The American Legion was chartered by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic, mutual-help, war-time veteran’s organization.

 

Eligibility (included National Guard, Reserves, Auxiliary and S.A.L.)

Men and women with any active duty service in the United States Armed Forces and honorably discharged or still serving:

Veterans' Service Records - Recent military service and medical records are not online. However, most veterans and their next of kin can obtain free copies of their DD Form 214 (Report of Separation) and additional military service records

 

Eligibility Information

If you have served federal active duty in the United States Armed Forces since December 7, 1941, and have been honorably discharged or are still serving - you are eligible for membership in The American Legion!

*Because eligibility dates remain open, all active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible to join The American Legion at this time, until the date of the end of hostilities as determined by the government of the United States.

**U.S. Merchant Marine eligible only from December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946 (WWII).

 

National Guardsman/Reservist must have served at least one day on federal active duty during any of the delimiting periods listed above, and either have an honorable discharge or currently be serving.  The key to determining if a Guardsman/Reservist has been on federal active duty is the “Authority Line” on the activation orders of the Guardsman/Reservist.  In both cases “Title 10, Subsection 672 or 12301” are orders from the Secretary of Defense and are federal orders.

 

*All Reserve components currently send their service members to “Basic Training” using Title 10, Subsection 672/12301 orders.

 

The Sons of The American Legion was created in 1932 as an organization within The American Legion The S.A.L. is made up of boys and men of all ages whose parents or grandparents served in the United States military and became eligible for membership in The American Legion.

 

The American Legion Auxiliary is a veterans’ service organization focusing on three major areas: veterans, young people and the community. 

Eligibility Requirements for American Legion Auxiliary Membership

Membership in The American Legion Auxiliary shall be limited to the grandmothers, mothers, sisters, spouses, and direct and adopted female descendants of members of The American Legion, and to the grandmothers, mothers, sisters, spouses, and direct and adopted female descendants of all men and women who were in the Armed Forces of the United States during any of the following periods: April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918; and any time after December 7, 1941; or who, being citizens of the United States at the time of their entry therein, served on active duty in the Armed Forces of any of the governments associated with the United States during any of said periods, and died in the line of duty or after honorable discharge; and to those women who of their own right are eligible for membership in The American Legion

A person who is eligible for membership in The American Legion is also eligible to join the American Legion Auxiliary or S.A.L.

 

The American Legion Riders are members of the American Legion who are also motorcycle enthusiasts.  Members of the ALR come from the Legion, the Legion Auxiliary, and the Sons of the American Legion.   The American Legion Riders is not an M/C, and does not practice M/C rules or regulations. The American Legion Riders is family-oriented, just as is its parent organization: the American Legion.

 

  Together, members of The American Legion, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Sons of the American Legion make up what is known as The Legion Family.