“Kate, what exactly is a Veteran?” my friend Seth asked.
Perplexed at what sounded like a naive question, I began to rattle off my answer. “Well, a Veteran is someone who has served in the Armed Forces. . .”
He interrupted with, “Yeah but why are there American Legions and Veterans of Foreign Wars? And when does someone actually become a Veteran?”
He made his point: The definition can be unclear. And it wasn’t the first time I’d encountered confusion over the topic. Former service members give a variety of answers when posed with the question. I’ve heard it all: everything from, “One is a Vet once they’ve obtained a DD-214,” and “Someone who had the stones to raise their right hand and honorably serve without question,” and “In order to be a Vet you have to have served in a war, but I know people who haven’t and they’re also considered Vets.”
Not only is the definition unclear, but it can also be isolating. A few months ago, I spoke with Dr. Irene Trowell-Harris and Dr. Betty Moseley Brown—the Director and Associate Director—of VA’s Center for Women Veterans. One of their biggest challenges is that many women Veterans do not self-identify as Vets, so they’re unaware of VA benefits and services. For example, out of approximately eight million Veterans who enrolled in VA health care, only 524,000 are female.
In an attempt to unravel the mystery of what exactly a Veteran is and why some service members don’t self-identify, I grabbed my Merriam-Webster Dictionary. The definition is as follows:
Vet-er-an: old, of long experience. 1: an old soldier of long service. 2: a former member of the armed forces. 3: a person of long experience in an occupation or skill.
I picked up my phone and called Seth.
“Seth, a Vet is someone who is old and has lots of soldiering experience.”
“So, what you’re telling me is. . .you’re not a Vet?”
“Guess not. . .” I paused. “Of course I am.”
Not only does the dictionary give a vague definition that plays into the stereotype that all Veterans are elderly, it doesn’t advance the conversation. There has to be a more substantial reason as to why some Vets (mostly women) don’t self-identify. One could say our society is almost wired to believe a Veteran looks and acts a certain way. We’re not all old white males. We’re not all unshaven and wearers of mismatched camouflage uniforms. We’re not all poor or uneducated. As one Iraq War Vet put it, Veterans of the current conflicts are invisible—easily slipping into the depths of society unnoticed.
And unnoticed, I typically am—the first to be disregarded as a Veteran. A few months ago, I walked into a Virginia VFW Post with three fellow male Veterans. We were welcomed and asked if we had all served.
“Yes,” we replied. “Iraq and Afghanistan.” Drinking ensued and soon followed the usual exchange of stories and VFW applications. Later in the night, the female bartender leaned over and quietly asked me, “Did you get the right application?” I opened the envelope and took another look.
“Yeah, I believe so.”
“You were in the service?”
“Yes, the Army. I deployed to Iraq like these guys,” I said, pointing to my three coworkers.
She motioned to another woman across the bar who was worried I wasn’t given the right application.
“What does she think I need?” I asked.
“The Ladies Auxiliary application.”
I leaned back in my bar stool—thinking—we are a country that has been at war for a decade. And women have served our country, in uniform, for years. Why did this seem so foreign? Why did I seem out of place at a VFW? Isn’t this where Vets are supposed to go when the rest of the country has turned its back?
A few weeks later I was surprised, once again, when I opened my email inbox.
Subject line: Veteran.
“I would like to know if my son is considered a Veteran. He served in the Air Force but not during war time.”
I simply replied, “Yes, your son is a Veteran—it doesn’t matter that he didn’t serve during war time. Take a look at our general eligibility information below.”
There are over 22 million living Veterans across the country, but only 8.3 million are enrolled in VA health care. While the Iraq War draws down, thousands of service members will be transitioning—entering a world of “the one percent.”
The meaning of a Veteran can be riddled by misperceptions, stereotypes, ideals, and just pure confusion. A Veteran is someone who served their nation—in war or in peacetime, of any race or religion, sexual preference, young or old, male or female. If you fit that description, the definition of a Veteran is you.