VFW New Mexico

Eligibility

Am I Eligible?

The fundamental difference between the VFW and other veteran organizations, and one in which we take great pride, is our eligibility qualifications.

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

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

Checking Eligibility

Checking eligibility is comparatively simple, assuming the first two requirements are met. The next step would be to check eligibility. A potential applicant must have served overseas and earned a campaign or service medal recognized by the VFW as meeting the campaign medal requisite for VFW membership. (The only exceptions are a combat action ribbon or badge, imminent danger pay or for service in Korea after June 30, 1949, until present.)

Discharges issued during and immediately after the close of World War II have a section on the back listing medals and decorations which have been earned. 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. There is always a possibility of an omission on the separation documents. If an applicant claims entitlement to a medal which is not shown on the individual's separation papers, that person 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, by downloading a copy from this site by clicking one of the highlighted links located throughout this page or at one of the State Veterans Service Offices. The form must be completed by the veteran in order to receive the information requested or authorize the release of the information to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Our VFW eligibility listing is to be used as a guide in determining eligibility for membership, and is furnished as a matter of information concerning the periods during which campaign and/or service medals were authorized.

Requesting Military Records

To request your military service, medical or awards record, complete a Standard Form 180, ( Request Pertaining to Military Records ). All of these forms are in PDF format and require Acrobat Reader, which is available free online. Mail the form to the address listed on the forms. More information on requesting service record information is available at National Archives and Records Administration.

Military records also can be requested online at National Archives eVetRecs.

How to Join

Once eligibility has been established, joining is easy. Just fill out our Mail-in Application and follow the directions on enclosing the membership fee and a copy of your DD-214 or other proof of eligibility and mail it to the address listed on the application. You may also join your local VFW Post by finding its location on our Post Listing page.

Thank you for your service and welcome to the VFW.

Contacts

MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN

Raul Sanchez
ruly_2@comcast.net
Post 6917, Las Cruces, NM

Deputy: Districts 1 & 2

Abe Saiz
tikzac48@yahoo.com
Post 614, Aztec, NM

Deputy: Districts 3 & 4

Roger Miller
vfw6917@zianet.com
Post 6917, Las Cruces, NM

Deputy: Districts 5 & 6

Arcenio Garduno
adgarduno@msn.com
Post 1547, Las Vegas, NM

Deputy: Districts 7 & 8

Cathy Brock
OldWAC@aol.com
Post 3274, Hobbs, NM