Frequently Asked
Questions
Other Sections:
American Legion Post 4:
Eligibility:
Are you eligible for membership in The American Legion?
Below are frequently asked questions regarding American Legion eligibility. For any other eligibility questions, feel free to contact us by email at membership@legion.org or call 317-630-1321.
What are the eligibility dates for membership in The American Legion?
Thanks to the LEGION Act (Let Everyone Get Involved In Opportunities for National Service Act) that was signed into law July 30, 2019, the current eligibility period is Dec. 7, 1941, to the present, and includes the current war campaigns. Previously, there were seven declared war periods. Now there are two, the current war period dating back to World War II and another war era covering World War I. No other restrictions to American Legion membership changed.
I'm currently on active duty. Am I eligible?
Yes, you are a veteran. All current active duty military are eligible for membership.
I served during one of the qualifying periods but was never in a combat zone. Am I eligible?
Yes, you are a veteran. Location of active duty service is not a consideration for membership.
I'm currently in the National Guard/Reserve. My unit was activated under Title 10 orders during a qualifying time period. Am I eligible?
Yes, you are a veteran. Title 10 orders are issued by the Secretary of Defense and therefore are federal orders.
My National Guard unit was activated for crowd control under Title 32 orders during one of the qualifying periods. Am I eligible?
No, you are not eligible for membership. Title 32 orders are issued under a governor's authority, whereas Title 10 orders are issued from the Secretary of Defense.
I'm currently a cadet at one of the U.S. Military Academies. Am I eligible?
Yes, you are a veteran. The American Legion has considered service in the military academies as eligible for membership since World War II.
Can I be an honorary or social member of The American Legion?
No, you cannot. Per The American Legion National Constitution and By-laws, no form or class of membership is authorized except regular active or paid up for life.
I served my entire military career in the National Guard/Reserves and only have a DD214 from my Active Duty for Training that I was in during one of the qualifying dates. Am I eligible?
Yes, you are a veteran. Since the mid-60s all basic training and occupational training schools were considered federal active duty service.
I served with allied military forces during one of the qualifying periods. Am I eligible?
Yes, you are a veteran, only if you were a U.S. citizen at the time of entry.
I served with the Civil Air Patrol/Civilian Technical Corps/USPHS as a civilian during two qualifying periods. Am I eligible?
No, you are not eligible for membership. Eligible members must have federal military service during a qualifying period and received an honorable discharge or discharge under honorable conditions.
I enlisted and went to basic training but received an uncharacterized discharge due to a medical condition. Am I eligible?
Yes, you are a veteran. Uncharacterized discharges for medical discharges are assumed to be under honorable conditions unless specifically stated otherwise. There are other categories of uncharacterized discharges and before they are determined eligible for membership the discharge should be sent to American Legion National Headquarters for determination and a record will be maintained at National on final determination.
I'm eligible for American Legion membership, but I do not have a copy of my DD214 to show as proof of eligibility. How can I get one?
You can go to archives.gov/veterans to request another copy of your discharge papers. A copy of orders putting you on federal active duty can be used as proof of eligibility as well.
Membership:
How much are American Legion annual membership dues?
Every American Legion post determines its own dues rate. The American Legion Post #4 dues are $40.00 annually.
Visit legion.org/posts to find the annual dues rate for posts in your area.
Where can I find my member ID number?
Once you join The American Legion, you're assigned a permanent 9-digit Member ID number that will remain yours as long as you're a member. (If you ever transfer to another post, always make sure to provide your original Member ID Number.) You can find the ID number on your membership card, and it's the first 9 digits shown above your name on the American Legion Magazine labels. (It always starts with a 1, 2 or 3.)
If you are unable to locate your membership card please call Customer Service at (800) 433-3318 to obtain your member ID and a replacement card.
Can I submit an address change online?
Yes, you can change most of your record information, including your address, at MyLegion.org. National can also take your address change over the phone at (800) 433-3318. Normal business hours are Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern time). Members who are moving to a foreign address should submit their address changes via email to cs@legion.org and include their name, Member ID number, current address and new address.
You can also set-up a MyLegion.org account and manage your membership information, such as updating your address, print a membership card, access member-only discounts, renew your membership, manage subscriptions to The American Legion Magazine, Dispatch and American Legion e-newsletters, and much more. MyLegion.org is a free and secure website for American Legion and Sons of The American Legion members. Join at MyLegion.org.
