Am I a Veteran?

[Calaveras Slim]

In high school I enlisted in the MI ARNG. I completed basic training the summer between my junior and senior years and then completed AIT after graduation. Each was 8 weeks long as I recall and then off to college.

I was on a 6x2 contract. I was never deployed or activated. Just weekend drills and 2 weeks in the summer. After the 6 years I got out and have an Honorable Discharge.

In trying to research this I came upon this document. fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42324.pdf

It's states: By statute, a "veteran" is defined as a "person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable."2
2 38 U.S.C. § 101(2); 38 C.F.R. § 3.1(d).

Is that in and of itself the core definition of a "veteran?" does my basic training and AIT satisfy this requirement?

I keep reading things about 180 days active service or during other set time periods. I once applied for an got approved for a VA home loan (though we did not use it). I am pretty certain I do not qualify for any other VA benefits such as medical, etc.

I have never considered myself a veteran but people have asked on and off through the years and I never really know what to say. I typically just say that I was in the ARNG.

I am humbled by all veterans and don't want to diminish their earned respect! THANKS to all you veterans!

May I suggest you contact the VA and see if you are.

 

[MOONDAWG]

If you weren't a veteran, you wouldn't have gotten a Honorable Discharge. (you have to be in to get out)

Bigbadabingbadaboom...nuff said.

 

[Jessie]

I can see your desire to know if you're technically considered a vet or not but it really don't mean nothin.
You know what you did and what you were willing to do.
It sounds like you're not concerned with the benefits and you could ask the VA about it, but you'll just get the beauracratic answer that determines your bennies or lack of them.
As far as I'm concerned, you're a vet.

 

[Rastoff]

Anyone who has served will recognize your service to our country. That is not in question. However, what we say means nothing when it comes to benefits.

There are two aspects, a moral one and a legal one. Your actions, attitude and actual time qualify you as a vet in my opinion. My opinion don't mean spit in the legal world.

I was on a 6x2 contract. I was never deployed or activated. Just weekend drills and 2 weeks in the summer. After the 6 years I got out and have an Honorable Discharge.

What does it say at the top of your DD-124? On mine it says, "CERTIFICATE OF RELEASE OR DISCHARGE FROM ACTIVE DUTY." I have never seen another DD-214 so, I don't know if there are different ones.

I don't know all the legal ramifications of the veteran status. I do think it's worth putting a little more effort into. Call the VA.


On a side note, what does ARNG stand for? I've heard of the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve, but never the Army Reserve National Guard. The Reserves belong to the federal Army and the National Guard is controlled by the state. So, were you in the Reserves or National Guard?

 

[dkizer22]

ARNG. Army National Guard. ANG Air National Guard. The National Guard is part of the reserve with a state mission.

 

[black1970]

When a person completes 20 good years in the Guard or Reserves they receive a military pension for life. Also a retired ID card that entitles them to the same benefits and insurance as a regular military retiree with the exception of some VA benefits. However these do not kick in until age 60. This is why I stayed in the ARNG for 40 years with 20 years as a full time mechanic which was civil service. Also a while back the reg was changed that on your correspondence you signed USA Ret. even though you were NG. I have good reason to believe that I am a veteran. What say you?

 

[Ole Joe Clark]

I was in the Alabama National Guard from 1963-1969 and we didn't use hearing protection at Fort Jackson back then. I think that is why I'm almost deaf as a fence post.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

 

[UncleEd]

Mentioned to my major one day I was
only a "sunshine soldier."

He said I wasn't any kind of solider.

I then asked if I could go home.

He said no.

 

[Muss Muggins]

My father did seven years active Navy and 25 years Naval Reserve. He had a DD214 for his active discharge, and a certificate of discharge for his Reserve discharge. For most gov't military benefits, you need a DD214. Some are available with Guard and Reserve service. As an example, we put Dad on the Veteran's Home waiting list when he started to decline. The Reserve certificate wouldn't do it. The DD214 would. Same for the bronze military grave marker, which we put on the back of his granite marker. Only DD214. Reserve service didn't count. As for calling yourself a veteran, clearly the line between active and guard/reserve has blurred in recent history, with guard/reserve units called up for a year at a time, multiple times, to fight the war on terrorism. My father did his entire reserve term without an active duty call up save for training. He was aged out right before Gulf I, tried to get back in, and was told no. Today, I think they would have taken him back. If you think you're a veteran, you're a veteran. Who am I to say otherwise . . . ?

 

[TomkinsSP]

One of Dad's piano tunes, (like so many I have no idea who wrote it). Dad was in the USAAC/USAAF during "the big one", and was recalled to serve in the USAF during the Korean "conflict"...

