Veterans Preference and "Wartime" Service
Agent Orange
The Department of Veterans Affairs is the agency that administers claims for illness related to Agent Orange exposure, usually as a result of service in or around Vietnam. There are limitations and the requirements change periodically. See http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/
Army and USMC service in Vietnam is usually well documented in the Military Personnel Record.
Special Information for USAF veterans serving in Thailand:
U.S. Air Force Veterans who served on Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) bases at U-Tapao, Ubon, Nakhon Phanom, Udorn, Takhli, Korat, and Don Muang, near the air base perimeter anytime between February 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975.
(Generally, this would mean serving as Air Police performing guard duty along fences).
Important: To receive benefits for diseases associated with herbicide exposure, these Veterans must show on a factual basis that they were exposed to herbicides during their service as shown by evidence of daily work duties, performance evaluation reports, or other credible evidence.
See https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/agent-orange/
TDY service in Thailand may or may not be in the military personnel record. TDY was a finance action, not a personnel action. Morning reports (Pre 1967 for USAF) may be helpful in some limited cases.
Special Information for Navy and Coast Guard veterans:
See http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/shiplist/index.asp
VetGuide Appendix A: Wars, Campaigns, and Expeditions of the Armed Forces Since WW II Which Qualify for Veterans Preference
War Service Creditable for Veterans' Preference
In the absence of a statutory definition for "war" and "campaign or expedition," OPM considers to be "wars" only those armed conflicts for which a declaration of war was issued by Congress. The title 38, U.S.C., definition of "period of war," which is used in determining benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, includes the Vietnam Era and other armed conflicts. That title 38 definition is NOT applicable for civil service purposes.
Thus the last "war" for which active duty is qualifying for Veterans preference is World War II. The inclusive dates for World War II service are December 7, 1941, through April 28, 1952.
Non-combat operations that are not qualifying for Veterans preference
Many medals are awarded for non-combat operations. These medals are not a basis for preference and include the following:
- Global War on Terrorism Service Medal for service from September 11, 2001, to date to be determined.
- The Medal of Merit for meritorious service in World War II.
- The Medal of Freedom for meritorious achievements or meritorious service to the United States on or after December 7, 1941, in the war against an enemy outside the continental limits of the United States.
- The Antarctica Service Medal for participating in scientific, direct support, or exploratory operation on the Antarctic Continent.
- The National Defense Service Medal for honorable service between June 27, 1950, and July 27, 1954, or January 1, 1961, and August 14, 1974; or for the period between August 2, 1990, and November 30, 1995.
- The Armed Forces Service Medal for participation in a United States military operation deemed to be a significant activity for which there was no threat of encounter of foreign armed opposition or imminent threat of hostile action.
- The Armed Forces Reserve Medal for 10 years of honorable service in a Reserve component; or active duty service in a Reserve component on or after August 1, 1990; or volunteer service for active duty on or after August 1, 1990.
Military Operations Since 1937 for Which a Campaign or Expeditionary Medal Has Been Awarded, Except for Operations Occurring During a Declared War
Military personnel receive many awards and decorations. To help agencies make decisions concerning entitlement to Veterans' preference and other benefits, the following list identifies those awards that are campaign and expeditionary medals. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, whether listed here or not, is qualifying for Veterans preference. The Department of Defense, not OPM, determines who is entitled to receive a medal, and under what circumstances. The list below is derived from DoD 1348.33-M, Manual of Military Decorations and Awards.
DD 214, Certificate of Discharge or Separation from Active Duty, or other official documents issued by the branch of service are required as verification of eligibility for Veterans preference.
Note:
Section 572 of Subtitle G of the Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 1998 (Public Law 105-85), signed into law on November 18, 1997, allows the Secretary of the military department concerned to determine whether individual members who participated in Operation Joint Endeavor or Operation Joint Guard in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina and in such other areas in the region as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate, meet the individual service requirements for award of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (AFEM). Generally, service members will be considered eligible if they:
- deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina (or other area that the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate) in direct support of one or both of the operations;
- served on board a ship in the Adriatic in direct support of one or both of the operations; or
- operated in airspace above Bosnia, Herzegovina (or other area that the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate) while the operations were in effect.
VetGuide Appendix B: Uniformed Service Qualifying for Veterans Preference Purposes
Notes:
Military service under the Veterans preference laws is:
- Active duty in the Armed forces of the United States
- Active service in the Public Health Service which is a basis for entitlement to "full military benefits" under the Public Health Service Act of July 1, 1944
- Active service in the Coast and Geodetic Survey and successor organizations (NASA, NOAA) under transfer to the jurisdiction of the Armed Forces under 33 U.S.C. 855
- Service in the organized military forces of the Government of the Commonwealth of the Philippines (including recognized guerrilla units) between July 26, 1941 and June 30, 1946 when the forces were in the service if the Armed Forces of the United States, is not service in the military or naval forces if the United States for preference.
- Members of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps served with but not in the Army. This organization was abolished on September 30, 1943.
- Coverage applies also to successor organizations, i.e. Environment Science Service Administration and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
- Service of Merchant Marine Reservists (U.S. Naval Reserve) called to active duty in the Navy, even though assigned to duty on merchant vessels or at shore establishments of the U.S. Maritime Service, is considered active duty for preference purposes.
- The Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service was declared to be a military service branch of the land and naval forces of the United States beginning July 29, 1945, and continuing through July 3, 1952. (Executive Orders 9575, 10349, 10356, 10362, and 10367.)
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