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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 also qualify.)
Some states also have their own definition of a veteran; for example: DEFINITION OF A MASSACHUSETTS VETERAN, M.G.L. C.4, SEC. 7,cl 43rd 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 Such member does not need to have any wartime service. - OR - 90 days of active duty service, one (1) day of which is during "wartime", and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions. The one-day need not have actually been served in a war zone. 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. The Members' last discharge or release must be under honorable conditions. Full time National Guard duty is only considered such when National Guard members are activated to regular service and does not include weekend drills or active duty for training 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 or died in the service under honorable conditions. Training Duty Exception - Active service in the armed forces as used in this clause 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.
Veteran of Foreign Wars - You served/are serving in a war zone during a time of war,
Combat Veteran - You've actually been in combat...
I am a Veteran... NOT a VFW, nor a Combat Veteran (yet)
That being said, I really started to having a growing sense of disdain for a lot of the Cadets. They seemed to demand the respect of a veteran, while acting like civilian college students, and really had no real military experience outside of the mockery of a formation they had for PT in the mornings ( I attended a few at first).
I fully admit that this may be only my school, but it certainly left a bad taste in my mouth for people in this stage of their military career.
My Definition of a veteran is defined as Any person who served honorably for Any length of time in Any military service branch.
But I remember that something was brewing in Nicaragua at the time. I remember the Drills talking out loud at night about how the recruits were far enough along to be sent there (Joke they played to stress us out). I remember some recruits getting amped up, others throwing up at the possibility. I remember gearing up for Reforger. I remember being told I would live 6 seconds on the battlefield as a scout up front. We all took the risk. History gave us a Pass. I'm glad to be a living, able bodied veteran that got passed by. I'm humbled by those that did not, living and gone.
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