What is a veteran? What is a protected veteran?
US veterans are those who have served on active duty in the United States Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard).
A veteran is generally defined as someone who has a lot of experience in a job, occupation, or field, but in the context of the US Armed Forces it has somewhat of a different meaning.
A veteran is a former member of the United States Armed Forces, which can range from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, to the Coast Guard.
How do you get veteran status?
To qualify for some benefits available to veterans, there is a minimum service requirement for those who enlisted after Sept.8, 1980. Service members must have served a minimum of 24 months of active duty, and received an honorable or general discharge (under honorable conditions.
For those who were in service before that date, there is no minimum length of service required to be considered a veteran and receive veteran benefits.
READ ALSO: Is Veterans Day a national holiday?
What is a protected veteran?
The government defines protected veterans as:
- Disabled veteran - those entitled to compensation under laws administered by the Secretary of Veteran Affairs or those who were released from active duty due to a disability
- Recently separated veteran - those released or discharged from the army in the last three years
- Active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran - those that served on active duty during one or more of the periods of war outlined by the US army
- Armed forces service medal veteran - those that served on active duty in any campaign that has been authorized a campaign badge
Veterans are offered full benefits by the US government that consist of:
- Disability compensation
- Veteran’s pension programs
- Free or low-cost medical care through VA hospitals and medical facilities
- Education programs
- Memorials and burials
- Housing and home loan guarantees.
- Small businesses and business loans
- Counseling
READ ALSO: Why is Veterans Day being observed on Friday?
READ ALSO: Veterans Day: The best offers, freebies and discounts
How Veterans Day began
The origin of Veterans Day is in the armistice agreement that finally brought World War I to an end. It was on the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918 that the horrific war ended and that date was initially named Armistice Day to commemorate that fact.
Check out more on what Veterans Day is and why we celebrate it.
To mark Veterans Day, Americans attend parades and church services, and the US flag is hung at half mast.
Veterans are also offered a lot of deals and discounts at restaurants and other commercial establishments.