailor/soldier or airman due to the fact that he didn't graduate boot camp, so he definitely doesn't rate to be a "vet".

My definition of a vet varies though. I think there is a huge difference between someone who served 4 years, never was deployed and had a "cushy" job here in the states versus someone who was in 4 years, and was deployed. Vietnam vets may not have been career, you know? But they still served in that awful war. Will someone tell them that they aren't vets?

Honestly, I don't really consider someone a vet if they're under the age of 40. That sounds really goofy, but when you look at the little old men at the commissary, I think of them as veterans. If my DH got out at the end of his enlistment, I don't think I'd call him a vet til he reached the age of 40 (or older), just because whenever I hear the word "veteran" the image of those little old men pop in my mind.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/benefits/a/vetbenefits.htm

This link does a good job of explaining what "qualifies" as a vet when it comes to different benefits. OP- If your friend was dropped from Marine basic, he wouldn't even rate being called a Marine, let alone vet. I don't know if DF would even consider himself a vet, having only been deployed to a non-combat zone. I also think recieving retirement benefits is completely different than being a vet, someone like my gpop who only served in WWII and receives VA benefits for his service, I would def consider a vet.