Under federal law a veteran is any person who served honorably on active duty in the armed forces of the united states. Discharges marked general and under honorable conditions qualify also.
Under state law a veteran is any person who served on active duty in the armed forces of the united states for at least 90 days (180 days in the case of the previetnam era 2 per 1 per 55 to 8 per 4 per 64) under honorable conditions, at least 1 day of which service took place during a war. (the one day need not have been actually served in a war zone). Duty in the Reserves or National Guard does not count. In accordance with M.G.L. c.4, sec.7, cl.43rd as amended by the Acts of 2004, Peacetime who served from November 12, 1918 to September 15, 1940, January 1, 1947 to June 24, 1950, May 8, 1975 to August 1, 1990, and have 180 days of regular active duty service and a last discharge or release under honorable conditions are entitled to M.G.L. Chapter 115 Financial Aid.