A veteran is a person who has served in the active military, naval, or air service and was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. This definition is set by the governing statute and is used to determine eligibility for veteran benefits and programs. The scope of who counts as a veteran can include:
- Active-duty service members who completed a period of service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, or space service where applicable.
- Reservists and National Guard members who were called to active duty.
- Cadets and midshipmen at military academies, and officers serving outside the Armed Forces, when their service meets the relevant conditions.
- Individuals in training for military service or in other official active-duty statuses as defined by law.
Key nuances:
- The exact criteria can vary by country and governing laws. In the United States, Title 38 of the U.S. Code provides the formal definition used for veteran status and related benefits.
- There are distinctions such as “protective” or priority groups for certain benefits, and some programs may consider discharge status and service duration in determining eligibility.
If you’d like, I can tailor this to a specific country or program (for example, U.S. VA benefits, UK armed forces veterans, or another nation’s system) and provide the precise eligibility criteria and common examples.
