Military Service Requirements for VA Home Loan Eligibility
Wartime—Service during:
World War II |
September 16, 1940, to July 25, 1947 |
Korean |
June 27, 1950, to January 31, 1955 |
Vietnam |
August 5, 1964, to May 7, 1975 |
You must have at least 90 days on active duty and been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. If you served less than 90 days, you may be eligible if discharged for a service-connected disability.
Peacetime—Service during periods:
July 26, 1947, to June 26, 1950
February 1, 1955, to August 4, 1964
May 8, 1975, to September 7, 1980 (enlisted)
to October 16, 1981 (officer)
You must have served at least 181 days of continuous active duty and been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions. If you served less than 181 days, you may be eligible if discharged for a service-connected disability.
Service after September 7, 1980 (enlisted) or October 16, 1981 (officer)
If you were separated from service that began after these dates, you must have:
• completed 24 months of continuous active duty or the full period (at least 181 days) for which you were ordered or called to active duty, and been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable or
• completed at least 181 days of active duty and been discharged under the specific authority of 10 USC 1173 (hardship) or 10 USC 1171 (early out), or have been determined to have a compensable service-connected disability or
• been discharged with less than 181 days of service for a service-connected disability.
Individuals may also be eligible if they were released from active duty due to an involuntary reduction in force size, certain medical conditions, or, in some instances, for the convenience of the government.
Gulf War Service during the Period Beginning August 2, 1990, to a Date Yet to Be Determined
If you served on active duty during the Gulf War, you must have:
• completed 24 months of continuous active duty or the full period (at least 90 days) for which you were called or ordered to active duty, and been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable or
• completed at least 90 days of active duty and been discharged under the specific authority of 10 USC 1173 (hardship) or 10 USC 1173 (early out), or have been determined to have a compensable service-connected disability or
• been discharged with less than 90 days of service for a service-connected disability. Individuals may also be eligible if they were released from active duty due to an involuntary reduction in force size, certain medical conditions, or, in some instances, for the convenience of the government.
Active-Duty Service Personnel
If you are now on regular active duty (not active duty for training), you are eligible after having served 181 days (or 90 days during the Gulf War) unless discharged or separated from a previous qualifying period of active-duty service.
Selected Reserve or National Guard
If you are not otherwise eligible and you have completed a total of six years in the Selected Reserve or National Guard (member of an active unit, attended required weekend drills and two-week active duty for training), you are eligible if you:
• were discharged honorably or
• were placed on the retired list or
• were transferred to the Standby Reserve or an element of the Ready Reserve other than the Selected Reserve after service characterized as honorable; or
• continue to serve in the Selected Reserve.
Individuals who completed less than six years may be eligible if discharged for a service-connected disability.
Other Eligibility
You may also be determined eligible if you:
• are an unremarried spouse of a veteran who died while in service or from a service-connected disability (spouses who are remarried after age 57 retain their eligibility).
• are a spouse of a servicemember missing in action or a prisoner or war.
Eligibility may also be established for:
• certain United States citizens who served in the armed forces of a government allied with the United States in World War II.
• individuals with service as members in certain organizations, such as Public Health Service officers, cadets at the United States Military, Air Force, or Coast Guard academy, midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy, officers of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, merchant seaman with World War II service, and others.
Choosing Retirement Options
Let’s look at three servicemembers who all retire at the same pay grade with exactly 20 years of service. Each made a different choice at the required 15-year point of their careers. The CSB is $30,000 before taxes.
Servicemember Jones decides to take the High 36 option; Smith and Cruz choose the CSB/REDUX option. Smith spends his $21,000 bonus on a new car, while Cruz invests his $21,000 bonus.
Cruz and Smith paid 28 percent tax on their CSB, but they could have shielded more than $10,000 of their CSB in the Thrift Savings Plan to help protect it from taxes.
