The military separates Veterans into 4 different types for a reason.
The type of Veteran determines eligibility for military benefits along with other special recognition.
Moreover, the type of status depends on several factors including length of service and roles in combat (if applicable).
Additionally, the status of a Veteran is influenced by what type of discharge they received.
Therefore, it’s crucial to be aware of the 4 types of status for Veterans:
Related Article – Types of Military Discharge
Table of Contents
Definition of Veteran Explained
Sadly, many Veterans are surprised to find a reluctant hiring force and other issues adjusting back to civilian life.
Unfortunately, there are many negative stereotypes and assumptions made about military vets.
For this reason, it’s important to bridge the gap between civilians and Veterans to avoid misconceptions.
The official definition of a military veteran, according to 38 U.S. Code – 101 is:
A person who has served in the naval, air, or space military service and was released or discharged honorably.
In general, the military categories Veterans into 4 types depending on several factors:
- Duration of Service
- Time of Service
- Type of Discharge
- Disability Status
- Combat Roles
Those that depart from the U.S. Armed Forces under honorable circumstances traditionally receive better benefits and recognition.
Nonetheless, that is not to suggest that everyone who served in the military (even dishonorable discharge) deserve some type of designation as a U.S. Veteran.
Veterans are eligible for special benefits, recognition, and military discounts.
Accordingly, it’s important to know which type of Veteran you represent.
Active Duty vs. Inactive Duty
The military separates Veterans based on type of service.
In general, active duty refers to full-time personnel in the U.S. Armed Forces, including:
- Army
- Air Force
- Coast Guard
- Marine Corps
- U.S. Navy
- Space Force
Active duty military personnel include commissioned officers as well as U.S. Reserves.
Furthermore, full-time personnel of the following branches are also considered active service:
- Public Health Service
- National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
- Coast & Geodetic Survey
Cadets currently studying at a military academy also qualify as active duty.
Meanwhile, inactive duty is classified as a role that is not full-time.
Additionally, it may include special “extra” duties as well as training outside of active duty for the Armed Forces and Reserve Corps.
4 Factors that Determine Veteran Status
There are a few essentials that determine the status of a Veteran.
In general, the military reviews the type of service along with duration in the military.
Furthermore, Veterans Affairs (VA) may consider other factors such as personal conduct and character, circumstances of your role in the military, and type of discharge.
Here are the most relevant to determining what type of Veteran you are:
#1. Full-Time Service vs. Part-Time Service
The U.S. Armed Forces has both active, full-time roles along with reserve and part-time assignments.
Thus, the type of service you performed for the military determines the type of Veteran.
In general, those that served in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces is considered active duty / full-time service.
Meanwhile, the process gets a little more complicated for members of the U.S. National Guard and Reserves.
Accordingly, they may or may not earn the status of a Veteran depending on the role served in the branch.
Despite it, all members of the National Guard and Reserve receive Veteran status for serving longer than 20 years.
Finally, any member of a reserve component that has a disability or injury linked to training may earn additional benefits.
#2. Duration
The length of time you serve in the military also matters.
Fortunately, for most active duty military personnel, this is not an issue.
The minimum requirements range from 30-90 continuous days for certain types of Veterans.
On the other hand, those that are discharged honorably may have to serve 2 years or more to achieve the same status.
It’s worthwhile to last 90 days for the benefits associated with the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
Meanwhile, those that make it 2 years also receive additional benefits from the Montgomery GI Bill.
#3. Time of Service
It’s important not to confuse your time of service in the military with duration of service.
Why?
The duration reflects to how long you served while time of service is more reflective of the type of role and performance.
For example, the time of service may refer to when a person was in service during peacetime.
Then, it can also account for the amount of time in service during wartime efforts.
Veterans must meet different requirements to qualify:
- 90 Days = War Vets
- 180 Days = Peacetime Vets
The only exception is if the service member sustained an injury or disability that prevented them from meeting the minimum requirements.
Purple Heart recipients are also exempt from any guidelines regarding time of service.
Lastly, the military grants an exception to those that passed away because of service, regardless of type of service.
#4. Type of Discharge
The majority of U.S. Veterans are administratively, or honorably discharged.
In other words, the service member fulfills the obligations of a service contract.
Thus, the Veteran receives a honorable discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces.
Veterans that are honorably discharged from military service receive numerous benefits.
For starters, these types of Veterans may inherit health insurance and other VA benefits.
Additionally, honorable discharge status usually looks more favorable to prospective employers.