How do I transfer my membership to another post?
The transfer process is simple. Visit the post you're interested in joining and speak with an officer. You'll need to provide your 9-digit member ID and should also be prepared to show a copy of your DD214 (or similar) to verify your eligibility. After acceptance of your membership, the post will submit the necessary paperwork to notify the department (state) and National Headquarters of your transfer.
Why doesn't my membership card reflect the total number of years I've been a member?
The annual card reflects your continuous years of membership. If you miss a year of paying dues, your continuous years start over. However, if you think there's a mistake, contact your post adjutant and if it's confirmed there is an error, they can submit a request to correct your record.
When does my membership expire?
Your membership actually expires on Dec. 31 of the paid year shown on your card. It can be a little confusing because your annual dues are supposed to be paid by Jan. 1 each year so National Headquarters starts accepting dues for the upcoming year on July 1. The goal is to have everyone renewed for the new year by Jan. 1, when it begins.
If dues are not paid by Jan. 1 of each calendar year, the member becomes delinquent. Feb. 1, the member is suspended, June 30, the member is dropped from the membership rolls.
I paid my dues a while ago so why did I get another renewal notice?
Renewal notices are mailed from National Headquarters based on the information in our records at the time the notices are printed. Although you may have paid your dues, the National portion of your dues may not have reached our offices yet. When you pay your dues to the post, they process your payment and keep a portion for the post; the balance is sent to your department headquarters with your membership card; and finally, the department deducts its portion of your dues and then forwards the remaining balance and your membership card to National. Once National receives your dues and card they are usually processed within 48 hours.
On the renewal notice, you'll see there is an "as of" date which is when the notice was printed. If you paid your dues sometime around that date, your dues and the renewal probably just crossed in the mail, and you shouldn't receive another one for that membership year. However, if you paid well in advance of that "as of" date, then you should contact your post adjutant to verify the status of your renewal payment.
Sons of the Legion:
Membership:
All male descendants, adopted sons and stepsons of members of The American Legion, and such male descendants of veterans who died in service during World War I or since December 7, 1941, during the delimiting periods set forth in Article IV, Section 1, of the National Constitution of The American Legion or who died subsequent to their honorable discharge from such service, shall be eligible for membership in the Sons of The American Legion. There shall be no form or class of membership except an active membership.
Are girls or women eligible to join the Sons?
No. Only males are eligible to join the Sons. Women who are veterans and are eligible to join The American Legion are welcome and encouraged to do so. The American Legion Auxiliary was established to provide Legion Family membership for female relatives of Legionnaires.
How can I sign up for the Sons?
You can contact the American Legion post #4 at 797 Court Street in Keene NH. Phone number is 603-352-9703 or contact the the squadron using the contact information.
I am a member of The American Legion. Can I also belong to the Sons?
Yes! Many veterans who are eligible for membership in The American Legion are also eligible to join the Sons. They are very much welcome to belong to both organizations. We call these individuals dual members. They are quite often an important link between the Sons and The Legion Post in their hometowns.
I am moving to a new town and want to transfer my membership there. How do I get a new card?
Be sure to report your new address. You can do that in person through your Squadron Adjutant at Post 4 at 797 Court St. , or you can do it electronically by going to The Legion's Web site and filling out an electronic form.
The American Legion offers programs for honorary memberships and "Paid Up For Life" (PUFL). Does the S.A.L. offer these same membership programs?
Not really. Squadrons that want to honor an individual with an honorary membership must take care of renewing that individual's membership annually. There is no way to pre-pay for future years' memberships. Also, there is no program for an individual to make a lump-sum payment that will cover his membership for the rest of his life. In these respects, the Sons is quite different from its parent.
Can an S.A.L. member sign up a new Legion member and vice versa?
Yes! The same applies to Auxiliary membership. As long as the necessary membership application is filled out and the prospective member provides a copy of his/her DD-214 discharge papers (this applies to Legion membership...prospective S.A.L. and Auxiliary members need to supply a copy of discharge papers for the relative through whom their eligibility is established) and they pay the appropriate amount for dues, simply submit these materials to the Legion or S.A.L. Adjutant. In fact...many members of the Sons like to carry around blank copies of membership applications for each of the Legion Family organizations, just in case.
