VFW Membership Eligibility

Eligibility

VFW membership eligibility consists of three criteria:

• Citizenship – must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national.
• 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.
• Qualifying service – service in a war, campaign, or expedition on foreign soil or in hostile waters. This can be shown by an authorized campaign medal, receipt of Hostile Fire Pay or Imminent Danger Pay, or qualifying service in Korea.

This information is usually available through a veteran's DD-214.

If a veteran's DD-214 or other military documentation confirms they have been awarded one of these campaign medals and they have served honorably, then they may be eligible for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

• China Service Medal
• American Defense Service Medal
• European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
• American Campaign Medal
• Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
• Army of Occupation Medal
• Navy Occupation Service Medal
• Korean Service Medal
• Navy Expeditionary Medal
• Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
• Vietnam Service Medal
• Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
• Southwest Asia Service Medal
• Kosovo Campaign Medal
• Combat Infantryman Badge
• Combat Medical Badge
• Combat Action Ribbon
• Air Force Combat Action Medal
• Combat Action Badge
• SSBN Deterrent Patrol Insignia
• Korea Defense Service Medal
• Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
• Afghanistan Campaign Medal
• Iraq Campaign Medal
• Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon WITH GOLD BORDER
• Korea Duty (service in Korea for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days)
• Hostile Fire Pay or Imminent Danger Pay