Currently Active / Recently Separated veteran benefits
Within ~1-12 months of separation OR currently active duty
Recently-separated veterans should immediately file an "Intent to File" (VA Form 21-0966) to lock in their effective date. Many qualify for Post-9/11 GI Bill, full PACT Act burn-pit presumptives, and the 5-year free-care window.
Era dates
Within ~1-12 months of separation OR currently active duty
Cohort size
~1.3 million currently active duty + ~200K separations/year
Healthcare
FREE VA healthcare for 5 years post-separation (Priority Group 6) for combat veterans of post-9/11 era.
Operations + qualifying service
Various — current operations + recent separations
Era-specific presumptive conditions
Same as Post-9/11 cohort — full PACT Act burn-pit presumptive list applies if served in qualifying locations after Sept 11, 2001.
GI Bill / education benefits
Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) — full eligibility after 90+ days of post-9/11 active duty, partial benefits at lower thresholds.
In crisis? Call 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line — 24/7 confidential, federally-operated. Available regardless of era, character of service, or VA enrollment status.