Use the VFW national website eligibility listing, which lists campaign periods and authorized service medals, to determine whether you are eligible for membership. To review detailed eligibility information on the VFW national website, double click here: VFW Eligibility info

Note: On October 9, 2005, the National Council of Administration approved an amendment to Section 101 of the VFW Manual of Procedure to include the Afghanistan Campaign Medal (ACM), the Iraq Campaign Medal (ICM), the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border (AFESR w/GB), the Combat Action Badge (CAB), and the SSBN Nuclear Deterrent Patrol Breast Insignia. These campaign medals have note been added to the Eigibility PDF file on the VFW National website.

There are three requisites for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States:

• citizenship;

• honorable military service; and

• service entitling the applicant to the award of a recognized campaign medal or as set forth in the Congressional Charter and/or VFW bylaws.

To meet the requirements of the third requisite, a potential applicant must have served overseas and earned a campaign, service medal or insignia recognized by the VFW as meeting the requisite for VFW membership. (The only exceptions are a combat action ribbon, imminent danger pay or for service in Korea after June 30, 1949, until present.)

Discharges during and immediately after World War II have a section on the back listing earned medals and decorations. Persons discharged later received a DD-214, "Report of Separation" form, which has a space showing medals and decorations. Lost separation documents can be replaced by completing and submitting Standard Form 180, "Request Pertaining to Military Records."

In addition, if you believe you are entitled to a medal which is not shown on the your separation papers, you may request verification and correction of records by submitting a Standard Form 180. The Standard Form 180 is available from any office of the Veterans Administration or state Veterans Departments. The form must be completed and signed by the veteran in order to receive the information requested or authorize the release of the information to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Contact VFW Post 160 Membership Chairman via e-mail: E-Mail VFW Post 160 Membership Chairman
(e-mail address is: vfwpost160@geocities.com)