KY to Urge Veteran Definition Change

By Carrie Pond

Frankfort, KY – Some Kentuckians who've spent decades in the Army National Guard are not considered veterans by the federal government because they've never been on active duty. That's according to the head of the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs. Adjutant General Edward Tonini wants the Kentucky legislature to urge the U-S Department of Veterans Affairs to change its definition of a veteran, so more Kentuckians are eligible for full veterans' benefits.

"As defined by the Veterans' Administration, we have people who cannot qualify to go into the Kentucky veterans' nursing home because they aren't defined as a veteran- they have no title X experience. We've got one individual who was in the Kentucky National Guard for 20 years and is not a veteran as defined by the Veteran's Administration."

Tonini says he considers that situation "inexcusable."