combat veteran
Seasoned war fighter
A combat veteran is a military service member who has served in active armed conflict, as distinguished from veterans whose service was entirely peacetime or non-combat.
The distinction carries weight in contexts like benefits, medical care, and social recognition: Combat veterans may qualify for additional VA services.
The term acknowledges exposure to the particular stresses and traumas of warfare.
- soldierArmed forces member
- warriorOne skilled in combat
- boots on the groundMilitary presence in area
- PTSDChronic reaction to horrific events
- battlefieldCombat engagement area
deployment · medal · trauma · wounded · battle scars · service · military · hero · infantry · frontline · discharge · survivor · honorable discharge · flashback · thousand-yard stare · valor · sacrifice · marine
- Veteransvets, VA, retired soldier, ex-serviceman, marine vet
- military statusactive duty, enlisted, retired, deployed, reservist
- War Heroeswar hero, military hero, medal recipient, Sergeant York, flying ace
- Military Familiesmilitary spouse, military wife, military husband, military child, military brat
- military honorsMedal of Honor, Purple Heart, Silver Star, Bronze Star, Navy Cross
combat veterancivilian
Non-military person
noncombatant · private citizen · pacifist · conscientious objector · draft dodger
combat veteranraw recruit
Untrained new soldier
new recruit · rookie · boot · greenhorn · trainee
combat, veteran, combats, combated, combating, combatant, combatants, combative, combativeness