What is a Combat Veteran?
Serving in the military is often a defining experience for an individual, but for many, the distinction between their service and that of fellow veterans is marked by combat experience. Who is considered a combat veteran, and what does that mean for their life outside of the military?
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Definition of Combat Veteran
The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), the primary organization responsible for providing benefits and services to veterans, defines a combat veteran as follows:
- A veteran who served in a combat theatre or zone, such as, but not limited to:
• Iraq as a member of Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF) or Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
• Afghanistan as a member of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan (OEF)
• Korea, during the Korean War between June 25, 1950, and December 31, 1953
• WWII, during the 1941-1946 period
• Desert Storm, during January 17, 1991, to February 28, 1998
• Vietnam, during the Vietnam conflict between August 5, 1964, to May 7, 1975
• Active duty personnel who served with a unit that was authorized to wear the Combination Award Device (COD), indicating combat presence
• Those who held a Combat Infantrymen Badge (CIB) or Combat Action Badge (CAB)
For those who did not served in a combat theatre but were still exposed to hazards, such as:
• Nuclear, Biological or Chemical (NBC) areas
• Hostile fire zones
• Areas with a high intensity of enemy activity
will also be considered combat veterans.
Classification of Combat Experience
Combat experience can fall into several categories, defined by the VA:
| Designation | Description |
|---|---|
| Combat Theater | (CT) Served directly in a combat zone as defined by the VA: |
| Coastal/Port Designation | (CP) Served in a coastal or port area where enemy forces frequently attacked: |
| Hostile Fire zone | (HF) Operated in an area directly exposed to hostile fire during a declared hostile fire region: |
| Gulf War/Desert Storm | (GW/S) Served in SW Asia during the Gulf War/Desert Storm:** |
- Combat Theater (CT): Directly operated in a combat zone within the designated area.
- Coastal/Port Designation (CP): Operated within a coastal or port area where enemy forces frequently attacked.
- Hostile Fire zone (HF): Operated in an area directly exposed to hostile fire during a declared hostile fire region.
- Gulf War/Desert Storm (GW/S): Served in SW Asia during the Gulf War/Desert Storm.
Provisions for Combat Veterans
Combat veterans are entitled to various privileges and benefits, including:
- Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC): A tax-free benefit for veterans with compensable service-connected disabilities derived from combat.
- Combat-Related Disability Examinations: VA has a special program for rating and compensating combat-connected disabilities.
- Military Service Recognition: Combat Veterans are eligible for special privileges, such as preferential parking and a Combat-Related Plaque.
- Education and Training: Free education and training programs (e.g., GED, vocational training, and business management courses).
- Employment Assistance: Priority hiring for federal civil service positions and assistance accessing private sector job opportunities through the VOWS (Veterans’ Benefits and Transition Support) ACT.
Veteran’s Life Story: A Combat Veteran Speaks Out
Meet John A., a 53-year-old veteran who deployed to Iraq multiple times during the Arab Spring. Though he didn’t see major combat, he was assigned to a Forward Surgical Team (FST), which meant he responded to emergency medical situations where enemy fire was present:
"I remember the first mission, we received a medic call in a hostile firefight zone. We had to move quickly, under gunfire, to reach the wounded. It was disorienting, but knowing we were making a difference kept me going. Since then, I’ve earned the Combat Action Badge (CAB); it’s a symbol that I’ve faced the impossible and come out on the other side."
John says that his combat experience altered his perspective on life:
"Combat taught me resiliency, adaptability, and the importance of teamwork. I learned what it means to be part of something bigger. It’s not just an individual experience; it’s about the people around me, and how we bond together to overcome adversity."