There are 2 different distinctions for service members that are administratively discharged:
- General Discharge = acceptable service
- Honorable Discharge = excellent service
Of course, dishonorable discharge is a type of eye sore in an otherwise noteworthy military career.
The U.S. Armed Forces enforces law and order, just like any type of society.
Consequently, there are repercussions to violating military law.
For this reason, the military has the power to terminate service prior to the end of a service contract.
If the service member is found guilty of the infractions, one punishment is the status of dishonorable discharge.
Dishonorable discharge prevents Veterans from receiving benefits.
Additionally, the status is public to potential employers that may feel hesitant moving forward with the hire.
4 Types of Veterans
There is more than 1 type of Veteran despite the misconception.
Accordingly, spreading awareness narrows the gap in misunderstanding between civilians and military Vets.
It’s useful to know which type of Veteran you are to see if you qualify for special benefits.
#1. War Veteran
War Veterans are classified as active duty or reserve members of the military that have been in an area of conflict.
The area of conflict may take place on land or over surrounding waters to support activities against a national enemy.
Generally, these military personnel spend time on foreign soil where they may be stationed for years.
However, it doesn’t just include those in combat roles as many other military specialties apply.
For example, mechanics and nurses often serve behind enemy lines where a serious threat exists.
#2. Combat Veteran
The second type are Combat Veterans.
Combat Veterans are active duty or reserve service members that have encountered any degree of combat for a length of time.
In general, this also occurs on foreign soil yet is open to any situation involving conflict.
Combat Veterans receive the acknowledge whether on an offensive, defensive, or friendly-fire situation.
These types of Veterans, like War Veterans, are entitled to additional benefits from the VA.
#3. Retired Veteran
Retired Veterans are any military personnel that have served 20 or more years.
The length of time must come in an active duty or reserve position.
Furthermore, the type of Veteran is often expanded to include those that are “medically retired” because of injuries sustained during service.
Medically Retired Veterans do not need to exceed the 20 years of service requirement.
The military treats medically retired Vets in the same stature as honorably discharged personnel.
Therefore, it’s one of the more desirable of the 4 types of Veterans classifications.
Military retirees are eligible for the full package of benefits.
Furthermore, these privileges expand to military bases for medical and commissary needs.
Those that make a career out of the military also earn a pension, another noteworthy reward.
In general, Retired Veterans have a huge advantage in the civilian world when applying for new jobs.
When you think about it, the Veteran has spent the last 20 years or more focusing on a specialty in the military.
Accordingly, the training and experience can translate into a rewarding civilian career, as well.
#4. Protected Veteran
The U.S. Armed Forces looks out for those injured in the line of duty.
Thus, any soldier that is permanently disabled or requires an extensive time to recover, qualifies for the status of a Protected Veteran.
Veterans under this type of designation are entitled to exclusive benefits.
Additionally, there is the possibility of receiving a pension for the rest of your life.
Medically discharged soldiers deserve special benefits and first-class health care.
More importantly, Protected Veterans are safeguarded from discrimination, including in the workplace.
The U.S. Armed Forces currently divides Protected Veterans into 4 subcategories:
- Disabled Veterans
- Recently Separated Veterans
- Campaign Badge Veterans
- Armed Forces Service Medal Veterans
Disabled Veterans generally receive ratings that are labeled in the form of percentages.
The higher the rating translates into the more the Veteran is qualified to receive in terms of benefits.
As a result, disabled Vets may claim a comprehensive benefits package that ranges from 10 – 100%.
Lastly, the injuries doesn’t always have to be sustained during active-duty to qualify for disability benefits.
Conclusion
There are 4 types of veterans.
The status of a veteran is categorized to determine benefits and other special privileges.
In general, the U.S. Armed Forces recognizes military service even for those that were dishonorably discharged.
Thus, if you ever served the military under any capacity, you are deserving of special recognition.
Military veterans are entitled to certain government benefits as well as discounts on flights, car rentals, food, and apparel.
Born and raised in Woodbridge, NJ, he graduated from the New Jersey Institute Of Technology with an MBA in eCommerce.His hobbies include beach volleyball, target shooting, and lifting.
Rob is also a Commercially rated pilot and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), with over 1,500 hours of flight time.
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None of those 4 types seems to apply to me. I am not a protected vet as I wasn’t injured in the line of duty. I am not a retired vet as I only served 4 years. I am neither a war or combat veteran as I never served overseas. I served 4 years in the Air Force from 1973-1977 and received an honorable discharge.