M21-1 · Section III.i.1.C

Civilian Groups Approved for Veteran Status

M21-1 section III.i.1.C. Official source text with a separately reviewed Claim Raven explanation when available.

Claim Raven wrote the explanation that follows. The original VA text appears below it, unchanged.

What this means

m21-1:III.i.1.C explains civilian groups approved for veteran status. In plain terms, the official guidance says once Veteran status has been established, any available service records may be requested from National Personnel Records Center through PIES. It also addresses effective August 9, 2000, PL 106-259 established Veteran status for individuals who participated in the Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG) during WWII and who were honorably discharged from service.

How this may help with a claim

Use m21-1:III.i.1.C when organizing evidence or checking VA's handling of civilian groups approved for veteran status. Compare your application, supporting records, and notice with this source-specific point: Once Veteran status has been established, any available service records may be requested from National Personnel Records Center through PIES. Effective August 9, 2000, PL 106-259 established Veteran status for individuals who participated in the Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG) during WWII and who were honorably discharged from service. Save proof of submission and identify the exact condition, exception, or missing development step before requesting correction or choosing a review option.

What to review in your file

  • Check the file against this official condition: VA has no authority to make active duty determinations for individuals of any of these groups.
  • Confirm that the record or notice addresses this source point: Instructions for completing the form, including mailing addresses, are contained on the back of the form.
  • Document how this stated step or exception applies: AK-DMVA Form ATG-214 must be completed for individuals

Important limits

m21-1:III.i.1.C explains VA guidance for civilian groups approved for veteran status; it does not guarantee an award or replace the statutes, regulations, binding decisions, and review instructions that control an individual claim. Conditions and exceptions still matter, including this source point: Once Veteran status has been established, any available service records may be requested from National Personnel Records Center through PIES. Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Office of the Adjutant General P.O. Box 5800 Fort Richardson, Alaska 99505-6003

Search terms when useful

Phrases that may help when searching your claim file or this library.

  • Civilian Groups Approved for Veteran Status
  • m21-1:III.i.1.C
  • Civilian Groups Approved
  • Veteran Status
  • Civilian Groups Approved Status
  • 95-202
  • 106-259.
  • III.i.1.C.1.a. Listing Approved Groups

Original VA guidance

The official VA text of this section

Overview

In This Section

This section contains the topic “ Civilian Groups Approved for Veterans Status Under Public Law (PL) 95-202 and PL 106-259.”

1. Civilian Groups Approved for Veterans Status Under PL 95-202 and PL 106-259

Introduction

This topic contains information on groups approved for Veterans status, including listing of approved groups under

  • PL 95-202, and
  • PL 106-259.

Change Date

April 28, 2015

III.i.1.C.1.a. Listing of Approved Groups Under PL 95-202

The table below lists

  • the groups approved for Veteran status under Public Law (PL) 95-202, Section 401, the GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977, and
  • the date on which Veteran status was granted.

Scroll sideways to see the full table.

Name of GroupDate Approved
Quartermaster Corps Keswick Crew on Corregidor, World War II02/07/1984
U.S. Civilians of the American Field Service (AFS) Who Served Overseas Operationally in World War I (WWI) During the Period 08/31/1917 to 01/01/191808/30/1990
U.S. Civilians of the AFS Who Served Overseas Under U.S. Armies and U.S. Army Groups in World War II (WWII) During the Period 12/07/1941 through 05/08/194508/30/1990
U.S. Civilian Volunteers Who Actively Participated in the Defense of Bataan02/07/1984
U.S. Merchant Seamen Who Served on Blockships in Support of Operation Mulberry10/18/1985
Civilian Personnel Assigned to the Secret Intelligence Element of the OSS12/27/1982
Engineer Field Clerks in WWI08/31/1979
Quartermaster Corps Female Clerical Employees Serving With the AEF01/22/1981
Reconstruction Aides and Dietitians in WWI07/06/1981
Signal Corps Female Telephone Operators in WWI05/15/1979
Women's Army Auxiliary Corps03/18/1980
Male Civilian Ferry Pilots07/17/1981
U.S. Civilian Employees of American Airlines Who Served Overseas as a Result of American Airlines' contract with the Air Transport Command During the Period 12/14/1941 through 08/14/194510/05/1990
Women's Air Forces Service Pilots11/23/1977
Civilian Employees, PNAB, Who Actively Participated in the Defense of Wake Island01/22/1981
Guam Combat Patrol05/10/1983
Wake Island Defenders From Guam04/07/1982
U.S. Merchant Seamen Who Served in Active Oceangoing Service from 12/07/1941 to 08/15/194501/19/1988
Civil Service Crew members Aboard U.S. Army Transport Service and Naval Transportation Service Vessels in Oceangoing Service01/19/1988

Notes:

  • VA has no authority to make active duty determinations for individuals of any of these groups. Before applying for VA benefits, the individual must apply for a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) by completing a DD Form 2168, Application for Discharge of Member or Survivor of Member of Group Certified to Have Performed Active Duty with the Armed Forces of the United States.
  • Instructions for completing the form, including mailing addresses, are contained on the back of the form. If the appropriate service department determines the individual has provided active military service, the service department will issue a discharge certificate.
  • On May 26, 2004, the Secretary of the Air Force denied “active duty” status for the U.S. Civilian Crewmembers of the Flotilla Alaska Barge and Transport Company who served overseas in Vietnam for the period of April 1966 through April 1975.

Important: Once Veteran status has been established, any available service records may be requested from National Personnel Records Center through PIES.

Reference: For information on the correct address codes to use to obtain Merchant Mariner records, see M21-1, Part X, Subpart i, 5.B.

III.i.1.C.1.b. Listing of Approved Groups Under PL 106-259

Effective August 9, 2000, PL 106-259 established Veteran status for individuals who participated in the Alaska Territorial Guard (ATG) during WWII and who were honorably discharged from service.

Notes:

  • AK-DMVA Form ATG-214 must be completed for individuals
  • seeking to establish ATG status, and/or
  • requesting an official copy of his/her Transcript of Military Records.
  • To obtain a copy of AK-DMVA Form ATG-214, send a request to:

Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Office of the Adjutant General P.O. Box 5800 Fort Richardson, Alaska 99505-6003