Common Membership Qs & As
1. How are membership dues decided?
Membership dues are established by the local VFW Post and can vary from Post to Post.
2. What is VFW's Life Membership program?
First, unlike VFW Post membership dues, Life Membership fees are set by VFW National.
The fees are established based on a applicant's age and are as follows:
up to age 30: $425
age 31-50: $410
age 41-50: $375
age 51-60: $335
age 61-70: $290
age 71-80: $225
81 and over: $170
The VFW Life Membership installment plan allows any VFW member/applicant to
purchase a Life Membership by making either 11 or 23 monthly installments after an initial
payment of $35.
3. I served in Korea, but not during the Korean War. Am I
eligible for the VFW?
All veterans who served on the Korean Peninsula or in its territorial waters for at least 30
consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days after June 30, 1949 are eligible for
membership in the VFW. In addition, soldiers who served in Korea from July 28, 1954 to
the present day are eligible for the Korea Defense Service Medal. Veterans wishing to
have this medal added to their records should contact the National Personnel Records
Center.
4. I was in the Navy and my DD-214 doesn’t show any
awards for my service, but I believe I’m eligible. How do I
find out what awards I should have?
Many times the U.S. Navy awarded a campaign medal or other award to a ship, rather
than to every individual sailor on board. While each of those sailors is eligible for the
award, it was often not noted on the individual's DD-214. To determine a ship's eligibility,
you can use the Navy Department Awards Web Service to find out what awards the ship
was authorized for specific time periods.
5. I served in Europe during the Cold War. Does this make
me eligible for the VFW? After 1955, the only qualifying
medals for service in Europe during the Cold War are as
follows:
a) Army of Occupation Medal, for service in West Berlin from May 9th 1945 until Oct 2,
1990
b) Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal: Berlin, August 14, 1961 - June 1, 1963
6. I never served in the military, but my
father/spouse/brother/child did. Can I join the VFW in their
name?
VFW eligibility is solely for veterans of military service who meet the VFW's eligibility
requirements. Membership is non-transferable and cannot be awarded posthumously or
in another's name. If you are the spouse, widow/widower, parent, child, grandparent,
grandchild or sibling of a qualifying veteran, whether or not they are a VFW member, then
you would qualify for membership in the Men's Auxiliary or Ladies' Auxiliary as appropriate.
7. I served in Vietnam/Korea/WW2 – how can I get the
Combat Action Badge added to my records?
The Combat Action Badge is awarded for service that would normally qualify the soldier
for a Combat Infantryman's Badge or Combat Medical Badge, but is designed for soldiers
in an MOS that would not be eligible for either the CIB or the CMB. The eligible dates for
the Combat Action Badge are from September 18, 2001 to present. At this time, no
retroactive awards prior to this date are authorized.
8. I served on an nuclear-deterrent sub during the Cold
War, and our service location was classified. How can I
determine if I am eligible for the VFW?
For sailors who served on board nuclear-deterrent submarines, the SSBN Nuclear-
Deterrent Patrol Breast Insignia was awarded. This medal is one that qualifies for VFW
eligibility. Orders showing the awarding of the SSBN Nuclear Deterrent Patrol Breast
Insignia or a notation of award on the sailor's DD-214 will be sufficient to verify eligibility.
9. I don’t have my pay records from my time in service.
How can I tell if I was awarded hostile fire/imminent danger
pay?
DOD Financial Management Regulation 700.14-R, Volume 7A, Chapter 10 "Special Pay -
Duty Subject to Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger" outlines all service areas and time
periods eligible for hostile fire/imminent danger pay. This document can be found online
at Defenselink.mil.
10. Why are the NATO Medal, the Vietnam Campaign
Medal, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal not considered for
eligibility in the VFW?
The medals listed above are not issued by the U. S. government, but rather by the
governments of foreign countries or by NATO. For service where one of these medals
was awarded, there is often an accompanying medal from the United States government
that does qualify for VFW eligibility.
11. I served in the military, but my service was classified,
and I am not allowed to discuss the particulars. How may
my service be recognized for eligibility into the VFW?
As a private non-military organization, the VFW does not have authorization to verify
service that is classified or otherwise not available to the public. As such, we can only
accept verification of service substantiated by official military documents such as a DD-
214, military orders, or other documents verifying the awarding of an authorized campaign
medal.
12. My father was a VFW member and has passed away.
How can I obtain a list of his medals or a record of his
military service?
The VFW does not maintain military records for our members beyond their application at
the post level. However, next-of-kin of a veteran may request their service records from
the National Personnel Records Center by submitting a Standard Form 180 (SF-180) to
the address listed below or call 1-314-801-0800.
National Personnel Records Center
9700 Page Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63132
In addition, you can go online to the National Personnel Records Center website.
To use the Navy Department Awards Web Service: Direct your web browser to http:
//awards.navy.mil On the top bar, select "Unit Awards." In the taskbar to the left under
"Unit Awards", select "Query Unit Awards"
You may use Search Method #1 to search for a ship by name, or if you know the name of
the ship, you may use Search Method #2 to enter the name of the ship.
