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Definition of "Veteran"
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).
State Definition
MGL Ch. 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, or;
- 90 days of active duty service, one day of which is during "wartime" per the chart below, and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions
Wartime Dates
War | "Wartime" Dates |
---|---|
WWI | April 6, 1917 - November 11, 1918 |
WWII | September 16, 1940 - December 31, 1946 / Merchant Marine: One day between December 7, 1941 - 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 one of which was during wartime, per the above chart. The Member's last discharge or release must be under honorable conditions
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.