the originals or legible copies of your most recent discharge or separation papers covering active
military duty since September 16, 1940, which show active duty dates and type of discharge.
This form may be obtained from VA or at
http://www.va.gov/vaforms/.
If you were separated after
January 1, 1950, you must submit DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge From Active
Duty.
In addition, if you are now on active duty and have not been previously discharged from active
duty service, you must submit a statement of service which includes the name of the issuing
authority (base or command), and is signed by or at the direction of an appropriate official. The
statement must include date of entry on active duty and the duration of any time lost.
Since there is no uniform document similar to the DD214 for proof of service in the Selected
Reserve, a number of different forms may be accepted as documentation of service in the
Selected Reserve. For those who served in the Army or Air National Guard and were discharged
after at least 6 years of such service, NGB Form 22 may be sufficient. Those who served in the
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard Reserves may need to rely on any of a
variety of forms that document at least 6 years of honorable service. Often, it will be necessary to
submit a combination of documents such as an Honorable Discharge certificate together with a
retirement point’s statement. It is the reservist's responsibility to obtain and submit
documentation of 6 years of honorable service.
The Request for Certificate of Eligibility, VA Form 26-1880
, should be mailed to the Atlanta
Regional Loan Center, ATTN: COE (262), P.O. Box 100034, Decature, GA 30031. The Eligibility
Center also maintains a toll free number (888-768-2132) for persons seeking information on
eligibility.
Questions and Answers
1. Does active duty for training in the Guard and Reserves qualify a person for home loan
benefits?
No. Active duty for training in the Guard and Reserves does not qualify a person for home
loan benefits, unless the person completes a total of 6 years in the Guard and/or Reserves and
serves under title 10, U.S.C.
2. Does this kind of service provide entitlement to any other veterans' home loan benefit?
Yes. Active-duty-for-training service may qualify you for a HUD/FHA veterans' loan.
Under the National Housing Act loan program, the Federal Housing Administration of the
Department of Housing and Urban Development administers a loan program for veterans.
Financing under this program is available under slightly more favorable terms than those
available to nonveterans. VA's only role in this program is to determine the eligibility of the
veteran and, if qualified, issue a Certificate of Veteran Status as evidence of entitlement to
HUD/FHA loan benefits for veterans.
You may get a Certificate of Veteran Status by completing VA Form 26-8261a, Request for
Certificate of Veteran Status, and submitting it with the attachments listed in the instructions to VA
for a determination of eligibility. This form may be obtained from VA or at
http://www.va.gov/vaforms/.
All veterans discharged under other than dishonorable conditions from at least 90 days of service
which began before September 8, 1980, are eligible. Veterans of enlisted service in a regular
component of the Armed Forces, which began after September 7, 1980, or officers or reservists
who entered on active duty after October 13, 1982, must have served at least 24 months of
service or the full period for which called to active duty or Active Duty for Training before being
discharged, unless the discharge was for hardship or disability.