Definition of a Veteran

Federal Definition

Under Federal Law a "Veteran" is any person who served honorably on active duty in the armed forces of the United States (discharges marked General and Under Honorable Conditions also qualify).

State Definition

MGL Chapter 4, Section 7, Clause 43 as Amended by the Acts of 2004

Effective August 30, 2004

To be a "veteran" under Massachusetts law a person is required to 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, or;
• Guard or Reservist serving at least 180 days of active duty on federal orders or serving 20 years of Guard or Reserve service as of December 2016, the Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act.

Guard & Reserve Members

For Guard Members to qualify they must have:

• 180 days and have been activated under Title 10 of the U.S. Code, or;
• Members who were activated under Title 10 or Title 32 of the U.S. Code of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 33, Sections 38, 40 and 41 must have 90 days, at least one of which was during wartime, per the above chart. The Member's last discharge or release must be under honorable conditions, or;
• 20 years of Guard or Reserve service recognizes these individuals as "Veterans" without conferring additional benefits from the Department of Veteran Affairs by order of the Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2015.

Minimum Service Exception (for Death or Disability)

An applicant does NOT have to complete a minimum of service regardless if it was during wartime or peacetime if he or she was awarded the "Purple Heart," or suffered a service-connected disability or died in service under honorable conditions.