Young Vets

From USA Today:

"Young vets join ranks of those who served in WWII, Vietnam"

Mention Veterans Day, and most people think of those who served in World War II or Vietnam. Not likely to come to mind immediately are those in their 20s and 30s who served in recent wars. When Richard Simoes left the U.S. Army in 2006, after serving in Kosovo and Afghanistan, he immediately had to transition back to civilian life on his own. And, except for the tattoo on his right arm that is a symbol of the unit in which he served, he left military life behind to start a lawn service. "There was nobody directing me to, 'Hey, here are these benefits,'" said Simoes, 35, of Merritt Island. It wasn't until after the business collapsed in a faltering economy and someone mentioned to him the GI Bill benefits to which he was entitled, that he thought of himself as a veteran. "I feel like it's an appreciation for the older veterans," said Jason Goodman, 35, an Air Force veteran who is a student at Eastern Florida State College. "I feel like it's hard for us to think of ourselves as veterans." But that will change as time goes on and the most recent wars become part of history, said retired Army Col. Nathan Thomas, president of Welcome Home Vets, an organization that honors and assists veterans of all wars. Thousands are likely to return to civilian life when the war in Afghanistan ends for U.S. troops. "When you think of veterans, you think of World War II and Vietnam because those things are behind us," Thomas said. "People often don't think of the young guys as veterans because they think of their careers as ongoing, even though some have left the military." Eric Petersen, 42, who served in the Air Force, said he was too busy working and transitioning to civilian life to think of himself as a veteran. "I think of my father as a veteran," he said. "He was a drill sergeant in the Air Force, a training instructor." But while the younger generation of veterans might not get the same recognition as their fathers or grandfathers, as a group they have spent more time in combat zones than any previous generation. A lot of people don't really connect or care who served, said retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Bill Ryan. Because the war in Afghanistan is still ongoing after 10 years, they don't consider those still serving when they think of veterans. "The only ones they see are the wounded ones," said Ryan, who served in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. "People don't really care unless they have a family member in there. Oh, they'll say, 'Nothing's too good for a veteran.' But a lot of it is lip service." While the current crop of veterans is eligible to join groups such as the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, they have shied away from doing so for the most part. In some cases, they have started new organizations instead. Petersen, Tom Bartley and Charles Berry are part of the Collegiate Veterans Society at Eastern Florida. The organization has been active in several community events and is growing as it recruits new members on campus.

They said that they want recognition for younger veterans' service to go beyond ceremonies on Veterans Day. The recognition they want is consideration when they search for a job or try to start a business.

^ This was very interesting because it is completely right. World War 2 vets have always been treated with the respect they deserve. Korean War vets were praised when people remembered there was a war there.  Vietnam vets were usually thrown aside because of people's stupid views (they forget the President and Congress send troops to fight), but now they are "popular" again. Those that served/serve in the 1st Iraq War and now in the 2nd Iraq and Afghanistan Wars are being forgotten . It's a sad fact, but most Americans don't even remember there is a war still on in Afghanistan. This article summed it up correctly when it said that "people don't really care unless they have a family member there." Since we have an all-volunteer military the majority of the American population is affected and so doesn't care. I believe ALL veterans - young and old - deserve respect and help after they serve. ^

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/10/younger-women-men-join-ranks-of-those-who-served/3486639/