October 14, 2009 • June Walbert
Q: As a former member of the Army National Guard, I served 5 years and received a General Discharge under Honorable Conditions. I competed all over the country on our unit's rifle team winning many awards, and I enrolled in college for two years and received the G.I. Bill. I never was called up to active duty or war, but I completed Basic Training and A.I.T as well as monthly drills plus each summer I was not at basic or A.I.T. we drilled for a two week summer camp. My question is what requirements have to be met to be called a Veteran. Am I a Veteran or not? Or could you tell me how I can find out.
-Shawn, Nampa, Idaho
A: First off, thank you for your service. And, by the way, I am a former competitive pistol shooter. That was sure fun! Using the dictionary as our guide, as a former member of the armed forces you are clearly a veteran. So now with that cleared up, I thought it might be useful to mention a few veteran benefits for which you may or may not be qualified. For example, a quick visit to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ website would indicate that you would not be eligible for burial in a VA National Cemetery, nor would you be eligible for a VA Home Loan. The loan program requires six years of Selected Reserves or National Guard service or 90 days or more (depending on when you served) of active duty. On the other hand, your education benefits are an example of a veteran’s benefit for which you are eligible. Regardless of what benefits you do or do not qualify for, you are a veteran!
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Why a general discharge? That doesn't even sound right after serving 5 years.
Posted by: Shani | October 31, 2009 at 07:36 AM
Yes, you are a veteran, any combat vet would tell you so.
Posted by: Bill DeRoche | October 29, 2009 at 08:10 PM