# Is memberships in the VFW open to non-veterans? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 3, 2020, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-memberships-in-the-vfw-open-to-non-veterans/848853 "2020-03-03T10:52:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-memberships-in-the-vfw-open-to-non-veterans/848853/1 "2020-03-03T10:52:42Z")
I read an obituary of Facebook tonight, which had been written about one of my old friends from junior college. Among the many hats this guy had worn, the obit credits him with being a member of the VFW. But, to the best of my knowledge, he never sever in any branch of the Armed Services. He was born in 1955, though, and there’s a good possibility that one or both of his parents served in WWII or Korea. Is a VFW membership something that can be passed down from generation to generation? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-memberships-in-the-vfw-open-to-non-veterans/848853/2 "2020-03-03T11:37:29Z")
They have an auxillary as well: > **[Join Us - VFW Auxiliary National Organization](https://vfwauxiliary.org/join-us/)** > > Become a member of the VFW Auxiliary and join nearly a half million members nationwide who work to improve the lives of veterans and their families. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-memberships-in-the-vfw-open-to-non-veterans/848853/3 "2020-03-03T11:54:35Z")
I served in the Navy from 1975 to 1979. I do not qualify to be a member. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-memberships-in-the-vfw-open-to-non-veterans/848853/4 "2020-03-03T14:43:30Z")
There are VFWs that are open to sons of veterans of foreign wars and many VFWs will take any veteran now. I think it depends on how hard it has been to maintain membership levels. Locally, the VFWs were already getting low on members 25 years ago. So it probably comes down to check your local VFW for the rules they use. One of my friends is considering joining the local one to him and he is eligible. No service, but son of a WWII vet. I checked at one point at a different one, and my service in the Navy in the 80s was sufficient to join. [Official Eligibility](https://www.vfw.org/eligibility) > [@](#): > > 1: Citizenship – must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. National. > > 2: Honorable Service – must have served in the Armed Forces of the United States and either received a discharge of Honorable or General (Under Honorable Conditions) or be currently > serving. > > 3: Service in a war, campaign, or expedition on foreign soil or in hostile waters\*. This can be proven by any of the following: > > - An authorized campaign medal (see a full list of qualifying medals and badges) > - Receipt of Hostile Fire Pay or Imminent Danger Pay (verified by a military pay statement) > - Service in Korea for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days > > \*This information is usually available through a veteran’s DD-214. If other information is needed or if a veteran’s DD-214 is not complete, they can contact the National Personnel Records Center online or at 314-801-0800 to request more information. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-memberships-in-the-vfw-open-to-non-veterans/848853/5 "2020-03-03T14:44:11Z")
Here’s a link to the [eligibility requirements](https://vfworg-cdn.azureedge.net/-/media/VFWSite/Files/Join/EligibilityRequirements.pdf?la=en&v=1&d=20160915T174537Z). In general, a foreign war campaign ribbon or medal will allow a person to become a member. (PDF, if we are still doing warnings for that) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-memberships-in-the-vfw-open-to-non-veterans/848853/6 "2020-03-03T14:55:14Z")
And in case anyone’s unclear on the point, a “foreign war campaign medal” doesn’t require that you were particularly valorous or heroic. For every war or other major campaign, there’s some medal that’s awarded to everyone who took part without major screw-up (often, multiple such medals). There are, of course, various other medals that are awarded for noteworthy accomplishments or behaviors beyond that, but those aren’t necessary for joining VFW. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-memberships-in-the-vfw-open-to-non-veterans/848853/7 "2020-03-03T14:56:33Z")
You can be a social member. Just need to be “sponsored” by someone else. Not sure if that someone else needs to be a relative or not, but I have a feeling they do need to be a relative. My dad’s an actual combat-veteran-on-foreign-soil VFW member and he bugs me to join as a social member all the time. Only the actual veteran members get to attend and vote at their meetings. But if you’re a social member that spends a ton of time at the post I can definitely see putting it in your obituary. Or if you’re the person who’s writing the obituary and only knew that Uncle Larry spent all his time drinking at the post, not understanding the nuances of membership, I can see putting it in the obituary. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-memberships-in-the-vfw-open-to-non-veterans/848853/8 "2020-03-03T15:02:40Z")
Eligibility Requirements for VFW Auxiliary Membership: > [@](#): > > Members must be citizens of the United States or a United States National, and at least 16 years old. > > Those eligible are: > > Husband/Wife > Widower/Widow > Father/Mother > Grandfathers/Grandmothers > Sons/Daughters > Grandsons/Granddaughters > Brothers/Sisters > > Of persons who were or are eligible for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-memberships-in-the-vfw-open-to-non-veterans/848853/9 "2020-03-03T15:38:34Z")
I’m sure the obituary was correct about which organization the deceased belonged to - but as far as “VFWs will take any veteran” or “open to sons of veterans” , those were most likely American Legion posts, which do accept anyone who served since December 1941 and has an affiliated organization called Sons of the American Legion. The VFW and the AL get mixed up all the time- the AL post on my corner is constantly referred to as the “VFW hall”