2-year Requirement: A greater length of service is required for Veterans who

*enlisted (and service began) after September 7, 1980, or

*entered service as an officer after October 16, 1981.

These Veterans must have completed either:

*24 continuous months of active duty, or

*the full period for which called or ordered to active duty, but not less than 90 days (any part during wartime) or 181 continuous days (peacetime).

Note: Cases involving other than honorable discharge usually require further development by VA. This is necessary to determine if the service was under other than dishonorable conditions.

Eligibility for Reserves and/or Guard

Members of the Reserves and National Guard who are not otherwise eligible for loan guaranty benefits are eligible upon completion of 6 years service in the Reserves or Guard (unless released earlier due to a service-connected disability). The applicant must have received an honorable (a general or under honorable conditions is not qualifying) discharge from such service unless he or she is either:

*is an inactive status awaiting final discharge, or

*still serving in the Reserves or Guard.

Eligibility of Spouses and Veterans

Some spouses of Veterans may have home loan eligibility. They are:

*the unmarried surviving spouse of a Veteran who died as a result of service or service-connected causes.

*the surviving spouse of a Veteran who dies on active duty or from service-connected causes, who remarries on or after age 57 and on or after December 16, 2003, and

*the spouse of an active duty member who is listed as a MIA or a POW for at least 90 days. Eligibility under this MIA/POW provision is limited to one-time use only.

Miscellaneous Eligibility

Congress has periodically granted Veteran status to members of other groups. There are various exceptions made to the length of time requirements.