STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES COMMANDER’S MANUAL
2026-2027

Kevin E. Link DEPARTMENT COMMANDER

TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Message from the Commander	4
All-State District Requirements	6
All-State Post Requirements	6
Post and Post Commander of the Year Points System	6
District/Post Reporting Requirements	7
Awards and Recognition Program	10

A Message from the Commander
Dear Comrades of West Virginia,
Congratulations on your appointment or election to serve this organization as Department, District or Post Leader. Together we can work through any obstacles that we encounter.
I am humbled and honored to serve as the State Commander for the year 2026-2027. Thank you for trusting me with this honor. I look forward to serving with you, who have served and continue to serve this organization.
I have chosen the motto “Can Do Will Do.” This is the same motto that was chosen for the USAF Civil Engineering team, Prime Beef, at the beginning of the Vietnam War. As they persevered during that time, we can use the same attitude to continue the work of the VFW in West Virginia. Thanks so much to our Vietnam Brothers and Sisters that have continued the mission of the VFW using the “Can Do Will Do, Have Done.” Motto. Let us continue the mission to Honor those who came before us.
With the “Can Do Will Do” attitude let us work together as a team to continue increasing membership and serving in our communities. Let our fellow Veterans know and see what we are about. Membership is important. Reach out and let your membership know that you are there for them. When you recruit a new member, mentor them, invite them to their first meeting and go over the members’ obligation ceremony. Mentor your fellow Veterans to accept new leadership roles in the VFW.
Our state is beginning to start a new mission, to encourage the OEF/OIF community into this great organization. This mission is called “Combat Tested Gaming”. Please help support this cause and invite Veterans to participate.
As the Past Commanders of West Virginia have strived to work with the Auxiliary, let us continue working together to support the mission of the VFW, “United We Can”. Be the change for our fellow Veteran’s and build a strong organization working with the Auxiliary in our Posts, Districts, and Department.
Thank you for volunteering to continue to Serve as a leader in the VFW in West Virginia, your dedication is important.
Kevin E. Link 2026-2027
Department Commander VFW State of West Virginia

“Can Do Will Do”

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ALL-STATE DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS 
2025-2026
1.	Districts must achieve 100% plus 1, membership by May 1, 2027.
2.	Districts submit one Patriot's Pen and one Voice of Democracy entry per category to State for judging.
3.	Districts submit one Teacher of the Year entry per category to the State for Judging.
4.	District Commander, or Senior Vice Commander, Junior Vice Commander (if District Commander is unavailable), attend all Council of Administration meetings.
5.	District must be in good standing in accordance with National By-Laws.
6.	District donates $100 to DPAA Program
7.	Donate $275 to state VFV Programs. 

ALL-STATE POST REQUIREMENTS 
2025-2026
1.	Post must achieve 100% plus 1, membership by May 1, 2027.
2.	Post Commander (or designated representative) will attend all District meetings and convention.
3.	Post makes a $275.00 donation to State HQS for VFW Programs no later than March 1, 2027.
4.	Post Submits Monthly Community Service report
5.	Post will submit at least one essay nomination (Voice of Democracy or Patriot Pen) to District for judging.
6.	Post donates $75 to DPAA program.
7.	Posts purchase 5 Buddy Poppies based on prior year totals. Poppy purchase orders through the Department.

POINT SYSTEM TO DETERMINE
POST AND POST COMMANDER OF THE YEAR RECOGNITION
POINTS CALCULATED 1 July through 1 May
Points	Categories (* denotes All-State requirement)
100	*Post achieves 100% in membership by May 1, 2027.
100	*Post donates $275 to VFW Programs by March 1, 2027.
25	*Post Submits Monthly Community Service report (points awarded for each Month.)
10	*Post submits Voice of Democracy or Patriot's Pen entry to District (10 points each category.)
10	*Post submits one Teacher of the Year from one of the categories. 10 points in each category.
20	*Post visits a Veteran in Hospital, Care Facility, or Shut-In, at home, twice a year. Reported in Dashboard. 
10	*Post donates $50 to the West Virginia House at the National Home.
25	* Post purchase Buddy Poppies per Post Membership Strength. 
25	* Post donates $75 to DPAA program.
					
						EXTRA CREDIT POINTS
 250	Post achieves 100% membership by 31 December, 2026.	
 250	Post donates $275 by 1 October, 2026 to WV HQS Programs.	
 250	Post donates $50 to WV Combat Tested Gaming program.	
 50  
 50
 10  	Post Nominates a properly submitted person for Rich Homan Award. 
Post Nominates a properly submitted person for Chaplain of the Year
Post submits a JROTC entry for recognition, one nomination per High School.	

