Does Prep count towards Veteran status?

[The Lonely Road]

As silly and perhaps even disrespectful towards many veterans, I'm inquiring if according to the government I'm counted as a veteran. I achieved a PV2 status and was at Prep for 10 months. Now applying to transfer from USMA, I'm wondering if I'm an emancipated adult due to veteran status for FASFA and CSS. I ask this because technically and literally I was on Active Duty according to my CAC. Really appreciate everyone's time.

 

[Impulsive]

The short answer is "NO", Prep, and even SA time does not count towards Veterans Benefits.......unless you get severely injured and medically discharged with a disability percentage. For FASFA purposes you were in training. How that translates into emancipated, if you are 18 it does not matter, if you are at USMAPS or USMA your parents cannot claim you because you get paid by DFAS but you need to claim your pay as income for FAFSA I believe.

 

[cb7893]

 

[OldRetSWO]

As silly and perhaps even disrespectful towards many veterans, I'm inquiring if according to the government I'm counted as a veteran. I achieved a PV2 status and was at Prep for 10 months. Now applying to transfer from USMA, I'm wondering if I'm an emancipated adult due to veteran status for FASFA and CSS. I ask this because technically and literally I was on Active Duty according to my CAC. Really appreciate everyone's time.

If by "prep" you are referring to USMAPS then you are in fact Enlisted and on Active Duty. It absolutely DOES "count" toward retirement and OFFICIALLY you are a veteran although most folks are sensitive enough to not say that in the presence of vets who served in the fleet/field. Basically, if you swore the oath and get a DD-214 at the end of the period then it counts. I know many NAPS grads who got retirement credit for their time at NAPS.

Now CIVIL prep does not count towards anything.

 

[OldRetSWO]

As for being an emancipated adult, are you supporting yourself or will Mom and Dad be supporting you? That is key to being an emancipated adult.

 

[The Lonely Road]

I appreciate a serious and educated response to a question I truly didn't know about @OldRetSWO . I'm not sure why parents think they're the end all be all, and others think it's okay to degrade. Yes I know I'm not an actual veteran, I even stated how silly that was. I just needed to know if I was considered a veteran to the U.S. government for financial aid reasons.

 

[99Gold]

I appreciate a serious and educated response to a question I truly didn't know about @OldRetSWO . I'm not sure why parents think they're the end all be all, and others think it's okay to degrade. Yes I know I'm not an actual veteran, I even stated how silly that was. I just needed to know if I was considered a veteran to the U.S. government for financial aid reasons.

Since we’re going through the FASFA right now with my ds, I get why you are asking. It it a good question. It does sound like you’d be emancipated for the FASFA with OLDRETSWO’s information. Once you join the military, you are declared independent of your parent’s finances. However, you should call the FASFA hotline to double check.