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What Is A Veteran?
Contact The American War Library | Home | List of Services
Military Medal And Award Displays
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What Is A Veteran?
What is a Veteran?
A veteran is defined by federal law, moral code and military service as "Any, Any, Any"... A military veteran is Any person who served for Any length of time in Any military service branch (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines. Certain Coast Guard personnel operating under the War Dept, Navy Dept or Dept of Defense are also military veterans.) However, other uniform-wearing agencies that are allowed some military benefits by the Veterans Administration are not military veterans (Public Health Service, Merchant Marine, etc.) Additionally, spouses and children of military veterans allowed some benefits by the VA are not military veterans. [See #1 and #2, below]
What is a War Veteran?
A war veteran is any GI (Government Issue) ordered to foreign soil or waters to participate in direct or support activity against an enemy. The operant condition: Any GI sent in harm's way.
What is a Protected Veteran?
The Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA), as amended (38 U.S.C. § 4212), prohibits discrimination against protected 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."
Period of War Dates: Korean Conflict June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955; Vietnam Era February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975 for veterans serving in the Republic of Vietnam or August 5, 1964 to May 7, 1975 for all other cases; Persian Gulf War August 2, 1990 to current.
What is a Combat Veteran?
A combat veteran is any GI who experiences any level of hostility for any duration resulting from offensive, defensive or friendly fire military action involving a real or perceived enemy in any pre- or post-designated theater of combat (war) operations. [See #3, below]
NOTE:
2. Retirees (either 20+ years service or medical discharge status) are also Veterans. Retirees are usually eligible for supplementary federal benefits, privileges and access on military installations, but not necessarily all VA services (some services are maintained by the former military branch), as regulated by Congress.
3. Wartime medals define various levels of individual combat involvement, sacrifice and/or valor.
4. (Ret.) or (Retired) may be used by any veteran when stating or publishing his or her rank to indicate they are not on the active list.
Document Author: Phill Coleman Contact Person for this website: Roger Simpson,
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