State Commander Colt Drouillard ·
Program closes at close of business June 30, 2027
All-State Post Criteria
Posts must complete the All-American programs to qualify for All-State honors.
1. Post Must Be in Good Standing
- Post-Election Report: Received at Department and National HQ before June 1, 2026.
- Bonding: Post Quartermaster and all accountable officers bonded no later than August 31, 2026.
- School of Instruction: Post Commander, Quartermaster, and at least one Trustee must complete Department or District training before December 31, 2026.
- IRS Form 990: Post copy received at the Department before December 31, 2026.
- Trustees' Reports of Audit: All properly signed reports received at the Department within 30 days following the end of the observed quarter.
- District Meetings: Post Commander or representative (Sr Vice or Jr Vice Commander only) shall attend all District meetings.
- Delegate Dues: State Convention delegate dues paid no later than June 5, 2027.
- Arrearages: No arrearages with Department, National, or District as of June 5, 2027.
- Inspection Deficiencies: All deficiencies noted on the Post Inspection Report corrected no later than April 1, 2027.
- Administrative Actions: No negative administrative actions during the membership year.
2. Buddy Poppy Program
- Purchase: Buy Buddy Poppies at 5 per Post member, in accordance with All-American requirements, as of April 30, 2026.
- Drives: Conduct two Buddy Poppy drives and report them through the Department's online reporting system.
- DPAA Donation: Minimum $75 donation to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency through the national website. Also an All-American requirement, and payable from the Post relief fund.
3. VFW Program Participation
- Voice of Democracy: Minimum one entry to your District for judging no later than November 15.
- Patriot's Pen: Minimum one entry to your District for judging no later than November 15.
- Teacher of the Year: Minimum one entry, any level, to your District for judging no later than November 15.
- Public Servant Awards: Submit three of the following, one each, to the Department for judging no later than January 15: Law Enforcement, Firefighter, 911 Dispatcher, EOD Tech, EMT of the Year.
- Day of Service: Host an event during the month of May. Report through the community service report and the National Day of Service process.
- Conferences: Post Commander, or Senior or Junior Vice Commander in their absence, must attend the Department Mid-Winter Conference and the Department Convention.
- Veterans Assistance: Report eight Veterans Assistance events for the membership year through the Department's online reporting system.
- Community Service: Report two Community Service events quarterly through the Department's online reporting system. Periods run 7/1/26 to 9/30/26, 10/1/26 to 12/31/26, 1/1/27 to 3/30/27, and 4/1/27 to 6/30/27.
- New Members: Each Post Commander must welcome two new members.
- Membership Drives: Conduct at least two drives or recruiting events off-site from your Post by May 1, 2027, and report results through the Department's online reporting system.
- VSO Donation: One dollar per Post member to the Department through the department website by May 19, 2026.
- Membership Goal: Achieve your Post goal by June 30, 2027, per the chart in the All-State Guide, plus 80% retention. Trackable on the national website.
All criteria must be completed for All-State eligibility. Post Commanders receive an All-State Commander's Cap and lapel pin. Post Quartermasters
receive an All-State Quartermaster's Cap. Previous awardees receive the lapel pin.
Captain Award. A separate honor for the Post that goes above and beyond,
measured on teachers, public servants, scouts, JROTC, and the highest membership number.
All-State District Criteria
Districts must complete the All-American programs to qualify for All-State honors.
1. District Must Be in Good Standing
- Post Threshold: 40% of the Posts within the District must meet the 100%+1 requirement.
- District Election Report: Received at Department and National HQ before June 1, 2026.
- Bonding: District Quartermaster bonded no later than August 31, 2026.
- IRS Form 990: District copy received at the Department before December 31, 2026.
- Trustee Audits: Received at the Department within 30 days following the end of the observed quarter, no later than the end of July, October, January, and April.
- Post Inspections: All Post inspections completed by January 31, 2027.
- School of Instruction: District School of Instruction provided by December 31, 2026.
- Council Meetings: District Commander or representative (Sr Vice or Jr Vice only) must attend all Department Council of Administration meetings.
- Inspection Deficiencies: All deficiencies noted on the District Inspection Report corrected no later than April 1, 2027.
- Arrearages: No arrearages with Department and National as of June 5, 2027.
- DPAA Donation: Minimum $100 donation to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency through the national website. Also an All-American requirement.
2. VFW Program Participation
- Voice of Democracy: Submit one entry to the Department for judging with District and Post participation reports no later than December 1, 2026.
- Patriot's Pen: Submit one entry to the Department for judging with District and Post participation reports no later than December 1, 2026.
- Teacher of the Year: Submit minimum one entry at High School, Middle School, or Primary School level to the Department for judging with District and Post participation reports no later than December 1, 2026.
3. District Membership Goals
- Goal: Achieve the District membership goal by June 30, 2027, at 100%+1 plus 80% retention, per the table in the All-State Guide. Trackable on the national website.
All of the above criteria must be completed to be minimally eligible for All-State District Commander. Each All-State District Commander and Quartermaster receives a cap and certificate.
Previous awardees receive an additional lapel pin and certificate.
Alabama Clay Eagle Community Service Awards. Awarded by membership size across
three divisions: Divisions 1-4 at 246-749 members covering 12 Posts, Divisions 5-7 at
112-245 members covering 19 Posts, and Divisions 8-11 at 0-111 members covering 28 Posts.
Three awards total. This has no bearing on the VFW National Community Service Award.
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