[DonDavis]

It's been mentioned here a few times already, but the correct definition of what makes a person a Military Veteran is far less "sexy" or "honorable" that what many people think ( prior service members and civilians alike ).

180 days of continuous service and discharged honorably= Veteran and entitled to all that comes with being so.

I learned that definition about a year into my Navy service. At the time, I thought being a Veteran meant having seen combat.

Nope.

See that dirtbag sailor over there?... the one milking the system to get a medical retirement after 8 months in uniform? He went through boot camp then a few months of classroom training, then "developed" a nagging skin condition/back issue/knee prob/carpal tunnel or some other ailment that prevented him from continuing on. Yup, he's a veteran.

And see that Medal of Honor Recipient standing next to him? He's a veteran, too.

What I also learned is that the Honorable ones far, far outnumber the dirtbags.

Another thing I hear and see is the term "Retired" military. If a service member chooses to leave active duty after 14 years, they are not "retired", they left on their own volition.

The parameters for retirement can be very complex, though.