A moment in time

How long do you have to serve on active duty to be eligible to join The American Legion?

Just one day of honorable service during a congressionally determined war era:

  • April 6, 1917 to Nov. 11, 1918 (World War I)
  • Dec. 7, 1941 to Dec. 31, 1946 (World War II)
  • June 25, 1950 to Jan. 31, 1955 (Korean War)
  • Feb. 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975 (Vietnam War)
  • Aug. 24, 1982 to July 31, 1984 (Lebanon/Grenada)
  • Dec. 20, 1989 to Jan. 31, 1990 (Panama)
  • Aug. 2, 1990 to today (Gulf War/War On Terrorism)

It has been this way ever since the formation of the Legion in 1919. The feeling is that all those who take the oath of service immediately assume a risk to themselves, and that they are thus all equally deserving.

This means that servicemembers currently on active duty are certainly eligible to be members. Visit www.legion.org/join to read about the great reasons to continue your service as part of the Legion.

When did The American Legion officially establish its service officer program?

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How many different branches of the “American Legion Family” can an individual belong to?

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LightOwl

January 3, 2013 - 3:10pm

The "requirements" for joining the AL has been a bone of contention with me since I joined many years ago. I realize that the "rules" were set down many years ago, at the end of "The War to End All Wars". the originators never thinking that there would be anything like the world had just experienced. Well, we of course know different. The requirements then [and remain to this day] were being on active duty "during time of war". Since 11/11/19 we have been involved in many conflicts, as well as years of peace. But Americans nonetheless volunteered for active duty to serve and protect America. Yet these "Grey Era" soldiers are denied membership in the AL. We are supposed to be an organizations of Veterans yet we don't recognize the service of those in the "Grey Eras".
I have been told, "if you don't like it",write a resolution!!!
Why has the "leadership" over the years not recognized this??? The millions of potential new members "lost" or felt "ostracized" by the AL because of "what"??? Leadership??? I'll leave it at that.....

Ncarr57

January 6, 2013 - 5:18pm

I agree with the above post... We need to change legisltaion for memebership in the Legion.....I was post Vietnam but becasue the war was officially over I cannot be a Legionaire I can only join the auxilary yet i signed my name on the dotted line to protect and serve my country like all the rest.. It needs to be changed to serve ALL veterans...

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