MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
REQUIREMENTS TO JOIN THE AMERICAN LEGION
IMPORTANT: EVERYONE MUST SUBMIT A COPY OF THEIR
DD 214 OR OTHER DISCHARGE ORDERS.
NEW MEMBERSHIP
Click on above logo WHY YOU SHOULD BELONG
Eligible veterans applying for first time membership must submit the following information to Post Membership Committee:
1. Complete American Legion Membership application by clicking on "APPLICATION" button.
Print two (2) completed copies. Keep one copy for your records. Mail the other copy to above address, together with your dues payment. (Dues amount on application). Applications are also available at the Post.)
2. COPY OF DD214 DISCHARGE or any federal document showing military discharge
(Click this link for DD214 Discharge Application)
3. Membership Dues Payment. Dues. (Amount Shown on Application). Make checks payable to our Post listed above. DO NOT SEND CASH.
4. If the information is correct, membership will be approved and then a membership card will be mailed to you.
5. Please see eligibility dates below.
TRANSFERS
Veterans applying for transfers from your current Post to our Post must submit the following:
a. Completed Member Data Form.
b. COPY OF DD214 OR DISCHARGE
c. COPY OF MEMBERSHIP CARD
6. Membership dues payment, if current year dues are not paid. If current dues are paid, please pay dues for next year's membership.
The American Legion 2021 Officer's Guide AND MANUAL OF CEREMONIES (See complete manual on second page)
Complete Membership Eligibility requirements are covered in pages 90 through 98
ELIGIBILITY DATES
Page 98
The LEGION Act
On July 30, 2019, President Donald Trump signed a bill declaring that the United States has been in a state of war since Dec. 7, 1941. The American Legion sought the declaration as a way to honor approximately 1,600 U.S. servicemembers who were killed or wounded during previously undeclared periods of war.
The Let Everyone Get Involved In Opportunities for National Service (LEGION) Act opened the
door for approximately 6 million veterans to access American Legion programs and benefits for which
they previously had not been eligible.
The American Legion’s eligibility criteria immediately changed from seven war eras to two: April 6, 1917, to Nov. 11, 1918, and Dec. 7, 1941 to a time later determined by the federal government. No other restrictions to American Legion membership changed.
Must have served at least one day of active military duty during one of the dates below and honorably discharged or still serving honorably. :
For any questions please contact our membership chairman, or stop at the Post.
Click on the gold star "Application" menu button for an online application form.
Page 96 and 97
National Guard, reserve eligibility
Veterans of the National Guard and reserves must meet the same eligibility requirements as full-time federal active veterans. To be eligible, they must have served at least one day on federal active duty during any of the delimiting periods set forth in Article IV, Section 1 of the Constitution of The American Legion, and have an honorable discharge or currently be serving in the Guard, reserve or on federal active duty.
The key to determining if a Guardsman or reservist has been on or currently serving on federal active duty is the “authority line” on his or her activation orders. In both cases, Title 10, Subsection 672 or 12301 are orders from the Secretary of Defense and are federal orders.
The authority a governor uses to activate the National Guard as an individual or unit is Title 32 orders, i.e. weekend drills and annual training. These are not federal orders. The reserves have similar reserve orders, which are Title 10, Subsection 270. This authority code gives the reserve component the authority to activate the reserves for weekend drills and annual training.
Use Military Law Chapter 39 when determining eligibility for National Guardsmen and reservists.
ELIGIBLE NON-ELIGIBLE
National Guard Title 10 Subsection 672 or 12301* Title 32
Reserves Title 10 Subsection 672 or 12301* Title 10 Subsection 270
*This subsection was created to replace 672 following Operation Desert Storm.
Note: A DD 214 will be issued for the time on federal active duty, or a DA-1059 for completion of a school will be issued with a character type of discharge. All reserve components send their members to basic training using Title 10, Subsection 672/12301 orders.