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NEW MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION


Eligibility Requirements

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; and

  • 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 eligibility.  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 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 state Veterans Departments. 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.

    Eligibility Regulations: VFW eligibility listing is to be used as a guide in determining eligibility for membership, and is furnished as a matter of information concerning the periods during which campaign and/or service medals were authorized.

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    If you earned any one of these Medals, you meet the Campaign Service requirements to join the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States of America.

                 

                 

               

              

              

     

     

     

    ELIGIBILITY REGULATIONS
    Expeditionary Navy 12 Feb. 1874 Indeterminate

     Spanish Campaign Army11 May 1898 16,Aug 1898

          
    Spanish Campaign Navy     20 April 1898 10 Dec 1898


    Army Cuban Occupation Army     18 July 1898 20 May 1902


    Army Puerto Rican Oc. Army     14 Aug. 1898 10 Dec. 1898

    Philippine Campaign Army 4 Feb. 1899 31 Dec. 1913   Navy 4 Feb. 1899 15 Sep. 1906


    China Relief Campaign Army     20 June 1900 27 May 1901
    China Relief Navy     5 Apr 1900 27 May 1901

    CubanPacification Navy 12 Sep. 1906 1 April 1909 Cuban Pacification Army 6 Oct. 1906 1 April 1909

    Mexican Service Army 12 April 1911 16 June 1919     Navy 12 April 1914 7 Feb. 1917


     1st Nicaraguan Campaign Navy29 July 1912 14Nov.1912


    Haitian Campaign Navy     9 July 19156Dec.19151 April 1919 15 June 1920

    Dominican Campaign Navy4 May 1916 5 Dec. 1916


     World War I Victory(w/Battle, Service clasp  incl Siberia and European Russia) Army 6 April 19171April1920  Navy 6April 1917 30 Mar 1920


    Army Occupation of Germany     Army 12 Nov. 1918 11 July 1923


    Second Nicaraguan Campaign Navy     27 Aug. 1926 2 Jan. 1933


    Yangtze Service Navy     3 Sept. 1926 21 Oct. 19271 Mar. 193031 Dec. 1932
    China Service Navy     7 July 1937 7 Sep.1939  2 Sept. 1945 1 April 1957

    American Defense Service Army-Navy (with Foreign service clasp)   8 Sep. 1939 7 Dec.1941


    American Campaign Army-Navy     7 Dec. 1941 2 Mar.1946 
    (30 consecutive days or 60 days not consecutive duty
    outside continental limits of United States)


    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Army-Navy     7 Dec. 1941 2 Mar. 1946


    European-African- Army- Navy    7 Dec. 1941 8 Nov. 1945
    Middle Eastern Campaign

    Army of Occupation Italy9 May 1945 15 Sept. 1947(30 consecutive days)
     Germany (except West Berlin) 9 May 1945 5 May 1955
    Germany (West Berlin) 9 May 1945 2 Oct. 1990
    Austria 9 May 1945 27 July 1955
    Korea 3 Sept.1945 29 June 1949
    Japan 3 Sept.1945 27 April 1952


    Navy Occupation Service Medal
     Italy 8 May 1945 15 Dec. 1947
    Trieste 8 May 1945 26 Oct. 1954
    Germany (except West Berlin) 8 May 1945 5 May 1955
    Austria 8 May 1945 25 Oct 1955
    Asiatic Pacific 2 Sept. 1945 27 Apr 1952

    Korean Service Medal 
     Army, Navy, Air Force 27 June 1950 27 Jul 1954

    Korean Defense Service Medal    
    Korea Duty Jun. 30, 1949 - Open
    Service on the Korean Peninsula
    or in its territorial waters for 30 consecutive or 60non-consecutive days of duty.      July 28, 1954, Open Indeterminate
    ( Note 1 Below)

