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Definition of a Veteran
Veteran
- Any person (male or female) whose last discharge or release from his or her wartime service was under honorable conditions.
- Any person (male or female) who served in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, or Coast Guard of the United States for not less than 90 days active service, at least 1 day of which was for wartime service, provided that any person who so served in wartime and was awarded a service-connected disability or a Purple Heart, or who died in such service under conditions other than dishonorable, shall be deemed to be a veteran not withstanding his or her failure to complete 90 days of active service.
Armed Forces
Includes Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, or Coast Guard
However, none of the following shall be deemed to be a veteran:
- Any person, who at the time of entering into the armed forces of the United States, had declared his/her intention to become a subject or citizen of the United States and withdrew his/her intention under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918.
- Any person who was discharged from the said armed forces on his/her own application or solicitation by reason of his/her being an enemy alien.
- Any person who has been proved guilty of willful desertion.
- Any person whose only service in the armed forces of the United States consists of his/her service as a member of the coast guard auxiliary or as a temporary member of the coast guard reserve, or both.
- Any person whose last discharge or release from the armed forces is dishonorable.
Federal Definition
Under Federal Law a "Veteran" is any person who served honorably on active duty in the armed forces of the United States (discharges marked General and Under Honorable Conditions qualify also).Massachusetts Definition
Under Massachusetts General Law, chapter 4, section 7, clause 43 as amended by the Acts of 2004, effective August 30, 2004.- To be a Veteran under Massachusetts law a person is required to have either:
- 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions or
- 90 days of active duty service, 1 day of which is during "wartime" per the chart below, and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions.
War | Wartime Dates |
---|---|
World War 1 |
April 6, 1917 - November 11, 1918 |
World War 2 (Note: Merchant Marine, 1 day between December 7, 1941 through December 31, 1946) |
September 16, 1940 - December 31, 1946 |
Korea | June 25, 1950 - January 31, 1955 |
Vietnam | August 5, 1964 - May 7, 1975 |
Lebanon Campaign* | August 25, 1982 - To be determined |
Grenada Campaign* | October 25, 1983 - December 15, 1983 |
Panama Campaign* | December 20, 1989 - January 31, 1990 |
Persian Gulf | August 2, 1990 - To be determined |
Guard Members
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 of Massachusetts General Laws, chapter 33, sections 38, 40 and 41 must have 90 days, at least 1 of which was during wartime, per the above chart. The Member's last discharge or release must be under honorable conditions.