To qualify for membership in the VFW you MUST meet the following TWO requirements: 1: 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. 2: 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.

Our Core Values: Always put the interests of our members first Treat donors as partners in our cause Promote patriotism Honor military service Ensure the care of veterans and their families Serve our communities Promote a positive image of the VFW Respect the diversity of veteran opinions

VFW Programs & Projects Since its founding, the VFW has been a staple in the community. Troop support, youth activities, volunteering and scholarship programs are a few of the ways the VFW shines in the many communities and cities where Posts are located. Youth Scholarship Programs • Voice of Democracy This audio-essay competition annually awards nearly $3 million in scholarships to students in grades 9-12. The first-place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship. • Patriot’s Pen More than $1.2 million is awarded annually to students in grades 6-8 in this essay contest. The first place winner receives $5,000. • Teacher of the Year The VFW annually recognizes three exceptional schoolteachers (one from each (K-5, 6-8, and 9-12) for their outstanding commitment to teaching Americanism and patriotism to their students. Awards include $1,000 to the teacher of each category and $1,000 for his/her school, along with an all expense-paid trip to attend the VFW National Convention. Educational Outreach • Echoes From the Wall The VFW partnered with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to distribute a curriculum, Echoes From the Wall, to 25,000 public and private high schools and donated $50,000 to the project. • Educational Brochures The VFW produces and distributes a flag brochure and poster. • Veterans in the Classroom November is officially known as VFW Veterans in the Classroom Month. Members demonstrate flag etiquette and share their wartime experiences with America’s youth. Youth Activities Locally, VFW Posts sponsor various youth sporting programs such as baseball and ice hockey. In addition, many VFW Posts sponsor Boy and Girl Scout troops, Junior Olympics, bike safety, JROTC units, drill teams, color guards and a variety of other programs to build good citizenship and exemplary character in America’s youth. Community Volunteerism Each year, VFW members volunteer more than 5 million hours of service to various community endeavors. • Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service The VFW was a charter member in 1946. VFW volunteers donate millions of hours of service annually at VA medical facilities.

Troop Support • Military Assistance Program (MAP) More than 4.1 million service members and their families have been hosted at morale-boosting events sponsored by the VFW since 2005. • Adopt-a-Unit More than 3,700 units and ships have been adopted through VFW Posts since 2007. VFW National Headquarters adopted the USS Cole in 2002. • Care Packages Posts across the country show their support of America’s military by collecting and distributing much-needed personal items for adopted units. • VFW Financial Assistance This program administers financial assistance in the form of grants to active-duty service members to include active Guard/Reserves and their families to help cover daily necessities such as residential expenses, vehicle expenses, childcare, food, and more. Since 2004, 11,659 grants have been issued totaling more than $13 million. • VFW’s “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship” Introduced in 2013, this program awards scholarships of up to $5,000 to qualifying veterans and service members. The program has provided 3,261 scholarships totaling more than $1.5 million. • Student Veteran Support Grants Provides financial grants to VFW Posts, Districts, and Departments to assist with outreach and services to veterans on college campuses around the country.

