Veteran's Service Purchases
You may be eligible to purchase up to four years of military service if you qualify as a veteran as defined in M.G.L. c. 32, Section 1. If you were honorably discharged from active duty and 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, you may be eligible to purchase service.
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World War II
Sept. 16, 1940 – July 25, 1947 (with WWII Victory Medal) -
Korea June 25, 1950 – Jan. 31, 1955
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Korean Defense Service Medal July 6, 1954 (date to be determined)
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Korea-Vietnam (Interim) Feb. 1, 1955 – Aug. 4, 1964 (180 days)
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Vietnam Aug. 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975
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Lebanon Aug. 25, 1982 – (date to be determined)
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Grenada Oct. 25, 1983 – Dec. 15, 1983
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Panama Dec. 20, 1989 – Jan. 31, 1990
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Persian Gulf Aug. 2, 1990 – (date to be determined)
In addition, Veteran’s status includes those who, instead of performing “wartime service,” have been awarded one of the following campaign badges: Second Nicaraguan Campaign, Navy Occupation Service, Medal of Humane Action, Yangtze Service or Army of Occupation. If you served in wartime and were awarded a Purple Heart or service-connected disability, regardless of whether you completed the minimum length of active duty service required in the chart under the paragraph above, you qualify for veteran’s status.
Veterans who also have Active Reserve or Massachusetts National Guard Service may receive creditable service for such Guard/Reserve service on a ratio of five years of such service to equal one year of creditable service.
Exception: You should be aware that six months of active duty training in the Active Reserves or the National Guard does not qualify as active service toward the minimum period listed. Additionally, if your only active duty was active duty training, you are not eligible to purchase credit for your military service. The Board will provide the final determination for you.