VFW Eligibility Information
The fundamental differences between our organization and other veterans organizations, and one in which we take great
pride, are our eligibility qualifications. There are three primary requisites for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars
of the United States: (1) U.S. National (2) Honorable service in the Armed Forces of the United States
(3) Service entitling the
applicant to the award of a recognized campaign medal or as set forth in the Congressional Charter
and By-Laws and Manual of Procedure and Ritual. After the applicant has filled out the application card, it should be provided to the post adjutant or quartermaster,
together with the dues (and admission fee, if applicable). A receipt shall be given to the applicant. An applicant may be recommended after eligibility has been fully determined by the post reviewing committee. With respect
to a department member-at-large, the department headquarters is responsible for the eligibility determination
Lebanon Aug. 20, 1982 - May 31, 1983
Libyan Expedition Jan. 20, 1986 - Jun. 27, 1986
Persian Gulf Feb. 1, 1987 - Jul. 23, 1987
Panama Apr. 1, 1988 - Dec. 19, 1989
(pre and post invasion) Feb. 1, 1990 - Jun. 13, 1990
Operation Sharp Edge - Liberia Aug. 5, 1990 - Feb. 21, 1991
Operation Distant Runner - Rwanda Apr. 7-18, 1994
(11th Marine Exped. Unit USS Peleliu)
Vietnam Service Medal Jul. 4, 1965 - Mar. 8, 1973
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Lebanon Jul. 1, 1958 - Nov. 1, 1958
Taiwan Straits Aug. 23, 1958 - Jan. 1, 1959
Quemoy & Matsu Islands Aug. 23, 1958 - Jun. 1, 1963
Vietnam Jul. 1, 1958 - Jul. 3, 1965
Congo Jul. 14, 1960 - Sep. 1, 1962
Laos Apr. 19, 1961 - Oct. 7, 1962
Berlin Aug. 14, 1961 - Jun. 1, 1963
Cuba Oct. 24, 1962 - Jun. 1, 1963
Congo Nov. 23-27, 1964
Campaign Military Qualifying
Medals Service Dates
Campaign Military Qualifying
Medals Service Dates
VFW ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
Dominican Republic Apr. 23, 1965 - Sep. 21, 1966
Korea Oct. 1, 1966 - Jun. 30, 1974
Cambodia Mar. 29, 1973 - Aug. 15, 1973
Thailand Mar. 29, 1973 - Aug. 15, 1973
(only those in direct support of Cambodia)
Operation Eagle Pull - Cambodia Apr. 11-13, 1975
(includes evacuation)
Operation Frequent Wind -Vietnam Apr. 29-30, 1975
(includes evacuation)
Mayaquez Operation May 15, 1975
El Salvador Jan. 1, 1981 - Feb. 1, 1992
Lebanon Jun. 1, 1983 - Dec. 1, 1987
Operation Urgent Fury - Grenada Oct. 23, 1983 - Nov. 21, 1983
Eldorado Canyon - Libya Apr. 12-17, 1986
Operation Earnest Will - Persian Gulf Jul. 24, 1987 - Aug. 1, 1990
(only those participating in, or in direct support)
Operation Just Cause - Panama Dec. 20, 1989 - Jan. 31, 1990
(USS Vreeland & other SVS-designated
aircrew mbrs. outside the Conus in direct support)
United Shield - Somalia Dec. 5, 1992 - Mar. 31, 1995
Operation Restore Hope - Somalia Dec. 5, 1992 - Mar. 31, 1995
Operation Uphold Democracy - Haiti Sep. 16, 1994 - Mar. 31, 1995
Operation Joint Endeavor - Bosnia, Nov. 20, 1995 - Dec. 19, 1996
Croatia, the Adriatic Sea & airspace. Operation Vigilant Sentinel - Iraq, Dec. 1, 1995 - Feb. 15, 1997
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, & Persian Gulf. Operation Southern Watch - Iraq, Dec. 1, 1995 - Mar. 18, 2003
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Persian Gulf, Bahrain,
Qatar, UAE, Oman, Gulf of Oman W of 62o E Long.,
Yemen, Egypt, & Jordan. Operation Maritime Intercept - Iraq, Dec. 1, 1995 - Mar. 18, 2003
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Red Sea, Persian Gulf,
Gulf of Oman W of 62o E Long., Bahrain,
Qatar, UAE, Oman, Yemen, Egypt, & Jordan. Operation Joint Guard - Bosnia, Dec. 20, 1996 - Jun. 20, 1998
Croatia, Adriatic Sea & airspace. Operation Northern Watch - Iraq, Jan. 1, 1997 - Mar. 18, 2003
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Persian
Gulf W of 56o E Long., and Incirlik AB,
Turkey (only pers. TDY to ONW)
Operation Joint Forge - Jun. 20, 1998 - Mar. 23, 1999
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia,
Adriatic Sea & airspace. Operation Desert Thunder - Iraq, Nov. 11, 1998 - Dec. 22, 1998
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain,
Qatar, UAE, Oman, Yemen, Egypt,
Jordan, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman,
Red Sea support. Operation Desert Fox - Iraq, Dec. 16, 1998 - Dec. 22, 1998
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain,
Qatar, UAE, Oman, Yemen, Egypt,
Jordan, Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman,
USN Red Sea support. Southwest Asia Service Medal
Operation Desert Shield/ Aug. 2, 1990 - Nov. 30, 1995
Operation Desert Storm
(combat areas of operation only)
Personnel assigned to support units Jan. 17, 1991 - Apr. 11, 1991
serving in Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Syria,
Jordan. Kosovo Campaign Medal
Operation Allied Force - Kosovo Air Campaign Mar. 24, 1999 - Jun. 10, 1999
Kosovo Defense Campaign - Ground Action Jun. 11, 1999 - Open
Combat Infantryman Badge &
Combat Medical Badge Army Dec. 6, 1941 - Open
Air Force Combat Action Medal Sep. 11, 2001 - Open
Combat Action Ribbon Navy - Marine Dec. 6, 1941 - Open
Coast Guard Dec. 6, 1941 - April 30, 1975
Coast Guard Combat
Action Ribbon Coast Guard May 1, 1975 - Open
Combat Action Badge Army Sep. 18, 2001 - Open
SSBN Deterrent Patrol Insignia Navy Jan. 21, 1961 - Open
Korea Duty Jun. 30, 1949 - Open
Service on the Korean Peninsula, its
airspace and territorial waters for
(30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days of duty)
Korea Defense Service Medal Jul. 28, 1954 - Open
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal Sep. 11, 2001 - Open
Afghanistan Campaign Medal Sep. 11, 2001 - Open
Iraq Campaign Medal Mar. 19, 2003 - Dec. 31, 2011
Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with
GOLD BORDER Apr. 2004 - Open
Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger Pay Jan. 1, 1971 - Present
This information is to be used for guideline purposes only. The separation
document or DD 214 MUST reflect campaign medal service to establish
eligibility. Service in Korea without the issuance of a campaign medal can
be established with additional, support documentation. Hostile Fire or
Imminent Danger Pay can be established with pay records.
