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

Now, under the new law, anyone eligible for reserve component retirement benefits is considered a veteran, said Krenz. “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.

Am I considered a veteran after 4 years of service?

Active Duty Service Members: Veteran Status Any individual who was previously on active duty service in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, and was discharged for reasons other than dishonorable, are considered as veterans.

What qualifies you as 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.

Are current military considered veterans?

Under US law, a veteran is defined as a “person who served in the active military, naval, air, or space service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.” With this definition, those who are actively serving in the military do not fall under the category of a veteran.

How long do you have to be in the military to get VA?

, Active Duty in the U.S. Navy for >20 years. IIRC it takes 180 days of active duty to be eligible for VA benefits. An Honorable Discharge is the default, and is awarded at the completion of the member’s active and reserve service obligation.

When are you considered a veteran of the military?

When are you considered a veteran of the military? According to Title 38 of the Code of Federal Regulations, a veteran is a “person who served in the active military, naval or air service, and who was discharged or released under conditions other than honorable.”

How many days of active duty do you have to serve?

Younger vets: If you were enlisted or drafted on or after Sept 8, 1980. you must have served 90 days active duty—but don’t count the days you were a reservist doing “active duty for training” time.

How long can you serve on a military contract?

Even after a full-time service member has served his or her initial stint in the military, there are still obligations. For instance, military service contracts typically span a time length of more than four years—the amount of time most people serve active duty.