Does anyone know what percentage of Americans are considered 'Veterans'?

[Sub Atomic]

And does the term 'Veteran' mean anyone who served in the military? Or does it only refer to service during combat?

And what about Grenada? Does service during those 3 1/2 hours mean that you're a Veteran during combat?

:hi:

[liberal N proud]

1. 12.7% in 2000

In 2000, there were 208.1 million civilians 18 years old and older. Almost 26.4 million of these people, or 12.7 percent, were veterans.

http://factfinder.census.gov/jsp/saff/SAFFInfo.jsp?_pageId=tp12_veterans

[NYC_SKP]

2. 7.16% of all Americans; not sure; and not sure about Grenada...

...but I suspect it counts.

:hi:

ETA math: 21.8 million living veterans out of 307 million citizens.

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/veteranscensus1.html

The other, higher, percentage in the reply above mine refers only to Americans 18 or older, and so is a higher figure.

..

[pinboy3niner]

4. Veteran refers to anyone who has military service

For VN, for example, a distinction is made between Vietnam veterans (those who served in-country, whether in combat or not), and Vietnam Era veterans (those who served in the military elsewhere during the VN War years).

[Siwsan]

3. There are combat vets and non-combat vets

I enlisted about 2 yrs after the end of the Viet Nam war so I am considered a non-combat 'cold war' veteran.

[MADem]

5. Anyone who served in the military is a veteran, regardless of combat status,

career status, retiree status, or what-have-you.

If you're on active duty, though, you're on active duty. The term is generally applied to an individual who has left service, been demobbed, and is currently in civilian life.

If you are talking about the medical student, no, they are not vets. They're evacuees. The uniformed personnel who went and got 'em? They're vets.

21.9 million

The number of military veterans in the United States in 2009.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey
http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb10-ff21.html

Wiki says the population of the US is around 312 million and then some in 2010, so that would be around seven percent.

Shows how many of the WW2 vets are dying off. It used to be everyone had a family member who had served--now it's a rarity.

[cherokeeprogressive]

6. Every person who serves in the Armed Forces in a Veteran...

whether they see combat or not.

If you think the action in Grenada lasted only 3 1/2 hours, I suggest you do a little research. 19 US Servicemen lost their lives and 116 were injured in fighting that lasted DAYS, not 3 1/2 hours. I wouldn't quibble with any Serviceman who was there should the US Government or anyone else wish to call him a veteran of combat.

Are you simply looking for some way to denigrate those who serve in the Armed Forces, seeing as how it's so close to Veteran's Day?

[MineralMan]

7. A veteran is someone who served in the US military and is no

longer serving in that military. Whether they saw combat or not is irrelevant. Some make that distinction, but there is no difference when it comes to official designation. Military service and a discharge under any conditions not considered dishonorable qualify a person as a veteran for all benefits, etc.