FAQ
Thank you for visiting our list of the most Frequently Asked Questions. If you are a VFW Post 1534 member and can't easily find the answers you're looking for here, please call us (760) 671-6185 or email us VeteransPost1534@gmail.com. Thank you for visiting our website and being a part of Post 1534.
Whether you're active-duty or retired from the military, you are eligible to join if you meet our eligibility requirements. There are three qualifiers for membership in the VFW, as set out in our By-Laws. An individual must meet all three in order to become a member. They are as follows:
1: Citizenship – must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. National.
2: Honorable Service – must have served in the Armed Forces of the United States and either received a discharge of Honorable or General (Under Honorable Conditions) or be currently serving.
3: Service in a war, campaign, or expedition on foreign soil or in hostile waters*. This can be proven by any of the following:
- An authorized campaign medal
- Receipt of Hostile Fire Pay or Imminent Danger Pay (verified by a military pay statement)
- Service in Korea for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days
*This information is usually available through a veteran’s DD-214. If other information is needed or if a veteran’s DD-214 is not complete, they can contact the National Personnel Records Center online or at 314-801-0800 to request more information.
Yes. VFW Service Officers are trained professionals, skilled in navigating the complex VA claims process and helping veterans to recover billions in VA benefits and compensation each year. Whether you're just preparing to file a claim or considering filing an appeal to your disability rating, find a VFW Service Officer in your area to get the assistance you've earned - free of charge. And you don't have to be a member to take advantage of this service.
There are several ways you can donate to the VFW Post 1534 to help America's veterans. You can donate online via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express) or PayPal account, or in the form of cash, check or money order by mailing your donation directly to:
VFW Post 1534
1 Clubhouse Drive Street
Desert Hot Springs, CA 92241
Since its founding in 1899, the VFW has enacted many programs and services geared to meet the current needs of America's service members, veterans and military families, as well to meet community needs worldwide. VA claims assistance, legislative advocacy, troop support programs, youth activities, community service and scholarship are a few of the ways we work to give back to those who've given so much for all of us.
You can contact the National Personnel Records Center at 314-801-0800 or via its website. In addition to providing copies of military records, they are able to update records to correct errors or reflect awards that may have been issued retroactively.
No. The VFW's congressional charter prohibits the organization from endorsing or otherwise supporting political candidates or any individual running for a public office position.
In order to update your donor information, or have your name removed from our solicitation mailing list, please contact us by calling (760) 671-6185 or by writing to VeteransPost1534@gmail.com.
The VFW Post 1534 operates as a non-profit corporation through a special charter granted by U.S. Congress. However, the VFW is not a government agency, and therefore receives no financial support from the government. We depend primarily on support from patriotic citizens like you. Our organization complies with the highest ethical standards and is working to create the most cost-efficient fundraising outreach in our history. Over the last decade, nearly 80% of support received from VFW members and patriotic Americans was applied directly to veterans service, community service, legislative advocacy and military service programs worldwide.
You must be a veteran who has honorably served overseas in an area of foreign conflict in order to join the VFW Post 1534. However, if you are not eligible for VFW membership but are the parent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, child or grandchild of a qualifying veteran, you can apply for membership in the VFW Post 1534 Auxiliary.
You can contact the National Personnel Records Center and they will be able to issue a DD-215 showing receipt of the Korea Defense Service Medal. In the meantime, any sort of travel orders or military documentation showing your service in Korea for at least 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days will suffice as proof of eligibility for VFW membership.
You can contact the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) for copies of your Leave and Earnings Statements (LES) or they can direct you to your service-specific finance office for those records.
As you know, VFW Post 1534 is run by volunteers. Volunteers do not receive compensation for their work. However, dining room and kitchen volunteers pool and share tips. To become a volunteer please contact us by calling (760) 671-6185 or by writing to VeteransPost1534@gmail.com.