Membership & Recruitment: How and Where to Find Eligibility Documents

How and Where to Find Eligibility Documents

Do you know the steps for someone to join this elite organization? Do you know how to find the documents your friends and other family members need to join?

When we ask someone to join, one thing we hear all the time is, “I don’t have any paperwork about my family member.” Or, the person doesn’t know if they are eligible to join. I want to make sure you have the resources at your fingertips to help these people by answering their questions and helping them locate the paperwork that makes them eligible. Below is a break down on who can join and how to find the paperwork that makes them eligible to join.

Eligibility Requirements for the VFW Auxiliary Membership: Members must be citizens of the United States or a United States National, and at least 16 years old. Those eligible are:

• Husband/Wife
• Widower/Widow
• Father/Mother
• Grandfathers/Grandmothers
• Sons/Daughters
• Grandsons/Granddaughters
• Brothers/Sisters

Step- and adopted parents, children, siblings (and half-siblings), grandparents and grandchildren are considered the same as biological parents, children, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren and may join the VFW Auxiliary under their VFW-eligible veteran.

Of persons who were or are eligible for membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

Eligible for membership in the VFW are those that have received a campaign medal for overseas service; have served 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days in Korea; or have ever received hostile fire or imminent danger pay.

Proof of service is required for eligibility and must be obtained by the applicant.

If someone is interested in joining and not sure where to join, have them contact a local VFW or call the Department VFW Auxiliary. They will be more than willing to help gather all the material needed to fill out the proper paperwork.

Information on a Veteran’s Service Record can be obtained by contacting:

• National Archives and Records Administration
  • Phone: 1-866-272-6272
  • Online:
    • Veterans Service Records
    • eVetRecs (24 hour Service)
    • Military Records Request Using Standard Form 180 (SF180)
• Recently separated veterans may be able to find their records through the Joint Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense eBenefits Portal
• National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) (Military Personal Records)
  • Customer Service Line: 1-314-801-0800
  • Fax Line: 1-314-801-9049
  • Mailing address: 1 Archives Drive, St Louis, MO  63138
• County Clerk’s Office
• State or County Veterans Agencies
• National Cemetery locations

Once you gather all the proper paperwork, please make sure you have the most recent membership application, fill it out entirely and make sure it’s legible. We would hate for someone to get their membership card and for their name be spelled wrong. It is also important that you make sure the birthdate is on the application as it will not be processed without it.

Being a member of this elite organization establishes a few things:

• Honoring a veteran within your family.
• Wanting to assist and care for our country’s veterans.
• Joining a service-oriented organization devoted to our country’s heroes and their families.

Membership is where we grow our numbers. Awards are offered to Auxiliaries and members for recruiting new members each year.

I hope this information helps you recruit more members into this elite organization!