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
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.