Section 3. Rank does not exist in The American Legion; no member shall be addressed by military title in any meeting of this Post.
ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP (Amended 7/14/03) - LEGION ACT (Let Everyone Get Involved in Opportunities for National Service Act) The President signed this bill on July 30, 2019.
Section 1. Eligibility for membership in this Post shall be as prescribed by the National Constitution of The American Legion and this Constitution.
Any person shall be eligible for membership in the American Legion who was a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and the Space Force of The United States. **Some Merchant Marines may be eligible for membership. They must submit a DD Form 214 for verification).
Resolutions call on Congress to recognize armed hostilities where military personnel were deployed as a period of war.
Membership eligibility in The American Legion is determined by Congress through the establishment of specific dates of declared hostilities in which U.S. military personnel were activated. Since its founding in 1919, membership in The American Legion has been open to veterans of World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Lebanon/Grenada, Panama and Gulf War/War on Terrorism.
There are at least 12 known combat operations that required an activated military personnel, such as the Cold War, Libyan Conflict and Persian Gulf Conflicts, and resulted in about 1,600 U.S. military men and women casualties. However, because these operations are unrecognized by the U.S. government as a period of war, those who served during these timeframes are not eligible for membership in The American Legion.
The American Legion’s National Executive Committee passed a resolution during its annual Fall Meetings in Indianapolis Oct. 17, 2018 to change that.
Resolution No. 1, "Unrecognized armed hostilities recognition," calls on Congress to declare that the United States has been continuously engaged in a state of war from December 7, 1941 to present, and for Congress to direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to qualify a wartime veteran as any military service personnel who served honorably under Title 10 for at least one day from December 7, 1941 to present.
Following the passing of Resolution No. 1, the NEC adopted Resolution No. 2, "Unrecognized armed hostilities membership date change," which will change membership dates for The American Legion. This resolution will only be put in motion once the actions of Resolution No. 1 are approved by Congress. Once approved, membership in The American Legion will be open to the following war periods: April 6, 1917 to Nov. 11, 1918, and Dec. 7, 1941 to the date of cessation of armed hostilities as determined by the U.S. government.
The American Legion believes that membership in the organization should be extended to all U.S. military personnel who served on active duty during the hostile events that are not seen as a period of war.
All dates are inclusive, or who, being a citizen of the United States at the time of their entry into service, served on active duty in the Armed Forces of any government associated with the United States during any of the said periods, provided, however, that such service shall have been terminated by honorable discharge or honorable separation, or continued to serve honorably after any of the said periods; provided further, that no person shall be entitled to membership who, being in such service during any of the said periods, refused on conscientious, political, or other grounds to subject themselves to military discipline or unqualified service. In addition, all active duty members of the United States Armed Forces are eligible to join the American Legion, provided any part of their service occurred during one of the eligibility periods.
Section 2. There shall be no form or class of membership except, as Active, and dues shall be paid Annually, Paid-Up-For-Life and Life Member.
Section 3. No person, at any time may be a member of more than this Post.