§2108. Veteran; disabled veteran; preference eligible

For the purpose of this title–

(1) "veteran" means an individual who–

(A) served on active duty in the armed forces during a war, in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, or during the period beginning April 28, 1952, and ending July 1, 1955; or

(B) served on active duty as defined by section 101(21) of title 38 at any time in the armed forces for a period of more than 180 consecutive days any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before the date of enactment of the Veterans' Education and Employment Assistance Act of 1976, not including service under section 511(d) ¹ of title 10 pursuant to an enlistment in the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard or as a Reserve for service in the Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, or Coast Guard Reserve;

and who has been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions;

(2) "disabled veteran" means an individual who has served on active duty in the armed forces, has been separated therefrom under honorable conditions, and has established the present existence of a service-connected disability or is receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or pension because of a public statute administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs or a military department;

(3) "preference eligible" means, except as provided in paragraph (4) of this section-

(A) a veteran as defined by paragraph (1)(A) of this section;

(B) a veteran as defined by paragraph (1)(B) of this section;

(C) a disabled veteran;

(D) the unmarried widow or widower of a veteran as defined by paragraph (1)(A) of this section;

(E) the wife or husband of a service-connected disabled veteran if the veteran has been unable to qualify for any appointment in the civil service or in the government of the District of Columbia;

(F) the mother of an individual who lost his life under honorable conditions while serving in the armed forces during a period named by paragraph (1)(A) of this section, if-

(i) her husband is totally and permanently disabled;

(ii) she is widowed, divorced, or separated from the father and has not remarried; or

(iii) she has remarried but is widowed, divorced, or legally separated from her husband when preference is claimed; and

(G) the mother of a service-connected permanently and totally disabled veteran, if-

(i) her husband is totally and permanently disabled;

(ii) she is widowed, divorced, or separated from the father and has not remarried; or

(iii) she has remarried but is widowed, divorced, or legally separated from her husband when preference is claimed;

but does not include applicants for, or members of, the Senior Executive Service, the Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service, the Senior Cryptologic Executive Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service, or the General Accounting Office;

(4) except for the purposes of chapters 43 and 75 of this title, "preference eligible" does not include a retired member of the armed forces unless-

(A) the individual is a disabled veteran; or

(B) the individual retired below the rank of major or its equivalent; and

(5) "retired member of the armed forces" means a member or former member of the armed forces who is entitled, under statute, to retired, retirement, or retainer pay on account of service as a member.

( Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 410 ; Pub. L. 90–83, §1(6), Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 196 ; Pub. L. 90–623, §1(2), Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1312 ; Pub. L. 92–187, §1, Dec. 15, 1971, 85 Stat. 644 ; Pub. L. 94–502, title VII, §702, Oct. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 2405 ; Pub. L. 95–454, title III, §307(a), title IV, §401(d), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1147 , 1154; Pub. L. 96–54, §2(a)(8), (9)(A), Aug. 14, 1979, 93 Stat. 381 ; Pub. L. 96–191, §8(a), Feb. 15, 1980, 94 Stat. 33 ; Pub. L. 97–89, title VIII, §801, Dec. 4, 1981, 95 Stat. 1161 ; Pub. L. 100–325, §2(a), May 30, 1988, 102 Stat. 581 ; Pub. L. 102–54, §13(b)(1), June 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 274 .)

Historical and Revision Notes
1966 Act

Derivation	U.S. Code	Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large
	5 U.S.C. 851 (less 1st 76 words).	June 27, 1944, ch. 287, §2 (less 1st 76 words), 58 Stat. 387 .
		Jan. 19, 1948, ch. 1, §1, 62 Stat. 3 .
		July 2, 1948, ch. 816, 62 Stat. 1233 .
		Aug. 26, 1949, ch. 513, 63 Stat. 666 .
		Dec. 27, 1950, ch. 1151, §1, 64 Stat. 1117 .
		July 14, 1952, ch. 728, §1, 66 Stat. 626 .

