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I often hear questions from older established Veteran organizations wondering why younger Veterans do not join their organizations. I usually respond with "be active conducting outreach in the community and don't sit in a building drinking alcohol excluding our next generation. What say you RP followers?
Posted in these groups: 
Non Profit Organizations
The American Legion
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
DAV
AMVETS
Non Profit Organizations The American Legion Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) DAV AMVETS
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 37
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I belong to a small VFW Post. We are very active in the community and have a no alcohol at our events policy. In the past 12 months we have recuited 5 new members 40 and younger. I think it is because of what we do in our small community.
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SFC (Join to see)
I spent four years as commander of Post 628 of the VFW in Sioux Falls SD. At one point the post had over 2000 members. Today the post is slightly over 1000 members. With the loss of WWII and Korean War vets and, the Vietnam vets quickly passing too, post are shrinking fast. The younger vets have different needs and wants. Times have changed. Less smokers and drinkers. More health nuts and computer geeks. The organizations have failed to change and many older vets don’t want the changes. We see more new vet organizations coming on line focusing on specific needs of the modern vet. I encourage the young vets to start new VFW or American Legion. Make them yours, I’m willing to help.
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SP6 Guy Slater
Many of us, now, old soldiers, were disrespected when trying to join a Service Organization after Vietnam. Many of us now refuse to be associated with them.
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CPO Craig Sawicky
Most organizations are having problems with Membership. Without Members, and Participation,To spread the effort, None Last Long. Dynamic Leadership,and Popular,Visible Programs Help Considerably. Veteran/Homeless Outreach Is One For Many, Especially Now.
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SSgt Daniel d'Errico
Your VFW post must be very lack luster and boring if it has no alcohol. Many a VFW post I have been invited into have bars and slot machine rooms. Monthly dances and other events are held with the community invited to attend. The only reason I am not a member of the VFW is, they constitution doesn't allow military members who fought/served in Laos during the Vietam War. This also includes Thailand and Cambodia, from what I have been told.
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Not doomed to extinction but doomed to downsizing for sure. Unless some conventional war breaks out and great armies engage in sweeping battles of combined arms. As for younger members, don't expect them in any great numbers regardless of the size of our active duty forces. They are too busy building and living their lives. Veteran Organizations are for the old.
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PO1 James Swain
My VFW Post does not have a Bar. We have been good at recruiting younger Vets and woman vets by stressing we want people that want to get involved in the community.
Younger vets need to understand the right post can be good for networking.
Younger vets need to understand the right post can be good for networking.
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These organizations are still needed today and I believe even more now than ever. With the Declining numbers of veterans as the WWII and other generations and less serving. These organizations are key to keeping benefits that they fought congress for and continue to fight for. They are the PAC for the veterans. The need for younger generations to join is more important so they can become involved and step in the breach to keep the fight going for benefits. Without these organizations there is no doubt in my mind that when congress needs to cut the budget this will become one place they will cut if we don't have these organizations to keep the needs of veterans in the forefront. Many things can be hidden in a congressional bill that is over 15k in pages that no one reads. Thus they are needed. Yes they need to adjust and adapt to newer times but that can only happen if newer generations join them. The infusion of new blood is necessary to keep fighting for the benefits for those that cant fight anymore.
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