General:
How large is the Sons of The American Legion?
Currently, there are more than 317,000 members of the SAL in this country and abroad. The all time high for SAL membership peaked in 2019 at 372,000. (Blaine)
What is the administrative structure of the SAL?
The squadron is the basic level of membership in our organization. Different states (detachments) use different ways of grouping numbers of squadrons together. In most states, squadrons are grouped geographically and report to their own districts (also called areas or divisions). All districts (or areas or divisions) report to the state headquarters, referred to as a detachment. All state detachments report to the National Headquarters. In addition to the 50 state detachments in the U.S., there are also detachments in France, Mexico, Philippines and Puerto Rico.
What is the main purpose of the SAL?
The mission of the SAL is to support veterans and their families and the policies of our parent organization, The American Legion. Virtually everything that involves the SAL could be grouped under three areas: 1) support for veterans and their families, 2) promoting patriotism and Americanism and 3) promoting programs which benefit the youth of our country.
When was the SAL founded?
The American Legion established the Sons of The American Legion in 1932.
Why would someone want to join the SAL?
For many, membership in the SAL has allowed them to become involved in American Legion programs alongside their fathers. Others join out of respect for their parents' and grandparents' service to our country in the military. Many younger members get involved and learn valuable leadership skills involving organization, public speaking, and negotiating, budgeting and fundraising skills. Membership in our organization also provides individuals with opportunities to forge lifelong friendships with people who share a common bond.
SAL is more than just membership. SAL members have worked together with The American Legion to promote children and youth programs, including the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation (CWF). In 2019, SAL raised over $427,000 for CWF. Since 1988, the Sons of The American Legion has raised over $7 million for the CWF. SAL members have donated over 455,000 volunteer hours in veterans hospitals throughout the country and raised over $1.6 million that has gone directly to the VA hospitals and VA homes for a variety of items including TVs, radios, medical equipment and clothes for the patients. Sons of The American Legion continues to provide services to those in need in the local communities, through programs that include fundraising events. (Blaine)
Who runs the SAL?
The governing legislative body of the SAL is its National Convention. Detachments (states) send representatives to the National Convention each year to elect national officers and conduct the business of the organization. Between conventions, authority is vested in the National Executive Committee, also made up of elected representatives from each detachment. The NEC meets twice annually. Nationally elected officers include the National Commander and five National Vice Commanders (responsible for detachments in their own regions). The National Chaplain and the National Sergeant at-Arms are appointed positions.
Auxiliary
Change to Auxiliary eligibility:
The American Legion Constitution and Bylaws has been updated to replace the word “wife” with “spouse,” related to the membership criteria for the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA). Here are some common questions and answers to what this means going forward:
Why change ALA membership eligibility?
Answer: In 1920, veterans were almost 100 percent male so the ALA was formed as the organization for the spouses of the veteran. Those spouses just happened to be women. Today, an estimated 16 percent of enlisted people and 18 percent of officers are women, who may be married to a non-veteran. To keep the ALA as the organization that supports spouses of the veteran, we need to change the ALA’s definition from wives to spouses, thereby updating the organization to represent the changing makeup of the military.
How can this change help ALA membership?
Think about female spouses who are alone as their husband is deployed. They have the ALA to lean on. Who can the male spouse rely on? With this eligibility change, now male spouses who are ALA members can receive the same support while their wives are deployed.
Would this change need to be approved by Congress?
No, because the American Legion Auxiliary is not chartered by Congress. The American Legion, which was chartered by Congress, created the ALA. The Legion approved the ALA to operate as a separate corporation; however, The American Legion has always set the eligibility requirements of the ALA in their bylaws.
What about the previous communications issued by former ALA leadership claiming this change could not happen? Why is that information inaccurate?
Previously released messaging could have been interpreted by members to mean ALA needs congressional approval for this change to happen. That information is inaccurate. The American Legion Auxiliary is not chartered by Congress.
ALA refers to itself as the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization. Will the Auxiliary still use that phrase?
Now that the resolution has been adopted by The American Legion, the Auxiliary will no longer call itself the world’s largest women’s patriotic service organization.
How would this change affect the ALA membership application or signing up new members?
Applications are now being accepted. Visit www.alaforveterans.org/join to learn more