In paragraph (2), the words "a military department" are substituted for "the War Department or Navy Department" (appearing in section 2 of the Act of June 27, 1944) because of the definition of "military department" in section 102. The Department of War was designated the Department of the Army by the Act of July 26, 1947, ch. 343, §205, 61 Stat. 501 . "Department of the Air Force" is included on authority of the Act of July 26, 1947, ch. 343, §207 (a), (f), 61 Stat. 502 .

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

1967 Act

Section of title 5	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
2108	5 App.: 851.	Mar. 3, 1966, Pub. L. 89–358, §11, 80 Stat. 28 .

References in Text

The date of enactment of the Veterans' Education and Employment Assistance Act of 1976, referred to in par. (1)(B), means the date of enactment of Pub. L. 94–502, which was Oct. 15, 1976.

Section 511 of title 10, referred to in par. (1)(B), was renumbered section 12103 of Title 10, Armed Forces, by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §1662(b)(2), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2989 .

Amendments

1991-Par. (2). Pub. L. 102–54 substituted "Department of Veterans Affairs" for "Veterans' Administration".

1988-Par. (3). Pub. L. 100–325 inserted reference to Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service in concluding provisions.

1981-Par. (3). Pub. L. 97–89 inserted reference to Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service and Senior Cryptologic Executive Service in concluding provisions.

1980-Par. (3). Pub. L. 96–191 inserted reference to General Accounting Office in concluding provisions.

1979-Par. (3). Pub. L. 96–54, §2(a)(8), inserted provision excepting applicants for, or members of, Senior Executive Service.

Par. (5). Pub. L. 96–54, §2(a)(9)(A), struck out provision excepting applicants for, or members of, Senior Executive Service.

1978-Par. (2). Pub. L. 95–454, §307(a)(1), struck out "and" at end.

Par. (3). Pub. L. 95–454, §307(a)(2), (3), inserted ", except as provided in paragraph (4) of this section" after "means", and substituted a semicolon for the period at end.

Pars. (4), (5). Pub. L. 95–454, §307(a)(4), added pars. (4) and (5) relating to retired members of the armed forces.

Par. (5). Pub. L. 95–454, §401(d), inserted "; but does not include applicants for, or members of, the Senior Executive Service" before the period at end.

1976-Par. (1)(B). Pub. L. 94–502 substituted "any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before the date of enactment of the Veterans' Education and Employment Assistance Act of 1976," for "after January 31, 1955,".

1971-Par. (3)(D). Pub. L. 92–187 inserted "or widower" after "unmarried widow".

Par. (3)(E). Pub. L. 92–187 inserted "or husband" after "the wife".

1968-Par. (3)(D). Pub. L. 90–623 inserted "as defined by paragraph (1)(A) of this section" after "veteran".

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–89 effective Oct. 1, 1981, see section 806 of Pub. L. 97–89, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1601 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–191 effective Oct. 1, 1980, see section 10(a) of Pub L. 96–191.

Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

Amendment by section 2(a)(8) of Pub. L. 96–54 effective July 12, 1979, see section 2(b) of Pub. L. 96–54, set out as a note under section 305 of this title.

Section 2(a)(9)(B) of Pub. L. 96–54 provided that: "The amendment made by subparagraph (A) [amending this section] shall take effect October 1, 1980".

Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Section 307(a) of Pub. L. 95–454 provided that the amendment made by that section is effective Oct. 1, 1980.

Amendment by section 401(d) of Pub. L. 95–454 effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of Pub. L. 95–454, see section 415 of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3131 of this title.

Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 90–623 effective Sept. 11, 1967, for all purposes, see section 6 of Pub. L. 90–623, set out as a note under section 5334 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 3305, 3309, 3312, 3318, 3352, 3502, 3504 of this title; title 10 section 943; title 16 section 3198; title 20 section 241; title 22 sections 1438, 3941; title 25 section 2641; title 32 section 709; title 38 sections 106, 5303A, 7281, 7802; title 39 section 1005; title 42 sections 2992a–1, 9839; title 49 section 47112.

¹ See References in Text note below.