What is the True Definition of a Veteran?

What is the true definition of a veteran? Must he first experience combat, Be active duty, or simply serve in the military? There is no doubt that someone who has experienced war and has been deployed to a war zone is a veteran, but what are the limits? At what point do you have the honor to be called a veteran?What is the True Definition of a Veteran?
The term ';covered or eligible veteran'; means a person who:





served on active duty for other than training for a period of more than 180 days and was discharged or released there from with other than a dishonorable discharge; OR


was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability; OR


as a member of a reserve component served, under orders, on active duty during a period of war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge is authorized and was discharged or released from such duty with other than a dishonorable discharge.








This is from the nebraska Veterans Services, most other States would be similar.








SFC


US Army


RetiredWhat is the True Definition of a Veteran?
You can apply any definition you want. The VA will treat someone as a vet if they have served 180 days on active duty. Note that your definition would exclude special ops folks who operate covertly in areas in which there is no war, such as in the drug areas of South America, as well as most career military folks who never hear a shot fired in anger. If you are limiting your definition to ground pounders who carry a rifle for a living you have a pretty narrow view of how the military operates. Of the thousands of people who have served on an aircraft carrier, would you only include the pilots who fly into a combat zone, or all of those that keep the ship operating as a weapons system?
This is my view,,,,my father served thirty years in the military, through three wars, combat in two, has been decorated..





I spent one tour with the army and one with navy reserve.





My father's a veteran, I spent some time in service.
anybody who has served in the military and did their whole term.


who ever thumbed me down, i read what a person under me had thats the same exact thing i said but in layman terms. damn. do your time and get out, not get kicked out!
It is anyone who has served in any role in any of our military.
Served honorably for at least 6 months.