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DISTRICT/POST REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

In accordance with Section 213, Article II, National Bylaws:
Any post in the arears for any financial obligations to the District, Department, or National for fees, dues, poppy money, supply money, failing to have the office of the Quartermaster properly bonded in accordance with Section 703, failing to ensure that the Post is properly insured in accordance with Section 709, failing to submit properly completed quarterly Post Trustees Report of Audit, Post Election Report for the ensuing year, or other obligations, shall be deprived of all representation in District, Department, and National Conventions. Such representation shall be restored promptly upon proper adjustment of such deficiencies.
PROGRAM AND REQUIRED REPORTING DEADLINES

Post Quartermaster Bond	August 31	
Voice of Democracy/Patriot Pen’s Entries to Post	October 31	
Citizenship Education Teacher Entries to Post	October 31	
Post Voice of Democracy/Patriot Pen’s Entries to District	November 20	
Post Citizenship Education Teacher Entries to District	November 20	
Post Public Servant entries (one each Law/FF/EMT) to District	November 20	
District VOD/PP to State HQS	December 20	
The Chapel of Four Chaplains Nomination to State HQS	January 1	
State Voice of Democracy/Patriot’s Pen winner to National	January 15	
District Teacher of the Year entry (one entry only) to State HQS	January 15	
District Public Servants of the Year (one each Law/FF/EMT) to State HQS	January 15	
State Citizenship Education Teacher request to National for Citation	February 1	
State VOD/PP report to National	January 15	
Public Servants of the Year (Law/FF/EMT) request to National for Citation	February 1	
Chaplain of the Year to State HQS	February 1	
Scout of the Year Entries to Post	March 1	
Post Scout of the Year entry to State HQS	April 1	
Post Requirements for All-State	Mav 1	
District requirements for All-State	May 1	
JROTC Cadet of the Year entries to State HQS	May 1	
Scout of the Year request to National for Citation	May 1	
Rich Homan Award nominations to State HQS	May 15	
All-State Team selected	May 15	
Completed Post and District Election Reports National and to State HQS	June 1	

MONTHLY COMMUNITY SERVICE REPORTS
Post Commanders report Community Service Statistics on the All-American Dashboard. The report from the post will automatically be uploaded to the State Headquarters (and National Headquarters). Posts are to
include Auxiliary dollars & hours separately in the All-American dashboard, if applicable.

QUARTERLY AUDIT REPORTS
Post Audits are due to the State Headquarters by October 31 (for reporting months of July thru September); January 31 (for reporting months of October thru December); April 30 (for reporting months of January thru March); and July 31 (for reporting months of April thru June).
POST COMMANDER DISTRICT MEETING/CONVENTION REPORT
Each Post Commander will make a report, utilizing the POST COMMANDER DISTRICT MEETING/CONVENTION REPORT. The form is provided in this guide. Each Post Commander, or designated representative, will present the report at the District Meeting/Convention.
DISTRICT COMMANDERS COA REPORTS
Each District Commander will make a report, utilizing the DISTRICT COMMANDER COA REPORT FORM during each Council of Administration meeting. The form is provided in this guide.

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AWARDS AND RECOGNITION PROGRAM

COMMANDER’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE FOR DISTRICT  OF THE YEAR
The District who meets All-State District Requirements, achieves the highest percentage in District membership, and completes all District reporting requirements will receive the Commander’s Award for Excellence at the State Convention.
The District with the highest membership and retention rates for the year, will win a Championship Belt with their name for the year. The District will need to carry this belt to all State and District functions. A cash award of $200 will be awarded with the belt to use at the District’s  discretion. Half paid at time of award the other half paid after the following year and the belt was in attendance of each Department and District event. 
POST and MEMBERSHIP RECOGNITION AWARD
The Post with the highest membership and retention rates for the year, will win a Championship Belt with their name for the year. The Post will need to carry this belt to all State and District functions. A cash award of $200 will be awarded with the belt to use at the Post’s discretion. Half paid at time of award the other half paid after the following year and the belt was in attendance of each Department and District event. 
COMMANDER’S AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE FOR POST OF THE YEAR
The Post who meets All-State Post Requirements, achieves the highest percentage in Post membership, and achieves the highest accumulation of points will receive the Commander’s Award for Excellence at the State Convention.

Department Membership Recognition Award
The Individual that has recruited the most members during the year will win the Championship belt for the department. A cash value of $300 will be presented along with the belt. The winner will need to carry the belt to all Department and District functions. Receive half the amount of cash when presented with the belt and the other half after the following year.  
ALL STATE TEAM CAPTAIN
The highest scoring All-State Team Commander will be named All-State Captain and will receive an All-State Team Captain hat, at the State Convention. If the Commander has already received an All-State Team Captain hat, other recognition identifying the Commander as All-State Team Captain will be presented.
AWARDS FOR ALL-STATE TEAM COMMANDER

•	An official All-State Team hat (for first time awardees only)
•	All-state embroidered apparel, if hat already received.
•	An All-State lapel pin with year bar.
AWARDS FOR ALL-STATE TEAM QUARTERMASTERS

•	An official All-State Team Hat (for first time awardees only)
•	All-state embroidered apparel if hat already received.
•	An All-State lapel pin with year bar.

POST/POST COMMANDER OF THE YEAR

The top scoring Post/Post Commander in each of the five (5) categories will be designated as Post/Post Commander of the Year. Selection will require meeting Post All-State Requirements in addition to the highest accumulation of points in their designated category. The top scoring Post/Post Commander in each of the five
(5) categories will receive recognition at the State Convention.

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