The National Guard Association of the United States is urging its members to press Congress to pass a bill that would grant veteran status to Guard and reserve members who qualify for reserve retirement pay. The measure, H.R. 3787, cleared the House on Sept. 28 and is now pending before the Senate. Under present law, reservists and Guard members do not qualify as veterans unless they have served in Title 10 active-duty status for other than training purposes – even if they would otherwise qualify for retirement pay. As such, these veterans who attended regular and annual drill training, or were activated for training, but were never called up for other reasons are not considered veterans in the eyes of the federal government. “This cost-neutral bill would not bestow any benefits other than the honor of claiming ‘veteran’ status for Reserve Component members who completed a 20-year career but were never ordered to Title 10 active service,” NGAUS says.
