Historical and Revision Notes
1966 Act
Derivation	U.S. Code	Revised Statutes and Statutes at Large
	5 U.S.C. 851 (less 1st 76 words).	June 27, 1944, ch. 287, § 2 (less 1st 76 words), 58 Stat. 387.
		Jan. 19, 1948, ch. 1, § 1, 62 Stat. 3.
		July 2, 1948, ch. 816, 62 Stat. 1233.
		Aug. 26, 1949, ch. 513, 63 Stat. 666.
		Dec. 27, 1950, ch. 1151, § 1, 64 Stat. 1117.
		July 14, 1952, ch. 728, § 1, 66 Stat. 626.

In paragraph (2), the words “a military department” are substituted for “the War Department or Navy Department” (appearing in section 2 of the Act of June 27, 1944) because of the definition of “military department” in section 102. The Department of War was designated the Department of the Army by the Act of July 26, 1947, ch. 343, § 205, 61 Stat. 501. “Department of the Air Force” is included on authority of the Act of July 26, 1947, ch. 343, § 207 (a), (f), 61 Stat. 502.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

1967 Act
Section of title 5	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
2108	5 App.: 851.	Mar. 3, 1966, Pub. L. 89–358, § 11, 80 Stat. 28.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2015—Par. (3)(F), (G). Pub. L. 114–62 added subpars. (F) and (G) and struck out former subpars. (F) and (G) which included in the definition of “preference eligible” certain mothers of individuals who lost their lives under honorable conditions in the armed forces and certain mothers of service-connected permanently and totally disabled veterans.

2011—Par. (1). Pub. L. 112–56, § 235(a)(2)(A)(i), in concluding provisions, inserted “, except as provided under section 2108a,” before “who has been”.

Par. (2). Pub. L. 112–56, § 235(a)(2)(A)(ii), inserted “(except as provided under section 2108a)” before “has been separated”.

Par. (3). Pub. L. 112–56, § 235(a)(2)(A)(iii), in introductory provisions, inserted “or section 2108a(c)” after “paragraph (4) of this section”.

2008—Par. (3)(H). Pub. L. 110–317 added subpar. (H).

2006—Par. (1). Pub. L. 109–163, § 1112(a), in concluding provisions, substituted “discharged or released from active duty in” for “separated from”.

Par. (1)(B). Pub. L. 109–163, § 515(f)(1), substituted “Navy Reserve” for “Naval Reserve”.

Par. (1)(D). Pub. L. 109–163, § 1111(a), added subpar. (D).

Par. (3)(B). Pub. L. 109–163, § 1111(b), substituted “paragraph (1)(B), (C), or (D)” for “paragraph (1)(B) or (C)”.

1998—Par. (3). Pub. L. 105–339, in concluding provisions, substituted “or the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service;” for “the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service, or the General Accounting Office;”.

1997—Par. (1)(B). Pub. L. 105–85, § 1102(c), substituted “October 15, 1976,” for “the date of enactment of the Veterans’ Education and Employment Assistance Act of 1976,” and “12103(d) of title 10” for “511(d) of title 10”.

Par. (1)(C). Pub. L. 105–85, § 1102(a)(1), added subpar. (C).

Par. (3)(B). Pub. L. 105–85, § 1102(a)(2), inserted “or (C)” after “paragraph (1)(B)”.

1991—Par. (2). Pub. L. 102–54 substituted “Department of Veterans Affairs” for “Veterans’ Administration”.

1988—Par. (3). Pub. L. 100–325 inserted reference to Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service in concluding provisions.

1981—Par. (3). Pub. L. 97–89 inserted reference to Defense Intelligence Senior Executive Service and Senior Cryptologic Executive Service in concluding provisions.

1980—Par. (3). Pub. L. 96–191 inserted reference to General Accounting Office in concluding provisions.

1979—Par. (3). Pub. L. 96–54, § 2(a)(8), inserted provision excepting applicants for, or members of, Senior Executive Service.

Par. (5). Pub. L. 96–54, § 2(a)(9)(A), struck out provision excepting applicants for, or members of, Senior Executive Service.

1978—Par. (2). Pub. L. 95–454, § 307(a)(1), struck out “and” at end.

