DAFMAN36-2602 governs active duty service determinations for civilian employees and contractual groups seeking VA benefit eligibility.
View DAFMAN36-2602 on armypubs.army.mil
The manual covers recognized groups, qualifying service, applications, evidence, review boards, discharge, and eligibility under PL 95-202 and DoDD 1000.20. It requires eligible groups to meet specified service and benefits-related conditions and establishes application review responsibilities.
Applies to: This publication applies to civilian members of the Department of the Air Force (DAF).
Individuals (their spouse, next of kin, or legal representative for deceased or mentally incompetent members) may apply and provide evidence that they were a member of a recognized group.
An Individual Service Review Board (described in paragraph 3.3) determines whether applicants were a member of a group determined to have been active duty.
Members of recognized groups must be honorably discharged from active service in order to qualify for VA benefits.
Have rendered service to the United States as a civilian employee with the US Armed Forces, through formal Civil Service hiring or under the exigencies of war, or as the result of a contract with the US Government to provide direct support to the US Armed Forces.
Have rendered service during a period of armed conflict.