What is Military Service Status

As a business owner in the United States of America, you know how important it is to keep abreast of customers with a military background. The federal law, under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, extends specific benefits and protections to people with a military background, especially the active military personnel. Businesses that fail to obey this law risk getting fined and penalized by the Department of Defense or the courts.

What is Military Service Status

Military status refers to an individual’s involvement in the US military service or the military service of a US state. It denotes the capacity in which a person has remained in “service in the uniformed services” as per section 5923.05 of the Revised Code. This includes the army, navy, air force, national guard, marine corps, and coast guards. It also covers any armed force that may be formed by a state or the federation as per the law of the land.

Military Service Verification

If you’re currently serving in the military or are a former serviceman, you can avail of the benefits you’re entitled to. However, you’ll have to complete military service verification before getting the benefits. The verification is required in connection with the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) that provides protection to existing or former military personnel.

Military Status Types

There are many different military status types or classifications. Businesses must be aware of these types so they can extend the legally-binding benefits and protections reserved for the active and former servicemen. The level and types of protection differ from one type of military status to the other. Let’s take a quick look at the different types of military statuses.

Active duty: This status indicates that the person is in full-time military service. These people are bound to serve the military for a certain period, typically 2–6 years. They can be deployed anywhere in the US and the world to perform their duty. Military personnel with active duty status are eligible for many benefits and protections, including educational benefits.

Reserve: A military reserve personnel provides part-time service. While they spend most of their time at home and on other jobs, the military can call them to join the active service during wars and emergencies. Reservists are also covered by many different protections, including educational benefits.

Veterans: These individuals have served the military and have been honorably discharged from their service for different reasons, such as on medical grounds. The law extends many protections and benefits to military veterans.

Retired: Retired military servicemen are individuals who have remained part of the US military for 20 or more years and were honorably retired at the end of their service. This group of former servicemen is entitled to many benefits, including those extended to veterans.

Military Spouse: Spouses of individuals with a military background are also allowed to avail several benefits. These protections differ based on the status of the spouse who has served in the military.

Non-Military: Non-military service status refers to civilians who are serving in different branches of the military as non-combatants and not taking any formal military or combat training.

Conclusion

People who are serving or have served in the US military in different capacities are entitled to many different benefits and protections within the US. These benefits differ from one person to another, depending on their military service status. Businesses in the US are legally bound to extend the defined benefits to the existing and former servicemen in accordance with their service status and the law. Failure to do so can create legal complications for the business involved.