Each year during their retirement, all three will receive cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) based upon the consumer price index (CPI), which measures inflation. Jones’s High-36 COLA is the full CPI (3.5 percent each year for our example), so Jones gets a 3.5 percent raise. Smith and Cruz, however, get a 2.5 percent raise because COLAs under the REDUX system are equal to the CPI minus 1 percent. But Cruz’s CSB investment continues to grow (at an annual rate of 8 percent for our example).
Air Force Assoc.
Universal Benefits Corp.
P.O. Box 17480
Baltimore, MD 21289-9012
866-769-3263
Air Force Sergeants Assoc.
AFSA Group Insurance Plans
1776 West Lakes Pkwy.
West Des Moines, IA 50398
800-882-5541
American Assoc. of Uniformed Services
Neat Management Group
P.O. Box 3686
Austin, TX 78764
800-222-0207
The American Legion
American Legion Insurance Plans
1776 West Lakes Pkwy.
West Des Moines, IA 50398
800-542-5547
American Military Assoc.
Fort Snelling Station
P.O. Box 76
Minneapolis, MN 55440
800-562-4076
American Military Retirees Assoc.
Group Plan Administrator
P.O. Box 2510
Rockville, MD 20847
800-638-2610, ext. 257
American Military Society
USI Administrators
P.O. Box 96987
Washington, DC 20090-6987
800-808-4514 or 301-925-1420
AMVETS
4647 Forbes Blvd.
Lanham, MD 20706-4380
301-459-9161
Armed Forces Benefit Assoc.
5 Star Life Insurance Co.
909 N. Washington St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
800-403-7745 or 703-549-4455
Armed Services Mutual Benefit Assoc.
Group Plan Administrator
P.O. Box 2510
Rockville, MD 20847
800-638-2610
Army Aviation Assoc. of America
USI Administrators
P.O. Box 96987
Washington, DC 20090-6987
800-808-4514 or 301-925-1420
Assoc. of Military Surgeons of the U.S.
AMUS Group Insurance
P.O. Box 2510
Rockville, MD 20852
800-638-2610 or 301-816-0045
Assoc. of U.S. Army
AUSA Insurance Plans
1776 West Lakes Pkwy.
West Des Moines, IA 50398
800-882-5707
Credit Unions
Group Plan Administrator
P.O. Box 2510
Rockville, MD 20847
800-638-2610 or 301-816-0045
First Coast Fleet Inc.
FCFI Group Insurance
3996 Confederate Point Rd.
Jacksonville, FL 32210
800-566-0420 or 904-778-1565
Fleet Reserve Assoc.
FRA Insurance Plans
1776 West Lakes Pkwy.
West Des Moines, IA 50398
800-424-1120
Government Employee Benefits Assoc.
P.O. Box 241324
Montgomery, AL 36124-1324
800-240-2020 or 334-272-4313
Harris Methodist Health Insurance Co.
Texas Military Healthcare
P.O. Box 90100
Arlington, TX 76004-9882
800-373-9779
Marine Corps Assoc.
MCA Group Benefit Program
P.O. Box 21357
Santa Barbara, CA 93121-9911
800-368-5682
Marine Corps League
USI Administrators
P.O. Box 96987
Washington, DC 20090-6987
800-808-4514 or 301-925-1420
Military Benefit Assoc.
14605 Avion Pkwy.
P.O. Box 221110
Chantilly, VA 20153-1110
800-336-0100 or 703-968-6200
Military Insurance Specialist Inc.
208 Gunn Road
Montgomery, AL 36117
800-852-9162
The Military Officers Association of America
P.O. Box 9126
Des Moines, IA 50306
800-247-2192
Military Order of the Purple Heart
USI Administrators
P.O. Box 96987
Washington, DC 20090-6987
800-808-4514 or 301-925-1420
Military Order of the World Wars
USI Administrators
P.O. Box 96987
Washington, DC 20090-6987
800-808-4514 or 301-925-1420
National Armed Forces Assoc.
Neat Management Group
P.O. Box 163010
Austin, TX 78716-3010
800-336-3219 or 512-328-8610
National Assoc. for Uniformed Services
USI Administrators
P.O. Box 96987
Washington, DC 20090-6987
800-808-4514 or 301-925-1420
National Defense Transportation Assoc.