Par. (3). Pub. L. 95–454, § 307(a)(2), (3), inserted “, except as provided in paragraph (4) of this section” after “means”, and substituted a semicolon for the period at end.

Pars. (4), (5). Pub. L. 95–454, § 307(a)(4), added pars. (4) and (5) relating to retired members of the armed forces.

Par. (5). Pub. L. 95–454, § 401(d), inserted “; but does not include applicants for, or members of, the Senior Executive Service” before the period at end.

1976—Par. (1)(B). Pub. L. 94–502 substituted “any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before the date of enactment of the Veterans’ Education and Employment Assistance Act of 1976,” for “after January 31, 1955,”.

1971—Par. (3)(D). Pub. L. 92–187 inserted “or widower” after “unmarried widow”.

Par. (3)(E). Pub. L. 92–187 inserted “or husband” after “the wife”.

1968—Par. (3)(D). Pub. L. 90–623 inserted “as defined by paragraph (1)(A) of this section” after “veteran”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2015 Amendment

Pub. L. 114–62, § 3, Oct. 7, 2015, 129 Stat. 548, provided that: “The amendment made by this Act [amending this section] shall take effect 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 7, 2015].”

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–317, § 10, Aug. 29, 2008, 122 Stat. 3530, provided that:

“(a)

Retroactive Effective Date.—

Except as provided in subsection (b) and section 9 [amending section 685 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 685 of Title 26], this Act [amending this section, section 8521 of this title, sections 1145, 1146, and 1174 of Title 10, Armed Forces, section 685 of Title 26, section 303a of Title 37, Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services, and sections 3011, 3012, 3702, and 4211 of Title 38, Veterans’ Benefits, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 101 of Title 10 and section 685 of Title 26] and the amendments made by this Act shall apply with respect to any sole survivorship discharge granted after September 11, 2001.

“(b)

Date of Enactment Effective Date for Certain Amendments.—

The amendments made by sections 4, 7, and 8 [amending this section and section 8521 of this title and section 1145 of Title 10] shall apply with respect to any sole survivorship discharge granted after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 29, 2008].

“(c)

Sole Survivorship Discharge Defined.—

In this section, the term ‘sole survivorship discharge’ means the separation of a member from the Armed Forces, at the request of the member, pursuant to the Department of Defense policy permitting the early separation of a member who is the only surviving child in a family in which—

“(1)

the father or mother or one or more siblings—

“(A)

served in the Armed Forces; and

“(B)

was killed, died as a result of wounds, accident, or disease, is in a captured or missing in action status, or is permanently 100 percent disabled or hospitalized on a continuing basis (and is not employed gainfully because of the disability or hospitalization); and

“(2)

the death, status, or disability did not result from the intentional misconduct or willful neglect of the parent or sibling and was not incurred during a period of unauthorized absence.”

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–89 effective Oct. 1, 1981, see section 806 of Pub. L. 97–89, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1621 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–191 effective Oct. 1, 1980, see section 10(a) of Pub. L. 96–191.

Effective Date of 1979 Amendment

Amendment by section 2(a)(8) of Pub. L. 96–54 effective July 12, 1979, see section 2(b) of Pub. L. 96–54, set out as a note under section 305 of this title.

Pub. L. 96–54, § 2(a)(9)(B), Aug. 14, 1979, 93 Stat. 381, provided that: “The amendment made by subparagraph (A) [amending this section] shall take effect October 1, 1980”.

Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–454, title III, § 307(a), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1147, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective Oct. 1, 1980.

Amendment by section 401(d) of Pub. L. 95–454 effective 9 months after Oct. 13, 1978, and congressional review of provisions of sections 401 through 412 of Pub. L. 95–454, see section 415 of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3131 of this title.

Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 90–623 effective Sept. 11, 1967, for all purposes, see section 6 of Pub. L. 90–623, set out as a note under section 5334 of this title.

Savings Provision

Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title XI, § 1112(b), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3451, provided that: “Nothing in the amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] may be construed to affect a determination made before the date of enactment of this Act [Jan. 6, 2006] that an individual is a preference eligible (as defined in section 2108(3) of title 5, United States Code).”

Transfer of Functions

For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.