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Am
I Eligibile?
The
fundamental difference between the VFW and other veteran
organizations, and one in which we take great pride,
is our eligibility qualifications.
There
are three requisites for membership in the Veterans
of Foreign Wars of the United States:
- Citizenship
- Honorable
military service
- Service
entitling the applicant to the award of a recognized
campaign medal or as set forth in the Congressional
Charter and/or VFW bylaws.
Checking
Eligibility
Checking
eligibility
is comparatively simple, assuming the first two requirements
are met. The next step would be to check elibility.
A potential applicant must have served overseas and
earned a campaign or service medal recognized by the
VFW as meeting the campaign medal requisite for VFW
membership. (The only exceptions are a combat action
ribbon, imminent danger or hostile fire pay, or for
service in Korea after June 30, 1949, until present.)
Discharges
issued during and immediately after the close of World
War II have a section on the back listing the medals
and decorations which have been earned. Persons discharged
later received a DD-214, "Report of Separation"
form, which has a space showing medals and decorations.
Lost
separation documents can be replaced by completing and
submitting Standard
Form 180, "Request Pertaining to Military Records."
There is always a possibility of an omission on the
separation documents. If an applicant claims entitlement
to a medal which is not shown on the individual's separation
papers, that person may request verification and correction
of records by submitting a Standard
Form 180.
The
Standard
Form 180 is available from any office of the Veterans
Administration or by contacting our Veterans Service
Officer. The form must be completed and signed by
the veteran in order to receive the information requested
or authorize the release of the information to the Veterans
of Foreign Wars.
Requesting
Military Records
To
request your military service, medical or awards record,
complete a Standard
Form 180, (Request Pertaining to Military Records).
All forms are in PDF format and require Adobe
Acrobat Reader, which is available free online.
Mail the form to the address listed. More information
on requesting service record information is available
at National
Archives and Records Administration.
Military records also can be requested online at National
Archives eVetRecs.
How
to join?
For
a limited time, new memberships are free. Returning
members must enclose $35.
Once
eligibility has been established, joining is easy. Click
here to access a printable form or our online application.
Send us your name, address, and phone number. Enclose
a copy of your DD-214, service record page 4 with award,
an LES with
imminent danger or hostile fire pay,
or other proof of eligibility.
Mail to:
VFW
Post 7788
Membership
422
Naugatuck Avenue
Devon, CT 06460
Thank
you for your service and welcome to the VFW.
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