Oh in peacetime the regulars are happy,
Yes in peacetime they're anxious to serve,
But just let them get into trouble,
They call out the goshdarn* reserve.

(chorus) Call out, call out,
Call out the goshdarn* reserves...

Oh here's to the Regular Air Force,
They have such a regular plan,
They send the Reservist to Korea,
While the Regulars stay in Japan,

(chorus)

Here's to the Regular Air Force,
With thier medals and badges galore,
If it wern't for the goshdarn* Reservist,
Thier farce* would be dragging the floor,

(chorus)

 

[amazingflapjack]

How can you get an Honorable Discharge for something you did not do? I suggest that you go to the American Legion and ask for their assistance in certifying your veteran status, and I don't know about anyone else, but basic and AIT Infantry qualify as active duty, as far as my own case is concerned!

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Yes. As noted there are various requirement for Active Duty time to be eligible for certain benefits. In WWII 30% of the Army stayed Stateside, but they are still WWII veterans.

 

[riverrat38]

I was in the California Army Reserve National Guard from 1964 to 1970.
We did put in over 180 days of active duty. This included 6 months training (boot camp and cook school at the late Ft. Old), and 17 day summer camp training sessions for 5 summers. So, about 36 weeks total Federal active duty time. The remainder of the 6 year hitch we were under State control. We got paid for our drills, but they didn't count as active duty time, or toward retirement pay. All active (Federal) time did.
Guard units were being activated near the end of my hitch, the other Company at our Armory was put on "pin point" status. All of a sudden, they were issued new equipment, not the returned stuff we usually were issued. The First Sargent told me that Guard units called up did not serve together, rather they were sent as "fill ins" to Units in combat to replace personnel being sent home.
We were issued M14's at basic training and M1's back in our National Guard units. I had to qualify periodically with the M1 during monthly drills, but I was a cook the rest of the time.
My Grandfather was a cook during WW1, and my Dad was one during the occupation of Japan after WW2. Coincidence? I think not!
I was informed by the Veterans Affairs Administrator at work that I was considered a "Viet Nam War Era Veteran ". As opposed to a "Veteran of Foreign Wars".
My Grandsons gave me a "thank you for your service card" yesterday. That is my real proof of veterans status!

Best,
Rick

 

[BlackAgnes]

Take a look at this article and see if it applies to your situation...

Congress changes veteran status for Guard, Reserves | NevadaAppeal.com

 

[Tom S.]

 

[ameridaddy]

Seems to me there's a gray area between what seems obvious (DD-214, Honorable Discharge, you wore the uniform), and, a big and - you were liable to be called into state or federal service at any time during those six years. You raised your right hand, took the oath and thereby put your life on call if need be.
The gray area is all the fine print in DD rules, which mostly govern who qualifies post-service for which benefits.
Small example - I was in the Washington, DC Army Nat'l Guard in the '60's, and one fine day around 1968, we were issued all new equipment, got all the shots for S. E. Asia service, and doubled our training time. We were pretty sure we were going to be sent to Vietnam. Then after the Martin Luther King riots, some local powers that be decided it was comforting to have a bunch of MP's right there in DC, so we went nowhere. Point is, we could have, and since 9-11, many, many Guard units have been sent to combat zones. Same happened in WWI, WWII and Korea - lots of Guard and reserve outfits were called to combat zones.
Remember, lots and lots of guys served in the regular Armed Forces and spent their time in a supply depot somewhere stateside and went home to their families every night. Nonetheless, they served, and so did you - be proud of offering yourself to whatever would come along. You're not a combat veteran; most who served are not, but you are a veteran. Tell people you served for six years in [name of outfit]

 

[Sistema1927]

Sure you are a Veteran. Just think about the NG troops who were deployed such as the NM Field Artillery units that defended Corregidor at the beginning of WWII ( History of Bataan Death March | New Mexico National Guard Museum 0 and the other artillery units that suffered terrible casualties in Vietnam ( VFW Magazine – May 2010 : National Guard's Deadliest Days In Vietnam ). Any "weekend warrior" could be called up for combat at any time.

 

[model70hunter]

I too was in the National Guard and transferred to the Army reserve.

You are active while in training and you are activated for 2 week summer camp I was told.

We might need an old reserve 1st Sgt to add to this.

Black Agnes answered it. Thanks.

 

[MSgt G]

Does the NG receive a DD-214?

I think he would have a NBG-22.

 

[e3mrk]

As far as I'm concerned You have a Honorable Discharge You are a Veteran.