
Eligibility Requirements:
There
are three perquisites 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.
- A potential applicant
must have served overseas and earned a campaign, service medal or
insignia recognized by the VFW as meeting the 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 during and
immediately after World War II have a section on the back listing
earned medals and decorations. 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."
- Our Military Initiative Program (MIP) offers active-duty
military members no-cost introductory memberships. To apply, or for
more membership details, call (405) 366-7575 or visit <www.vfw.org>.
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.
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