I have a couple of questions about National Guard service that I was hoping you gentlemen could assist me with. I've thought about it a fair amount and decided I might as well ask.Let me give a little background on myself and then I'll ask.

I joined the Missouri Army National Guard in 1984 when I was 17(my parents had to sign) as a 12B combat engineer. I did my basic and AIT in Ft.Leonard Wood over two summers (I went to college in between and couldn't fit it all in one summer). I did my 6 years and was honorably discharged as a E-4 (spec 4).

As best I can understand I do not qualify for veterans preference in regard to state jobs and am not considered a veteran because all of my time was spent training. With all the talk of stolen valor and such I'm somewhat confused on how to describe my service. For example at my sons school they always invite local veterans to attend an assembly the school has on Veterans Day. My son has asked me to come but I've always declined since from what I can tell I am not a veteran in the true sense.

I certainly am not looking for any sort of benefit from it  and I most certainly am not trying to compare my service to regular military but if someone asks if I am prior military what would be the best answer to give? Thanks very much for your time.

If you served then you ARE a VETERAN, you are not a combat veteran, but are an Army Veteran. As far as I know unless they changed something recently you still qualify for veteran preference.

Be proud you are a veteran and served your time wether it was peace time or not. Not everybody has the balls to sign on the dotted line and take that oath.

Exactly.

Which Battalion did you drill with?

Thanks for the replys. It was the 1140th Engineer battalion.

OPM Veterans Preference Guidelines
5-Point Preference (TP)

Five points are added to the passing examination score or rating of a veteran who served:
•During a war; or
•During the period April 28, 1952 through July 1, 1955; or
•For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; or
•During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990, through January 2, 1992; or
•For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on the date prescribed by Presidential proclamation or by law as the last day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; or
•In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized. Any Armed Forces Expeditionary medal or campaign badge, including El Salvador, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti, qualifies for preference.

A campaign medal holder or Gulf War veteran who originally enlisted after September 7, 1980, (or began active duty on or after October 14, 1982, and has not previously completed 24 months of continuous active duty) must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty. The 24-month service requirement does not apply to 10-point preference eligibles separated for disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, or to veterans separated for hardship or other reasons under 10 U.S.C. 1171 or 1173.