Persons	on	active	duty	in	the	U.S.	Armed	Forces	(the	Army,	Navy,	Air	Force,	Marines,	Space	Force,	or	Coast	Guard)	for
purposes	other	than	training	are	independent.
Veteran	of	the	U.S.	Armed	Forces
The	FAFSA	Simplification	Act	aligns	the	definition	of	veteran	with	the	definition	used	by	the	U.S.	Department	of	Veterans
Affairs	(VA)	to	determine	veterans9	benefits.	The	Act	cites	Title	38	of	the	U.S.	Code	for	the	definition	of	a	veteran.
Generally,	a	veteran	is	an	individual	who:
Served	on	active	duty	in	the	U.S.	Armed	Forces	(the	Army,	Navy,	Air	Force,	Marines,	Space	Force,	or	Coast	Guard)	for
other	than	training	and	who	was	discharged	or	released	under	a	condition	other	than	<dishonorable=;	or
Served	on	active	duty	for	training	or	inactive	duty	for	training	in	the	U.S.	Armed	Forces	and	was	disabled	from	injury
incurred	or	aggravated	in	the	line	of	duty.
Members	of	the	National	Guard	or	Reserves	are	only	considered	veterans	if	they	were	called	up	to	active	federal	duty	by
presidential	order	for	a	purpose	other	than	training.	It	does	not	matter	how	long	the	active	duty	lasted	or	if	the	student
returned	to	reserve	status	afterward,	but,	as	with	the	other	qualifying	veterans,	the	student	must	have	had	a	character	of
service	that	was	not	<dishonorable.=
The	FAFSA	form	also	tells	students	to	answer	<Yes=	to	the	question	about	veteran	status	if	they	aren9t	yet	a	veteran	but
will	be	by	June	30,	2026.
Students	serving	in	ROTC	or	currently	attending	a	U.S.	military	academy	are	not	veterans.	Additionally,	students	who
attended	a	U.S.	military	academy	or	military	academy	preparatory	school	but	were	discharged	prior	to	commission
(commonly	known	as	<early	exit	cadets=)	are	not	veterans.
If	a	student	indicates	they	are	a	veteran	in	Question	5,	the	FPS	performs	a	match	with	VA	records	to	confirm	that	status.
The	VA	sends	the	result	back,	which	appears	as	a	match	flag	in	the	FAA	Information	section	of	the	output	document.	For
VA	Match	Flags	2,	3,	and	4	(listed	below),	a	comment	and	a	C	flag	will	appear	on	the	FAFA	Submission	Summary	only	if
veteran	status	is	the	sole	reason	that	the	student	would	be	independent.	See	
Volume	7	of	the	2025-26	FAFSA
Specifications	Guide	for	additional	details.
VA	Match	Flag	1:	Confirmed	3	There	won9t	be	any	comments	on	the	output	document	if	the	VA	confirms	that	the
student	is	a	veteran.
VA	Match	Flag	2:	Not	a	Qualifying	Veteran	3	A	student	will	receive	this	flag	if	the	VA	database	indicates	they	are	not	a
veteran.
VA	Match	Flag	3:	Not	found	by	VA	3	A	student	will	receive	this	flag	if	the	student	is	not	in	the	VA	database.
VA	Match	Flag	4:	Active	Duty	3	If	the	student	is	currently	on	active	duty,	they	are	not	a	veteran	yet.	However,	if	their
active	duty	will	end	by	June	30,	2026,	they	count	as	a	veteran	for	purposes	of	determining	dependency	status.
Because	the	student	should	have	answered	<Yes=	to	the	active-duty	question,	they	would	be	independent	by	that
criterion	and	wouldn9t	have	to	resolve	this	situation.
A	student	who	receives	a	VA	Match	Flag	of	2	or	3	and	is	independent	for	reasons	other	than	being	a	veteran	can	receive
aid	as	an	independent	student	without	resolving	the	problem	with	their	veteran	status,	although	the	student	should	have
the	VA	correct	its	database	if	it	has	incorrect	information.	If	the	student	is	not	independent	for	reasons	other	than	being	a
veteran,	the	student	must	either	resolve	the	problem	with	their	veteran	status	or	correct	their	FAFSA	form.
If	the	student	is	a	veteran,	they	should	correct	any	problem	with	the	VA	or	provide	documentation	showing	they	are	a
Veteran	Definition
38	USC	101:	Definitions
38	CFR	3.1(d)
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