Title 36Patriotic and National ObservancesRelease 119-73

§230103 Membership

Title 36 › Subtitle Subtitle II— - Patriotic and National Organizations › Part Part B— - Organizations › Chapter CHAPTER 2301— - VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES › § 230103

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Membership requires honorable service in the United States military in one of three ways: service in a foreign campaign that allows a U.S. campaign badge; service on the Korean peninsula or its waters for at least 30 consecutive days or 60 total days after June 30, 1949; or service in an area that made the person eligible for hostile‑fire or imminent‑danger pay under section 310 or 351 of title 37.

Full Legal Text

Title 36, §230103

Patriotic and National Observances — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

An individual is eligible for membership in the corporation only if the individual served honorably as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States—
(1)in a foreign war, insurrection, or expedition in service that—
(A)has been recognized as campaign-medal service; and
(B)is governed by the authorization of the award of a campaign badge by the United States Government;
(2)on the Korean peninsula or in its territorial waters for at least 30 consecutive days, or a total of 60 days, after June 30, 1949; or
(3)in an area which entitled the individual to receive special pay for duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger under section 310 or 351 of title 37.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 23010336:115.May 28, 1936, ch. 471, § 5, 49 Stat. 1391; May 29, 1953, ch. 85, § 2, 67 Stat. 40; Mar. 7, 1995, Pub. L. 104–3, 109 Stat. 47. The words “is eligible for membership . . . only if” are substituted for “may not be a member . . . unless” for consistency in the revised title. The words “served honorably as a member of the armed forces of the United States” are substituted for “served honorably as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States” and “while a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, served honorably” to eliminate unnecessary words. In clause (2), the words “at least” are substituted for “not less than” for consistency in the revised title.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2016—Par. (3). Pub. L. 114–328 inserted “or 351” after “section 310”. 2002—Par. (3). Pub. L. 107–242 added par. (3).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

36 U.S.C. § 230103

Title 36Patriotic and National Observances

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73