First off, thanks for your sacrifices back then..I salute you!!

Specifics...here ya go... Congress has the only authority to "legally" declare. While we are, by definition, in a declared war with Afgainstan, or more speciffically, Al Quida(?), we are not in a legally declared war in Iraq. I'm going through the same thing... I am curently serving in the military, and have lost several friends and colleuges in this war.

More to the thread at hand...a declared hostility for veterans prefrence does not neccassrrily mean an all out war. If you were on active duty status for 1 day during any military operation, except training, you can claim veterans prefrence. On example is Allied Force, when we went into Kosovo. This was a military operation, but was not a declared war, that several hundred reservists and guardsmen were activated for. Another example is was Operation ust Cuase...when we went into Panama for Noreiga.....

Simply put, if you were in the Guard or reserves and was activated to support a specific mission (not training) you can claim vetrean's prefrence

This came up when I went to a mandantory briefing on veteran benifits after seperation. I'm not getting out, but we are required to attend this briefing when we are within 180 days of our seperation...

Mike

 

Are you applying for a job where they grant additional points for DISABLED veterans preference? Service members who sustained service-connected injuries are awarded additional preference points. That letter of eligibility would come from your regional VA office. Contact your state veterans affairs office or one of the service offices of the veterans organizations, such as the DAV, the American Legion, VFW, etc. for assistance. They know the drill and have representatives right in the regional offices. They keep copies of all correspondence just in case something gets "lost".