USI Administrators
P.O. Box 96987
Washington, DC 20090-6987
800-808-4514 or 301-925-1420
National Officers Assoc.
USI Administrators
P.O. Box 96987
Washington, DC 20090-6987
800-808-4514 or 301-925-1420
Naval Enlisted Reserve Assoc.
Marsh Affinity Group Services
1776 West Lakes Pkwy.
West Des Moines, IA 50398
800-424-9883
Naval Reserve Assoc.
Marsh Affinity Group Services
1776 West Lakes Pkwy.
West Des Moines, IA 50398
800-424-9883
Navy League
Monumental General Insurance Group
P.O. Box 17480
Baltimore, MD 210203-7480
800-752-9797 or 800-883-5378
Non-commissioned Officers Assoc.
5 Star Life Insurance Co.
909 N. Washington St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
800-403-7745 or 703-549-4455
Pentagon Federal Financial Services
Group Plan Administrator
P.O. Box 2510
Rockville, MD 20847
800-638-2610 or 301-816-0045
The Reserve Officer Assoc.
ROA Insurance Plans
1776 West Lakes Pkwy.
West Des Moines, IA 50398
800-247-7988
Retired Assoc. for the Uniformed Services
Group Plan Administrator
P.O. Box 2510
Rockville, MD 20847
800-638-2610 or 301-816-0045
The Retired Enlisted Assoc.
USI Administrators
P.O. Box 96987
Washington, DC 20090-6987
800-808-4514 or 301-925-1420
Society of Military Widows
1101 Mercantile Lane
Springdale, MD 20774
800-808-4514
Veterans Affairs Regional Offices
Alabama
345 Perry Hill Rd.
Montgomery, AL 36109
800-827-1000
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2925 DeBarr Rd.
Anchorage, AK 99508
800-827-1000
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Phoenix, AZ 85012
800-827-1000
Arkansas
P.O. Box 1280
Little Rock, AR 72115
800-827-1000
California
Federal Bldg.
11000 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
800-827-1000
1301 Clay Street, Rm. 1300 N.
Oakland, CA 94612
800-827-1000
8810 Rio San Diego Dr.
San Diego, CA 92108
800-827-1000
Colorado
155 Van Gordon St.
Lakewood, CO 80228
800-827-1000
Connecticut
450 Main St.
Hartford, CT 06103
800-827-1000
Delaware
1601 Kirkwood Hwy.
Wilmington, DE 19805
800-827-1000
District of Columbia
1722 I St. N.W.
Washington, DC 20421
800-827-1000
Florida
9500 Bay Pines Blvd.
St. Petersburg, FL 33708
800-827-1000
Georgia
1700 Clairmont Rd.
Decatur, GA 30033
800-827-1000
Hawaii
459 Patterson Rd., E-Wing
Honolulu, HI 96819
800-827-1000
Idaho
805 W. Franklin St.
Boise, ID 83702
800-827-1000
Illinois
2122 W. Taylor St.
Chicago, IL 60612
800-827-1000
Indiana
575 N. Pennsylvania St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204
800-827-1000
Iowa
210 Walnut St.
Des Moines, IA 50309
800-827-1000
Kansas
5500 E. Kellogg
Wichita, KS 67211
800 827-1000
Kentucky
545 S. 3rd St.
Louisville, KY 40202
Louisiana
701 Loyola Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70113
800-827-1000
Maine
1 VA Center
Togus, ME 04330
207-623-8411
Maryland
Federal Bldg.
31 Hopkins Plaza
Baltimore, MD 21201
800-827-1000
Massachusetts
J.F.K. Federal Bldg.
Government Center
Boston, MA 02114
Michigan
Patrick V. McNamara Federal Bldg.
477 Michigan Ave.
Detroit, MI 48226
Minnesota
Fort Snelling
1 Federal Dr.
St. Paul, MN 55111-4050
800-827-1000
Mississippi
1600 E. Woodrow Wilson Ave.
Jackson, MS 39216
601-364-7000
Missouri
Federal Bldg.
