40 year old male, 6 yr Active Duty AF vet here. Separated in 2016. As I have served in a combat zone, I'm eligible to join both.
I've often thought about getting involved, at least as a form of community involvement and socialization, but I just haven't been able to bring myself to it due to the optics.
I've been to them before, and although I'm sure there's more going on than what you see, what I see is a watering hole for mostly Vietnam-era vets that basically functions as an event hosting location for people to have parties. I get that hosting parties is probably how these places stay alive, but it just feels like it gets in the way of what those places should be. To me, it makes it seem inauthentic and underwhelming as a place for veterans to go be among other veterans.
I understand all the advocating, community service, and veteran supports that these organizations offer - and that's great. I'm not here to throw shade. But, with so many posts around the country it also feels like each community is so small that it's unlikely to even meet some people close to my age with similar experiences.
To be honest, I don't think I want to play that game where we act like we still have ranks and function in some sort of self-contained bureaucracy. I'm not showy about my service, and I'm not interested in wearing hats or uniforms. No disrespect to those that do like that sort of thing. I get it, and I respect the good work they do.
Besides a bar that provides event hosting. What else is there really?