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Definition of a Veteran

Please see the below definition of a Veteran for the purpose of Civil Service.

See below for service requirements and exceptions.

Era of ServiceDatesRequirement for Veteran Status
WWI6-Apr-1917
11-Nov-1918
90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under anything other than dishonorable.
PEACETIME12-Nov-1918
15-Sep-1940
90 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under anything other than dishonorable.
WWII
(Merchant Marine:
7-Dec-1941 through 31-Dec-1946)
16-Sep-1940
25-Jul-1947
90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under anything other than dishonorable.
PEACETIME26-Jul-1947
24-Jun-1950
90 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under anything other than dishonorable.
KOREA25-Jun-1950
31-Jan-1955
90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under anything other than dishonorable.
Korean Defense Service Medal28-Jul-1954
(to be determined later)
90 days of active duty service, last discharge under anything other than dishonorable and the Korean Defense Service Medal.
VIETNAM I1-Feb-1955
4-Aug-1964
90 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under anything other than dishonorable.
VIETNAM II5-Aug-1964
7-May-1975
90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under anything other than dishonorable.
PEACETIME8-May-1975
1-Aug-1990
90 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under anything other than dishonorable.
Lebanon Campaign*25-Aug-1982
(to be determined later)
90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under anything other than dishonorable.
Grenada Campaign*25-Oct-1983
15-Dec-1983
90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under anything other than dishonorable.
Panama Campaign*20-Dec-1989
31-Jan-1990
90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under anything other than dishonorable.
PERSIAN GULF2-Aug-1990
(to be determined later)
90 days of active duty service, one (1) day during "wartime" and a last discharge or release under anything other than dishonorable.

*Naval and Marine DD214 must indicate Expeditionary Medal. All DD214s must specify the campaign: Lebanon, Granada, or Panama.

For GUARD MEMBERS to qualify, they must have 90 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, per the above chart.

For RESERVISTS to qualify, they must have been called to regular active duty, at which point the above chart can determine their eligibility.

Training Duty Exception: Active duty service in the armed forces 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.

Exceptions

Training Duty Exception

Active duty service in the armed forces 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.

Minimum Active Service Exception (Purple Heart or Service-Connected Disability or Death)

Wartime Service

If his or her last discharge or release from wartime service was under anything other than dishonorable, then a person who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States under Title 10 of the United States Code during 1 day of wartime service or a person on full-time Massachusetts National Guard duty under Title 32 of the United States Code during at least one day of wartime service or a person on full-time Massachusetts National Guard duty under sections 38, 40and 41 of chapter 33 of the general laws during at least 1 day of wartime service, who sustained a service-connected disability during such wartime service or was awarded the Purple Heart during such wartime service or who died during such wartime service under conditions other than dishonorable, is excused from completing the 90-day active service requirement during such wartime service.                                                                        

Peacetime

If his or her last discharge or release from active service was under anything other than dishonorable, then a person who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States under Title 10 of the United States Code during peacetime, who sustained a service-connected disability while on active duty during peacetime or who died on active duty during peacetime under conditions other than dishonorable, is excused from completing the 90-day active service requirement during peacetime.

Date published: May 23, 2025

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