Who is Eligible for this Incentive?

In order to receive the Military Appreciation Incentive, you must meet one of the following requirements:

• Active: Active Military Personnel in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard NationalGuard, Reservists Serving on Active Duty and members of the Delayed Entry/EnlistmentProgram (DEP). This includes Spouses and Surviving Spouses
• Veterans: A person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who wasdischarged or released there from under conditions other than dishonorable. Must be within 24months of separation.
• Retirees: A military retiree is any member or former member of the uniformed services who isentitled, under statute, to retire or retirement (this typically requires 20 years of service). They will receive a pension as a retiree. This also includes those with a medical retirement.
• National Guard and Honor Guard: These individuals would be eligible under the current branch of service that they serve (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard).
• Reservists: Must be on orders to deploy or were a veteran within 24 months of separation.

Not Eligible for this Incentive:

• Active Ready Reserve or Selected Reserve: An individual of the Ready Reserve or Selected Reserve is required to complete a specified number of drill periods per year by reporting to their reserve unit and completing the prescribed training. They are also required to complete a two week period of job-specific training. They only become active when they get orders to deploy. These individuals have completed their term of service and are eligible as a Veteran or Retired Status for this promotion only. Some individuals may not be eligible because they have not completed their active status and have not achieved their Veteran status yet.
• Inactive Ready Reservists (IRR): An individual assigned to the IRR typically receives no pay and is not obligated to drill, conduct annual training, or participate in any military activities (except for periodic Muster activities) until activated by Presidential Reserve Call up Authority or until electing to drill, train, or serve in a "Drill without Pay" or an "Active Duty" role. Having previously served or retired, they would be eligible as a Veteran or Active Status during this promotion only.
• Standby Reserve: An individual that maintains their military affiliation without being in the Ready Reserve. The Standby Reserve consists of two components: the Active Status List and the Inactive Status List. For soldiers who do not choose whether or not to stay in the Active Reserve, they are added to the Standby reserve. Membership in the Standby Reserves is limited to one year, after which they must determine if they are transferring to the IRR or to an active drilling unit..
• State Guard: Also known as State defense forces are military units that operate under the sole authority of a state government; they are partially regulated by the National Guard, but they are not a part of the US Military forces. State defense forces are authorized by state are under the command of the governor of each state. Not all states have State Guard organizations and they are not typically considered "military" under the industry standards. State Guards cannot be federalized (they would never fall under the Department of Defense) and are completely separate entities from the United States Armed Forces. Therefore not eligible for this program.