    Vietnam Service Medal 4 July 1965 28 Mar. 1973
     

    Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
    (30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days of duty)     Berlin 14 Aug. 1961 1 June 1963
    Lebanon   Jul. 1, 1958 - Nov. 1, 1958
    Taiwan Straits   Aug. 23, 1958 - Jan. 1, 1959
    Quemoy & Matsu Islands   Aug. 23, 1958 - Jun. 1, 1963
    Vietnam   Jul. 1, 1958 - Jul. 3, 1965
    Congo   Jul. 14, 1960 - Sep. 1, 1962
    Laos   Apr. 19, 1961 - Oct. 7, 1962
    Berlin   Aug. 14, 1961 - Jun. 1, 1963
    Cuba   Oct. 24, 1962 - Jun. 1, 1963
    Congo   Nov. 23-27, 1964
    Dominican Republic   Apr. 23, 1965 - Sep. 21, 1966
    Korea   Oct. 1, 1966 - Jun. 30, 1974
    Cambodia   Mar. 29, 1973 - Aug. 15, 1973
    Thailand   Mar. 29, 1973 - Aug. 15, 1973
    (only those in direct support of Cambodia)
    Operation Eagle Pull - Cambodia                               Apr. 11-13, 1975 (includes evacuation)
    Operation Frequent Wind -Vietnam                            Apr. 29-30, 1975 (includes evacuation)
    Mayaquez Operation May 15, 1975
    El Salvador Jan. 1, 1981 - Feb. 1, 1992
    Lebanon Jun. 1, 1983 - Dec. 1, 1987
    Operation Urgent Fury - Grenada                                Oct. 23, 1983 - Nov. 21, 1983
    Eldorado Canyon - Libya Apr. 12-17, 1986
    Operation Earnest Will - Persian Gulf                          Jul. 24, 1987 - Aug. 1, 1990
    (only those participating in,or in direct support)
    Operation Just Cause - Panama                                Dec. 20, 1989 - Jan. 31, 1990
    (USS Vreeland & other SVS-designated aircrew mbrs. outside the Conus in direct support)
    United Shield - Somalia Dec. 5, 1992 - Mar. 31, 1995
    Operation Restore Hope - Somalia                             Dec. 5, 1992 - Mar. 31, 1995
    Operation Uphold Democracy - Haiti                         Sep. 16, 1994 - Mar. 31, 1995
    Operation Joint Endeavor - Bosnia,                            Nov. 20, 1995 - Dec. 19, 1996
    Croatia, the Adriatic Sea & airspace.
    Operation Vigilant Sentinel - Iraq,                               Dec. 1, 1995 - Sep. 1, 1997
    Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, & Persian Gulf.
    Operation Southern Watch - Iraq,                              Dec. 1, 1995 - Open
    Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Persian Gulf, Bahrain,          Qatar,   UAE, Oman, Gulf of Oman Yemen,            Egypt, & Jordan.
    Operation Maritime Intercept - Iraq, Dec. 1, 1995 - Open
    Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Red Sea, Persian Gulf,
    Gulf of Oman W of 62o E Long., Bahrain,
    Qatar, UAE, Oman, Yemen, Egypt, & Jordan.
    Operation Joint Guard - Bosnia,                                Dec. 20, 1996 - Jun. 20, 1998
    Croatia, Adriatic Sea & airspace.
    Operation Northern Watch -     Iraq, Jan. 1, 1997 - Open
    Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Persian Gulf  W of 56o E Long., and Incirlik AB, Turkey (only pers. TDY to ONW)
    Operation Joint Forge - Jun. 21, 1998 - Open
    Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia,
    Adriatic Sea & airspace.
    Operation Desert Thunder - Iraq,                                Nov. 11, 1998 - Dec. 22, 1998
    Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain,
    Qatar, UAE, Oman, Yemen, Egypt,
    Jordan, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, Red Sea support.
    Operation Desert Fox - Iraq,                                      Dec. 16, 1998 - Dec. 22, 1998
    Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain,
    Qatar, UAE, Oman, Yemen, Egypt,
    Jordan, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman,
    USN Red Sea support.

     

    Navy and Marine Corps Expeditionary Medals
     Thailand Military Operation 16 May 1962 10 Aug. 1962
    Cuban Military Operation 3 Jan.1961 23 Oct. 1962
    Iranian, Yemen/Indian Ocean 8 Dec. 1978 6 June 1979
    21 Nov. 1979 20 Oct. 1981
    Lebanon 20 Aug. 1982 31 Dec. 1983
    Libyan Expedition 20 Jan. 1986 27 June 1986
    Persian Gulf 1 Feb. 1987 23 July 1987                                 Panama (Pre and Post Invasion)
    1 Apr. 1988 19 Dec.1989
    19 Dec. 1989 1 Feb.1990
    Liberia (Operation Sharp Edge)
    5 Aug. 1990 21 Feb. 1991
    Rwanda (Operation Distant Runner)
    (11th Marine Exped/  USS Peleiu) 7-18 Apr. 1994


    Southwest Asia Service Medal
    Operation Desert Shield / Aug. 2, 1990 - Nov. 30, 1995
    Operation Desert Storm (combat areas of operation only)
    Personnel assigned to support units serving in Israel, Egypt, Turkey,Syria, Jordan. Jan. 17, 1991 - Apr. 11, 91

    Kosovo Campaign Medal
    Operation Allied Force - Kosovo Air Campaign Mar. 24, 1999 - Jun. 10, 1999
    Kosovo Defense Campaign -                                 Ground Action Jun. 11, 1999 - Open

    Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal            Sep. 11, 2001 - Open


     Combat Action Ribbon Mar.1961 Indeterminate

         Combat Infantry Badge Dec.1941 Indeterminate

         Combat Medical Badge Dec.1941 Indeterminate

     SSBN Nuclear Deterrent Patrol Breast Insignia

     

    Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger Pay
     

    New Eligibility Listings


    On October 9, 2005, the National Council of Administration approved an amendment to Section 101 of the VFW Manual of Procedure to include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM), the Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM), the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border (AFESR w/GB), the Combat Action Badge (CAB), and the SSBN Nuclear Deterrent Patrol Breast Insignia.


    AFGHANISTAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL
    (ACM)
    Criteria:
    Awarded to service members who deploy to Afghanistan in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) on or after 24 October 2001, to a date to be determined or the cessation of OEF. The area of eligibility encompasses all land area of the country of Afghanistan and all air spaces above the land.
    To be eligible for the award, the service member must be assigned or attached to a unit participating in OEF for 30 consecutive or at least 60 non-consecutive days in Afghanistan.


          IRAQ CAMPAIGN MEDAL
    (ICM)
    Criteria:
    Authorized to service members who deploy to Iraq in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) on or after 19 March 2003, to a date to be determined or the cessation of OIF. The area of eligibility encompasses all land area of the country of Iraq; the contiguous water area out to 12 nautical miles; and, all air spaces above the land area of Iraq and above the contiguous waters out to 12 nautical miles.
    To be eligible for the award, the service member must be assigned or attached to a unit participating in OIF for 30 consecutive or at least 60 non-consecutive days in Iraq.
     

      AIR FORCE EXPEDITIONARY SERVICE RIBBON WITH GOLD BORDER
    (AFESR W/GB)
    Criteria:
    The Gold Border, a device authorized in April 2004, to be worn on the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon (AFESR), represents participation in combat operations by Airmen who were engaged in conducting or support combat operations in a designated combat zone.
     

      COMBAT ACTION BADGE
    (CAB)
    Criteria:
    Authorized from 18 September 2001, to a date to be determined. Award for qualifying service in any previous conflict is not authorized.
    The requirements for award of the Combat Action Badge (CAB) are branch and military occupational specialty immaterial. Assignment to a Combat Arms unit or a unit organized to conduct close or offensive combat operations, or performing offensive combat operations is  not required to qualify for the CAB. However, the CAB is not intended to award all soldiers in a combat zone or imminent danger area.

    SSBN NUCLEAR DETERRENT PATROL BREAST INSIGNIA

    Criteria: Authorized 21 January 1961. The SSBN Nuclear Deterrent Patrol Breast Insignia is authorized for officer and enlisted personnel when the following criteria are met: 1) Individuals must be permanently assigned to the unit or military personnel assigned temporary assigned duty. 2) The unit must operate under an alert posture during for any period of time during the patrol. 3) For units that do not assume an alert posture during a patrol cycle, cognizant type commanders will determine a unit's eligibility for the award based on the operational commitments. A normal patrol is 60-90 days. Often, a recognized campaign medal is warranted but not issued or issued only upon request, due to the secrecy of these patrols.

     
    This information is to be used for guideline purposes only. The separation document or DD 214 MUST reflect campaign medal service to establish eligibility. Service in Korea without the issuance of a campaign medal can be established with additional, support documentation. Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger Pay can be established with pay records.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

     

     

     

     

     

     


     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Note 1                IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 9, 2004   DoD Announces Korean Defense Service Medal
    The Defense Department announced today the creation of the Korean Defense Service Medal (KDSM). The KDSM is a service medal to give special recognition for the sacrifices and contributions made by members of the U.S. armed forces who have served or are serving in the Republic of Korea.Public Law 107-314 legislated the creation of a new medal to recognize military service in the Republic of Korea and the surrounding waters. The KDSM period of eligibility is July 28, 1954, to a future date to be determined by the secretary of defense.
    Members of the armed forces authorized the KDSM must have served in support of the defense of the Republic of Korea. The area of eligibility encompasses all land area of the Republic of Korea, and the contiguous water out to 12 nautical miles, and all air spaces above the land and water areas.
    The KDSM period of eligibility is July 28, 1954, to a future date to be determined by the secretary of defense.
    Servicemembers must have been assigned, attached, or mobilized to units operating in the area of eligibility and have been physically deployed in the area of eligibility for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days or meet one of the following criteria:
    · Be engaged in actual combat during an armed engagement, regardless of the time in the area of eligibility.
    · Is wounded or injured in the line of duty and requires medical evacuation from the area of eligibility.
    · While participating as a regularly assigned air crewmember flying sorties into, out of, within, or over the area of eligibility in support of military operations. Each day that one or more sorties are flown in accordance with these criteria shall count as one day toward the 30 or 60-day requirement.
    · Personnel who serve in operations and exercises conducted in the area of eligibility are considered eligible for the award as long as the basic time criteria is met. Due to the extensive time period for KDSM eligibility, the nonconsecutive service period for eligibility remains cumulative throughout the entire period.
    The KDSM may be awarded posthumously, and only one award of the KDSM is authorized for any individual.
    Each military department will prescribe appropriate regulations for administrative processing, awarding and wearing of the KDSM and ribbon for their servicemembers, to include application procedures for veterans, retirees, and next-of-kin.
    More than 40,000 members of the U.S. armed forces have served in the Republic of Korea or the waters adjacent thereto each year since the signing of the cease-fire agreement in July 1953, which established the Demilitarized Zone. For more than 50 years, U.S. Armed Forces’ efforts to deter and defend the Korean Peninsula have helped maintain democracy and preserve the indomitable spirit of freedom.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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