VFW leader tells commanders to welcome younger vets

The VFW’s national commander this week told members to be more welcoming to the newest generation of veterans — or else leave.

John Stroud, national commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars, wrote an open letter Thursday saying he’s “disturbed” by reports that members would rather drink in dimly lit canteens than welcome younger veterans. While he acknowledged that some posts are the smoky beer halls that younger vets avoid, Mr. Stroud said the majority are model posts — but that all must step up.

Those who don’t heed the call to change “simply don’t belong” in the VFW anymore, Mr. Stroud said.

“For those members and posts who would rather serve themselves than the countless veterans who are in need, remind them that this organization exists for the benefit of all veterans rather than those of an entitled few,” he said. “I want to make it clear that I will willingly provide my complete support to any of my department commanders who move to shut down any post, or remove from our leadership rolls anyone that is not committed to the goals of the organization.”

The Washington Times wrote last month that many younger veterans are not joining traditional veterans service organizations like the VFW, but instead flocking to groups they see as more active and community-service-oriented, like Team Red, White and Blue or Team Rubicon.

Mr. Stroud said VFW commanders must be “advocates of change” and take an interest in the problems of younger vets to make them feel more welcome inside the organization.

Lynn Rolf, a leader in both the VFW and Team RWB told The Times in that earlier story that younger vets who didn’t like what they saw in traditional vets groups should get involved and push for changes. Mr. Rolf said he recruited other Iraq and Afghanistan vets to make his post in Kansas more family friendly.

Mr. Stroud said the VFW should welcome younger vets joining the organization and stepping into leadership roles.

“We must empower the younger veterans to be forces of change within our organization while lending them the institutional knowledge to be effective leaders for future generations of veterans,” he said.