400 S. 18th St.
St. Louis, MO 63103
800-827-1000
Montana
William St. off Highway
Fort Harrison, MT 59636
800-827-1000
5631 S. 48th St.
Lincoln, NE 68516
800-827-1000
Nevada
1201 Terminal Way
Reno, NV 89520
800-827-1000
New Hampshire
Norris Cotton Federal Bldg.
275 Chestnut St.
Manchester, NH 03101
800-827-1000
New Jersey
20 Washington Place
Newark, NJ 07102
800-827-1000
New Mexico
Danis Chavez Federal Building
500 Gold Ave. S.W.
Albuquerque, NM 87102
800-827-1000
New York
Federal Bldg.
111 W. Huron St.
Buffalo, NY 14202
800-827-1000
245 W. Houston St.
New York, NY 10014
800-827-1000
North Carolina
Federal Bldg.
251 N. Main St.
Winston-Salem, NC 27155
800-827-1000
North Dakota
2101 Elm St.
Fargo, ND 58102
701-451-4600
Ohio
A.J. Celebrezze Federal Bldg.
1240 E. 9th St.
Cleveland, OH 44199
800-827-1000
Oklahoma
125 S. Main St.
Muskogee, OK 74401
800-827-1000
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1220 S.W. 3rd Ave.
Portland, OR 97204
800-827-1000
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5000 Wissahickon Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19101
800-827-1000
1000 Liberty Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
800-827-1000
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380 Westminister Mall
Providence, RI 02903
800-827-1000
South Carolina
1801 Assembly St.
Columbia, SC 29201
800-827-1000
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2501 W. 22nd St.
Sioux Falls, SD 57117
800-827-1000
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110 9th Ave. S.
Nashville, TN 37203
800-827-1000
Texas
6900 Almeda Rd.
Houston, TX 77030
800-827-1000
1 Veterans Plaza
701 Clay Ave.
Waco, TX 76799
Utah
550 Foothill Dr.
Salt Lake City, UT 84158
800-827-1000
Vermont
N. Hartland Rd.
White River Jct, VT 05009
800-827-1000
Virginia
210 Franklin Rd. S.W.
Roanoke, VA 24011
800-827-1000
Washington
Federal Bldg.
915 2nd Ave.
Seattle, WA 98174
800-827-1000
West Virginia
640 Fourth Ave.
Huntington, WV 25701
800-827-1000
Wisconsin
5400 W. National Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53295
800-827-1000
Wyoming
2360 E. Pershing Blvd.
Cheyenne, WY 82001
800-827-1000
Guam
222 Chalan Santo Papast,
Reflection Center, Ste. 102
Agana, GU 96910
705-475-7161
1131 Roxas Blvd.,
Ermita
0930 Manila, PI 96440
011-632-528-6300
Puerto Rico
150 Carlos Chardon Ave.
Hato Rey, PR 00918
800-827-1000
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Awards Approved Since September 11, 2001
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
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Military Awards by Service Branch
AIR FORCE
Air Force Cross
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ARMY
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Navy Cross
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Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon
Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation
Multinational Force and Observers Medal
Inter-American Defense Board Medal
NAVY
Navy Cross
Navy and Marine Corps Medal
Navy Commendation Medal
Navy Achievement Medal
Combat Action Ribbon
Navy Unit Commendation
Navy “E” Ribbon
Naval ReDittoserve Meritorious Service Medal
Fleet Marine Force Ribbon
Navy Expeditionary Medal
China Service Medal
Navy Occupation Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Navy Arctic Service Ribbon
Naval Reserve Sea Service Ribbon
Navy And Marine Corps
Overseas Service Ribbon
Navy Recruiting Service Ribbon
Navy Recruit Training Service Ribbon
Naval Reserve Medal
Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Civil Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation
Multinational Force and Observers Medal
Inter-American Defense Board Medal
Expert Rifleman Medal
Expert Pistol Shot Medal