1. How are membership dues decided?
Membership dues are established by the local VFW Post and can vary from Post to Post.
2. What is VFW's Life Membership program?
First, unlike VFW Post membership dues, Life Membership fees are set by VFW National.
The fees are established based on a applicant's age and are as follows:
up to age 30: $425
age 31-50: $410
age 41-50: $375
age 51-60: $335
age 61-70: $290
age 71-80: $225
81 and over: $170
The VFW Life Membership installment plan allows any VFW member/applicant to
purchase a Life Membership by making either 11 or 23 monthly installments after an initial
payment of $35.
3. I served in Korea, but not during the Korean War. Am I
eligible for the VFW?
All veterans who served on the Korean Peninsula or in its territorial waters for at least 30
consecutive days or 60 nonconsecutive days after June 30, 1949 are eligible for
membership in the VFW. In addition, soldiers who served in Korea from July 28, 1954 to
the present day are eligible for the Korea Defense Service Medal. Veterans wishing to
have this medal added to their records should contact the National Personnel Records
Center.
4. I was in the Navy and my DD-214 doesn’t show any
awards for my service, but I believe I’m eligible. How do I
find out what awards I should have?
Many times the U.S. Navy awarded a campaign medal or other award to a ship, rather
than to every individual sailor on board. While each of those sailors is eligible for the
award, it was often not noted on the individual's DD-214. To determine a ship's eligibility,
you can use the Navy Department Awards Web Service to find out what awards the ship
was authorized for specific time periods.
5. I served in Europe during the Cold War. Does this make
me eligible for the VFW? After 1955, the only qualifying
medals for service in Europe during the Cold War are as
follows:
a) Army of Occupation Medal, for service in West Berlin from May 9th 1945 until Oct 2,
1990
b) Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal: Berlin, August 14, 1961 - June 1, 1963
6. I never served in the military, but my
father/spouse/brother/child did. Can I join the VFW in their
name?
VFW eligibility is solely for veterans of military service who meet the VFW's eligibility
requirements. Membership is non-transferable and cannot be awarded posthumously or
in another's name. If you are the spouse, widow/widower, parent, child, grandparent,
grandchild or sibling of a qualifying veteran, whether or not they are a VFW member, then
you would qualify for membership in the Men's Auxiliary or Ladies' Auxiliary as appropriate.
7. I served in Vietnam/Korea/WW2 – how can I get the
Combat Action Badge added to my records?
The Combat Action Badge is awarded for service that would normally qualify the soldier
for a Combat Infantryman's Badge or Combat Medical Badge, but is designed for soldiers
in an MOS that would not be eligible for either the CIB or the CMB. The eligible dates for
the Combat Action Badge are from September 18, 2001 to present. At this time, no
retroactive awards prior to this date are authorized.
8. I served on an nuclear-deterrent sub during the Cold
War, and our service location was classified. How can I
determine if I am eligible for the VFW?
For sailors who served on board nuclear-deterrent submarines, the SSBN Nuclear-
Deterrent Patrol Breast Insignia was awarded. This medal is one that qualifies for VFW
eligibility. Orders showing the awarding of the SSBN Nuclear Deterrent Patrol Breast
Insignia or a notation of award on the sailor's DD-214 will be sufficient to verify eligibility.
9. I don’t have my pay records from my time in service.
How can I tell if I was awarded hostile fire/imminent danger
pay?
DOD Financial Management Regulation 700.14-R, Volume 7A, Chapter 10 "Special Pay -
Duty Subject to Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger" outlines all service areas and time
periods eligible for hostile fire/imminent danger pay. This document can be found online
at Defenselink.mil.
10. Why are the NATO Medal, the Vietnam Campaign
Medal, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal not considered for
eligibility in the VFW?
The medals listed above are not issued by the U. S. government, but rather by the
governments of foreign countries or by NATO. For service where one of these medals
was awarded, there is often an accompanying medal from the United States government
that does qualify for VFW eligibility.
11. I served in the military, but my service was classified,
and I am not allowed to discuss the particulars. How may
my service be recognized for eligibility into the VFW?
As a private non-military organization, the VFW does not have authorization to verify
service that is classified or otherwise not available to the public. As such, we can only
accept verification of service substantiated by official military documents such as a DD-
214, military orders, or other documents verifying the awarding of an authorized campaign
medal.
12. My father was a VFW member and has passed away.
How can I obtain a list of his medals or a record of his
military service?
The VFW does not maintain military records for our members beyond their application at
the post level. However, next-of-kin of a veteran may request their service records from
the National Personnel Records Center by submitting a Standard Form 180 (SF-180) to
the address listed below or call 1-314-801-0800.
National Personnel Records Center
9700 Page Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63132
In addition, you can go online to the National Personnel Records Center website.
To use the Navy Department Awards Web Service: Direct your web browser to http:
//awards.navy.mil On the top bar, select "Unit Awards." In the taskbar to the left under
"Unit Awards", select "Query Unit Awards"
You may use Search Method #1 to search for a ship by name, or if you know the name of
the ship, you may use Search Method #2 to enter the name of the ship.
