Veterans: Definitions
Veterans: Definitions
Transcript
Who is a veteran? The federal government's definition of 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 dishonorable. Veterans include those whose service was full time active duty, and those whose service was part time, including members of the Reserves and National Guard.
The two ways to leave the military are separation and retirement. Retired veterans either have served for a long time, typically 20 years or more, or left the military due to medical reasons that prevent them from continuing to serve. Separated veterans include those who leave after a shorter term of service, when their contract is completed.
Retired veterans are eligible for a lifelong pension, keep their military ID, and are allowed on base and to access services available there for active military. Separated veterans do not have a pension and lose many of the benefits that come from being in the military. Both retired and separated veterans are eligible to receive veterans benefits from the VA.
The specific benefits that a veteran is eligible for depends on their discharge status. There are three administrative types of discharge. An honorable discharge is the highest discharge and indicates that the service member perform their duties well and faithfully executed their mission. A general discharge under honorable conditions indicates some areas of misconduct, of failure to adapt to the military environment. While other than honorable, OTH, discharge indicates more serious issues than the two just mentioned.
Dishonorably discharged individuals lose their veteran status and are not eligible for any benefits. Only those with an honorable discharge are eligible for veteran education benefits. Individuals may appeal for a discharge upgrade or corrections, especially if their discharge was connected to a mental health condition, including PTSD, traumatic brain injury, sexual assault or harassment during military service, MST, or military sexual trauma, or sexual orientation.
Discharge status, along with a great deal of other information of a service members' time in the military, is recorded on DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, which is issued by the Department of Defense on retirement or separation. This form, which is simply referred to as DD214, lists total military combat and overseas service, awards and medals, training and school completion, and other key information from the service record. A DD214 is needed to access benefits from the VA, including educational and health benefits.
The two ways to leave the military are separation and retirement. Retired veterans either have served for a long time, typically 20 years or more, or left the military due to medical reasons that prevent them from continuing to serve. Separated veterans include those who leave after a shorter term of service, when their contract is completed.
Retired veterans are eligible for a lifelong pension, keep their military ID, and are allowed on base and to access services available there for active military. Separated veterans do not have a pension and lose many of the benefits that come from being in the military. Both retired and separated veterans are eligible to receive veterans benefits from the VA.
The specific benefits that a veteran is eligible for depends on their discharge status. There are three administrative types of discharge. An honorable discharge is the highest discharge and indicates that the service member perform their duties well and faithfully executed their mission. A general discharge under honorable conditions indicates some areas of misconduct, of failure to adapt to the military environment. While other than honorable, OTH, discharge indicates more serious issues than the two just mentioned.
Dishonorably discharged individuals lose their veteran status and are not eligible for any benefits. Only those with an honorable discharge are eligible for veteran education benefits. Individuals may appeal for a discharge upgrade or corrections, especially if their discharge was connected to a mental health condition, including PTSD, traumatic brain injury, sexual assault or harassment during military service, MST, or military sexual trauma, or sexual orientation.
Discharge status, along with a great deal of other information of a service members' time in the military, is recorded on DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, which is issued by the Department of Defense on retirement or separation. This form, which is simply referred to as DD214, lists total military combat and overseas service, awards and medals, training and school completion, and other key information from the service record. A DD214 is needed to access benefits from the VA, including educational and health benefits.