Legislative Victories The VFW played an instrumental role in virtually every significant piece of veterans’ legislation passed in the 20th century, as well as bills enacted in the 21st century. Note: In each case, this is the year an act was passed or an institution established. For more information, contact the VFW National Legislative Service at vfwac@vfw.org. 1917 War Risk Insurance Act Amendments 1918 Vocational Rehabilitation Act (P.L. 178) 1919 Census Act Rider on Veterans Preference Discharge Allowance 1920 Widows and Orphans Pension Act (Spanish-America War) 1921 Veterans Bureau Act 1923 Veterans Preference Point System 1924 House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs World War Adjusted Compensation Act 1925 Senate Subcommittee on Veterans’ Affairs 1926 Spanish-American War benefits New Johnson Act (WWI benefits) 1930 Veterans Administration (VA) World War Service Disability Pension Act (P.L. 522) 1931 Bacharach Amendment (P.L. 743) allows borrowing on WWI bonus certificates 1933 Wagner-Peyser Act: Veterans Employment Service 1934 Pension for widows of WWI vets 1936 VFW congressional charter signed by President Roosevelt Bonus bonds ($2.4 billion) to WWI vets redeemable 1938 Armistice Day (Nov. 11) legal holiday 1940 National Service Life Insurance Selective Service & Training Act 1943 Benefits to WWII veterans (P.L. 10) Disabled Veterans Rehabilitation Act 1944 GI Bill of Rights (P.L. 346) Veterans Preference Act 1946 Veteran Emergency Housing Act 1947 Bureau of Veterans Re-employment Rights (BVRR) 1950 Vocational Rehabilitation Act 1951 Servicemen’s Indemnity & Insurance 1952 Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (Korean War GI Bill) 1954 Veterans Compensation Act Nov. 11 declared as Veterans Day (P.L. 380) 1962 Veterans Benefits Act (Cold War GI Bill) 1966 Veterans Readjustment Benefits Act (P.L. 89-358) (Vietnam War GI Bill) 1970 Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 1972 Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act 1973 Federal court agrees veterans preference applies to state jobs 1974 Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (vocational rehabilitation) 1976 Veterans Education & Employment Assistance Act 1977 Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Educational Assistance Act 1978 Veterans preference preserved Veterans & Survivors Pension Improvement Act Veterans Day returned to Nov. 11 1979 Vietnam Veterans Outreach Program (creates Vet Centers) 1980 VFW calls for Agent Orange study Veterans Rehabilitation & Education Amendments 1981 Former POW Benefits Act Veterans Health Care, Training & Small Business Loan Act 1982 Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) Vietnam Veterans Memorial dedicated 1983 Emergency Veterans Job-Training Act 1984 Montgomery GI Bill Veterans Dioxin & Radiation Exposure Compensation Standards Act (P.L. 98-542): Agent Orange & Atomic Exposure 1987 New GI Bill Continuation Act 1988 Radiation-Exposed Veterans Compensation Act Department of Veterans Affairs Act Veterans Judicial Review Act 1989 VA becomes a Cabinet department Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims 1990 Agent Orange service-connection 1991 Agent Orange Act (P.L. 102-4) Persian Gulf War Veterans Assistance Act (P.L. 102-25) 1992 Veterans Health Care Act 1996 Veterans Health Care Eligibility Reform Act 1999 Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act 2003 Concurrent receipt for military retirees rated 50% disabled or more 2004 Full concurrent receipt for military retirees rated 100% disabled Traumatic Injury Insurance supplemental created 2005 Protestors banned from military funerals Stolen Valor Act signed into law 2006 VFW calls for VA/military health care system review after Walter Reed outpatient debacle 2008 Record VA discretionary budget approved GI Bill for the 21st Century signed into law 2009 Advance Appropriations for VA becomes law 2010 Family Caregiver Legislation signed into law Ensured all VA and DOD health care programs met minimum health care coverage standards 2011 VOW to Hire Heroes Act VFW stopped TRICARE premiums from increasing annually 2012 Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act Extended USERRA protections to veterans working for TSA 2013 Reinstated military Tuition Assistance programs New Stolen Valor Act signed into law Stopped Creation of Distinguished Warfare Medal (Drone Medal) 2014 Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 In-State Tuition for Post-9/11 GI Bill eligible veterans Advance Appropriations for VA Benefits 2015 Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act Eliminated 1 percent COLA reduction penalty on future military retirees Created government match to military Thrift Savings Plan accounts Updated 1/2025 2016 Toxic Exposure Research Act to evaluate impact on descendants Enhanced fertility treatment and adoption services 2017 Forever GI Bill gives veterans a lifetime to use GI Bill benefits Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act Global War on Terrorism Memorial Improved VA hiring and retention authorities Veterans Choice Program improvements and expansion Declassifying toxic exposure documents Prevented significant copayment increases for TRICARE 2018 Expanded caregiver benefits to veterans of all eras Consolidated community care into one improved program Established a process to evaluate and improve VA facilities to better serve veterans Defeated proposed cuts to Individual Unemployability 2019 Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act Elimination of the Widow’s Tax 2020 Added bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, and parkinsonism to VA’s list of presumptive conditions associated with exposure to Agent Orange Changed the statutory definition of Vietnam veterans to include individuals who served in the Republic of Vietnam from Nov. 1, 1955, to Feb. 27, 1961 Deborah Sampson Act Elimination of the 12-year limit on using Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) benefits 2021 Expanded maternity care options from community providers PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act 2022 Honoring our PACT Act Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas SERVICE Act Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act UCMJ reform on sexual assault and harassment 2024 Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, which included the Not Just A Number Act