Eligibility Requirements for American Legion Membership

If you have served federal active duty in the United States Armed Forces since December 7, 1941, and have been honorably discharged or are still serving – you are eligible for membership in The American Legion!

*Because eligibility dates remain open, all active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces are eligible to join The American Legion at this time, until the date of the end of hostilities as determined by the government of the United States.

**U.S. Merchant Marine eligible only from December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946 (WWII).

UNIT 303 BY-LAWS

ARTICLE IV- ELIGIBILITY

Section 1: Eligibility for membership in the American Legion Auxiliary is determined by the American Legion. The eligibility requirements from the American Legion governing documents shall be provided as follows and shall be updated as appropriate.

(1) grandmothers, mothers, sisters, spouses, and direct and adopted female descendants of members of the American Legion; and

(2) grandmothers, mothers, sisters, spouses, and direct and adopted female descendants of all men and women who served in either of the following.: April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918: and any time after December 7, 1941: who, being a citizen of the United States at the time of their entry therein, served on active duty in the Armed Forces of any of the governments associated with the United States during either eligibility periods and died in the line of duty or after honorable discharge;

(3) grandmothers, mothers, sisters, spouses and direct and adopted female descendants of all men and women who were in the Armed Forces of the United States during either of the following periods: April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918; and anytime after December 7, 1941 who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States during either eligibility periods and died in the line of duty of after honorable discharge; and

(4) to those women who of their own right are eligible for membership in the American Legion.

Section 2: There shall be two classes of membership, Senior and Junior.

(a) Senior membership shall be composed of members age eighteen (18) and older; provided, however, a member eligible under Section 1 of this article, and who is under the age of eighteen (18) years and married shall be classified as a Senior.

(b) Junior membership shall be comprised of members under the age of eighteen (18) years, whose activities shall be supervised by the Senior membership. Upon reaching the age of eighteen (18), Junior members shall automatically be admitted into Senior membership with full privileges.

(c) Dues for both classes shall be paid annually or for life.

Our Role

We take our role as a Veterans Service Organization seriously; meeting the needs of veterans and keeping those needs front and center in the minds of the American public!

Eligibility Requirements for The Sons of The American Legion

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, and December 7, 1941, to date, as 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 forms or class of membership except an active membership.

Information on a veteran’s service record can be obtained by contacting:
National Archives and Records Administration
Telephone: 1-866-272-6272
www.archives.gov