How long do you have to be in the military to be considered a veteran?

To be considered a veteran, any military personnel must be on active-duty service for at least 180 days. The only exception is if the member sustained a service-related injury and was discharged under honorable conditions.
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What qualifies you to be a veteran?

The term "veteran" means a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable. (E) authorized travel to or from such duty or service. 38 U.S.C.
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How many years in the military makes you a veteran?

"Anyone who has reached 20 years of service, even if they were never activated on a [federal] order for more than 180 days outside of training, will now be considered a veteran," he said. The change in law, said Krenz, simply recognizes those who serve.
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Are you considered a veteran if you only served 2 years?

Service members must have served a minimum of 24 months of active duty to be considered a veteran. If the service member becomes disabled because of their time in the service, there is no minimum length of service to qualify for VA benefits.
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Does 4 years make you a veteran?

Veteran Definition – How Long Do You Have to Be in the Military to Be a Veteran? You have seen from the title 38 definition above that there is no minimum time of service required to be considered a “veteran” so long as you served on active duty.
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HOW MANY YEARS DO YOU HAVE TO SERVE IN THE ARMY?



Are you a veteran after basic training?

According to the Veteran Affairs Guidelines for establishing veteran status: If you were discharged while still undergoing basic training (or any required training, for that matter), you are considered as a veteran if your discharge was due to a disability sustained because of your training.
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Are you a veteran if you never deployed?

"Anyone who has reached 20 years of service, even if they were never activated on a [federal] order for more than 180 days outside of training, will now be considered a veteran," he said. The change in law, said Krenz, simply recognizes those who serve.
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Can I call myself a veteran?

Yes, just recently signed legislation allows you to call yourself a Veteran. During the December 2016 transition period, President Obama signed H.R. 6416, a bill that says National Guard and Reserve retirees who had zero active duty time are now eligible to be referred to as Veterans.
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How do I prove my veteran status?

Find an original or certified copy of your military discharge certificate (DD214). If you need assistance obtaining your military records, then contact any County Veteran Service Officer (CVSO) Visit Any CVSO. Take your DD214 and government identification to any CVSO to obtain your Veteran Status Verification Form.
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Can I get a military ID if I was honorably discharged?

You may be eligible if you meet both of these requirements. Both of these must be true: You served on active duty, in the Reserves, or in the National Guard (including the Coast Guard), and. You received an honorable or general discharge (under honorable conditions)
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What are the 5 types of veterans?

Under VEVRAA, a veteran may be classified as a ''disabled veteran,'' ''recently separated veteran,'' ''active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran,'' or ''Armed Forces service medal veteran. ''
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What are the 4 types of veterans?

The Type of Veteran
  • War Veteran. War veterans are active-duty or reserve military members who have been in an area of conflict with another nation or in the surrounding waters to support activities against a national enemy.
  • Combat Veteran. ...
  • Retired Veteran. ...
  • Protected Veteran.
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Does 6 years in the National Guard make you a veteran?

Does 6 years in the National Guard make you a veteran? Yes, if you spent at least 180 days of that 6 years deployed on federal active duty orders. A 2016 change to federal law expanded the definition of “veteran” for many National Guard members.
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Is basic training considered active duty?

No, training doesn't count as active duty. For the regular Army/Navy/Air Force/Marine Corps/Coast Guard, active duty begins when a military member reports to a duty station after completion of training (basic, officer training, tech school).
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Are all veterans eligible for VA benefits?

All enrolled Veterans receive the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA's) comprehensive Medical Benefits Package which includes preventive, primary and specialty care, diagnostic, inpatient and outpatient care services.
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Who qualifies for military veterans benefits?

1. Definitions
  • (i) injury suffered by a military veteran;
  • (ii) psychological and neuro-psychiatric trauma suffered by a military veteran; or.
  • (iii) disease contracted by a military veteran as result of participating in military. activities,for the purposes of compensation;
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Who qualifies for a DD-214?

Members' Military Personnel Section's will generate these forms upon their return from training. Members are eligible to receive a DD Form 214 based on consecutive active duty periods of 90 days or more. Performing in drill status during a 90-day period would break this up and restart the day count.
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How do I know if my discharge is honorable?

You can request your military records in any of these ways:
  1. Mail or fax a Request Pertaining to Military Records (Standard Form SF 180) to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). ...
  2. Write a letter to the NPRC. ...
  3. Visit the NPRC in person.
  4. Contact your state or county Veterans agency.
  5. Hire an independent researcher.
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Are you considered a veteran if you served during peacetime?

During Peacetime

To be considered a veteran, any military personnel must be on active-duty service for at least 180 days. The only exception is if the member sustained a service-related injury and was discharged under honorable conditions.
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How can you tell if someone is lying about military service?

Please use the Defense Manpower Data Center's (DMDC) Military Verification service to verify if someone is in the military. The website will tell you if the person is currently serving in the military.
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Why are National Guard not considered veterans?

The Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act was passed, giving retired Guardsmen and women the chance to earn Veteran status in the eyes of the law. To be clear, not all Guard members are considered Veterans — just certain those called to active duty or who qualify for retirement benefits.
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Do Army Reserves count as veterans?

Thus former or current members of the National Guard or Reserves are not considered to be veterans unless they had prior or subsequent service with an active component of the Armed Forces. (Reservists called to active duty by Executive Order qualify as veterans.)
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Is Veterans Day only for retired military?

In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served - not only those who died - have sacrificed and done their duty.
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What is a former soldier called?

(Colloquial) A veteran (a former soldier or other member of an armed forces). 2. 1. war horse.
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How long do you have to be in the military to get free college?

MGIB Active Duty (MGIB-AD)

For vets who have served at least two years of active duty, the military pays for college through the MGIB-AD. If you qualify, you'll receive up to 36 months of education benefits. The amount you receive depends on: Length of service.
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