Some Deserving Guardsmen Technically Denied Veterans Day Gratitude

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thousands of current and former National Guardsmen -- many of whom helped win the Cold War -- will spend tomorrow, Veterans Day, wondering if America truly appreciates their service.

The issue is the federal government's arcane definition of "veteran status." In short, voluntarily sacrificing other pursuits for many years to be ready on short notice to defend your country anywhere in the world is not enough.  

Not, at least, if that service was in the National Guard.

"The Department of Veterans Affairs' basic definition of a veteran is a disservice to so many who have served this nation so honorably for so long," said Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, the NGAUS chairman of the board.

"You can spend a few months in the active-component military at a post in this country and be considered a veteran," he said. "Yet, we have members in our ranks who have spent years performing missions -- sometimes dangerous missions -- at home and training both at home and overseas who are not considered veterans.

"It's a bureaucratic definition that greatly undervalues the rigors, requirements and honor of Guard service," Vavala said. "And it needs to be changed."

Legislation passed in U.S. House of Representatives would begin to do just that. H.R. 3787 would give full veteran status to anyone who served at least 20 years in the Guard or Reserves, but did not serve 180 consecutive days in a federal status.  

"This is about honor, not about monetary benefits," said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Timothy Walz (D-Minn.), a retired Army Guard command sergeant major.

The Senate has yet to address the issue.

Another disservice to some members of the Guard is the continuing blind spot in the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

The program provides comprehensive education benefits to those who have served in the Global War on Terrorism; however, critical language in the enabling legislation failed to include Guardsmen who performed homeland security missions in a "state status."

"This means thousands of Guardsmen who helped secure the nation's skies, borders, military installations, airports and other sensitive facilities are ineligible," Vavala said. "They left jobs and families behind, many performed dangerous work, but because they technically were not in a 'federal status,' they will not receive this great benefit."

The authors of the legislation say the blind spot was a mistake. President Barack Obama has said he supports its correction. Nevertheless, more than a year after the program started, many Guardsmen remain ineligible.

"As we prepare to honor our veterans tomorrow, Americans need to know that arcane definitions and inadvertent language are preventing many who have served from receiving the full measure of our nation's gratitude," Vavala said.  

About NGAUS: The association includes nearly 45,000 current or former Guard officers. It was created in 1878 to provide unified National Guard representation in Washington. In their first productive meeting after Reconstruction, militia officers from the North and South formed the association with the goal of obtaining better equipment and training by petitioning Congress for more resources. Today, 132 years later, NGAUS has the same mission.

Internet Availability: This document and other Guard and NGAUS news and information are available at www.ngaus.org.

SOURCE National Guard Association of the U.S.