Definition of a Veteran
Era of Service | Dates | Requirement for Veteran Status |
|---|---|---|
WWI | 6-Apr-1917 11-Nov-1918 | 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
PEACETIME | 12-Nov-1918 15-Sep-1940 | 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
WWII | (Merchant Marine: 7-Dec-1941 through 31-Dec-1946) 16-Sep-1940 25-Jul-1947 | 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
PEACETIME | 26-Jul-1947 24-Jun-1950 | 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
KOREA | 25-Jun-1950 31-Jan-1955 | 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
Korean Defense Service Medal | 28-Jul-1954 (to be determined later) | 90 days of active duty service, last discharge under honorable conditions and the Korean Defense Service Medal. |
VIETNAM I | 1-Feb-1955 4-Aug-1964 | 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
VIETNAM II | 5-Aug-1964 7-May-1975 | 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
PEACETIME | 8-May-1975 1-Aug-1990 | 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
Lebanon Campaign* | 25-Aug-1982 (to be determined later) | 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
Grenada Campaign* | 25-Oct-1983 15-Dec-1983 | 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
Panama Campaign* | 20-Dec-1989 31-Jan-1990 | 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
PERSIAN GULF | 2-Aug-1990 (to be determined later) | 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. |
*Naval and Marine DD214 must indicate Expeditionary Medal. All DD214's must specify campaign: Lebanon, Granada, or Panama.
• For GUARD MEMBERS to qualify they must have 180 days and have been activated under Title 10 of the U.S. Code -OR- Members who were activated under Title 10 or Title 32 of the U.S. Code or Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 33, sections 38, 40, and 41 must have 90 days, at least one of which was during wartime, per the above chart
.
• For RESERVISTS to qualify, they must have been called to regular active duty, at which point their eligibility can be determined by the above chart.
Training Duty Exception: Active duty service in the armed forces shall not include active duty for training in the Army or Air National Guard or active duty for training as a Reservist in the Armed Forces of the United States.
Minimum Service Exception (for Death or Disability) It is not necessary that an applicant have completed the minimum service for wartime or peacetime campaign if he/she served some time in the campaign and was awarded the Purple Heart, or suffered a service-connected disability per the Discharge Certificate, or died in the service under honorable conditions.