who is a veteran

A veteran is typically defined as 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 comes from legal standards used in the United States (Title 38 U.S. Code) and is used to determine eligibility for veterans benefits and recognition. Veterans can be male or female and may come from any branch of the armed forces. The status is primarily determined by the nature of the discharge (honorable, general, other than honorable, bad conduct, or dishonorable), with honorable discharge usually qualifying a person for full veteran benefits. There are also broader classifications and recognition categories used by different agencies that can include reserve members, National Guard, cadets, and certain wartime or service-designated groups. If you’re asking about a specific country, the exact definition can vary, but many nations use a similar framework: service in the regular or reserve forces, followed by a discharge under acceptable conditions, to confer veteran status.