Welcome to South Dakota's Department of Military & Veteran Affairs

"DEFINITION OF VETERAN"
SDCL 33A-2-1 & 33A-2-2

South Dakota Codified Laws (SDCL) 33A-2-1 defines a veteran as any person who has served on continuous federalized active military duty for a period of at least 90 days, for reasons other than training, and who was separated or discharged honorably or under honorable conditions.

SDCL 33A-2-2 defines a wartime veteran as any person who has performed qualifying military service as follows:

WORLD WAR I - Active duty for one day, or more, between the dates of:

April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918 OR;
July 28, 1914 to November 11, 1918 for any US citizen serving on active duty with an allied nation.

WORLD WAR II - Active duty for one day, or more, between the dates of:

December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946 OR;
September 1, 1939 to December 31, 1946 for any US citizen serving on active duty with an allied nation.

KOREA/VIETNAM - Active duty for one day, or more, between the dates of:

June 25, 1950 to May 7, 1975

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Active duty for one day, or more, between the dates of:

August 2, 1990 to Date to be determined.

OTHER QUALIFYING PERIODS OF SERVICE - Any military service during which the individual received an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or other United States campaign, expeditionary, or service medal awarded for participation in combat operations against hostile forces outside the boundaries of the United States.

SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITY - Veterans who rated as service connected by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are eligible for state veterans benefits regardless of when they served on active duty.

NOTE: Active duty for training by National Guardsmen and Reservists is not considered as active duty time for state veteran benefit purposes.

"VETERANS RECORDS"

Free Certified Copies of Veterans Records
SDCL 34-25-54

South Dakota counties may not charge for certified copies of birth, death, marriage, adoption, divorce, guardianship or conservatorship papers when such records are required in support of a claim against any agency of the federal or state government by, or on behalf of , a servicemember or veteran, or the spouse, surviving spouse or dependents of a servicemember or veteran.

"BURIAL BENEFITS"

Burial Allowance for Veterans, Wives or Widows
SDCL 33A-5-2 & 33A-5-3

A payment of up to $100 may be paid by the state to help defray the burial and funeral expenses of any honorably discharged veteran or the wife, widow or widower of a veteran when the estate, or immediate family, of the deceased is lacking in funds to pay the expenses. The veteran must have been a citizen of the United States for one year preceding entrance into military service or one year preceding the death. This payment CANNOT be made to another unit of government. The surviving spouse, or relatives, must furnish an affidavit to the C/TVSO that sufficient funds are not available for payment of the expenses.

DVA B-2 (Rev. 10/94) Application for the Burial Allowance and a copy of the funeral bill must be submitted to the Pierre office within one year from the date of the burial.

Headstone Setting Fee
SDCL 33A-5-4

The state will pay $100 towards the cost of setting a government headstone or marker at the grave of a veteran who was a resident of this state for one year preceding entrance into the military service or one year preceding death.

Application for the Headstone Setting Fee must be submitted to the South Dakota Department of Military and Veterans Affairs within one year from the date of setting of the headstone or marker.

"SOUTH DAKOTA VETERANS BONUS"

"EDUCATION BENEFITS"

Free Tuition for Veterans
SDCL 13-55-2 to 13-55-5

Certain veterans are eligible to take undergraduate courses at a state supported university without the payment of tuition provided they are not eligible for educational payments under the GI Bill or any other federal educational program. To qualify the veteran must:

have been discharged under Honorable conditions
be a current resident of South Dakota and qualify for in-state tuition
meet one of the following criteria

served on active duty at any time between August 2, 1990 and a date to be determined.

received an Armed Forces Expeditionary medal, or other United States campaign or service medal for participation in combat operations against hostile forces outside the boundaries of the United States.

has a service connected disability rated 10%, or more, disabling.

Eligible veterans may receive one month of free tuition for each month of "qualifying service" with a minimum of one, up to a maximum of four, academic years. Qualifying service is defined as: the amount of time served on active duty between the beginning and ending dates of the particular period of conflict or hostilities during which the veteran earned eligibility for this program.

Under the free tuition program, the veteran has twenty (20) years from the ending date of the specific period of service during which he or she served and met the eligibility criteria, or, twenty (20) years after the date that he or she was rated 10%, or more, disabled by the DVA.

The Application for Free Tuition is available at the schools’ financial aids, veterans representative or registrars offices or, they can be obtained from the Division of Veterans Affairs. The completed application, along with a copy of the veteran’s DD-214 must be submitted to the Sioux Falls VA Regional Office (address shown on the reverse side of the form) and then returned to the school.

Free Tuition for Children of Veterans Who Die During Service
SDCL 13-55-6 to 13-55-9

Children who are under the age of 25, are residents of South Dakota, and whose mother or father was killed in action or died of other causes while on active duty, are eligible for free tuition at a state supported school, if the deceased parent was a bona-fide resident of this state for at least six (6) months immediately preceding entry into active service.

The Application for Free Tuition is available at the schools’ financial aids, veterans representative or registrars offices or, they can be obtained from the Division of Veterans Affairs.

Free Tuition for Dependents of POW’s and MIA’s
SDCL 13-55-9.2 to 13-55-9.6

Children and spouses of prisoners of war, or of persons listed as missing in action, are entitled to attend a state supported school without the payment of tuition or mandatory fees provided they are not eligible for equal or greater federal benefits.

The Application for Free Tuition is available at the schools’ financial aids, veterans representative or registrars offices or, they can be obtained from the Division of Veterans Affairs.

Reduced Tuition for South Dakota National Guardmembers
SDCL 33-6-5 - 33-6-8.1

Guard members, who meet the requirements for admission, are eligible for a fifty percent (50%) reduction in tuition charges at any state supported school for undergraduate programs up to 128 credits and graduate programs up to 32 credits.

OR,

one program of study, approved by the state Board of Education, at any state vocational school upon payment of fifty percent (50%) of the tuition charges.

The receipt of federal educational benefits does not affect eligibility for this program. To qualify the guardmember must:

be a resident of this state and a member of the SD Army or Air Guard throughout each semester or vocational program for which he or she applies for benefits.
have completed required active duty for training.
attend 90% of drills and training periods and maintain a satisfactory academic grade level.
provide proper notice to the institution at time of registration for the term in which benefits are sought.

Free Tuition to Child or Spouse of South Dakota National Guardmember Disabled or Deceased in the Line of Duty
SDCL 33-6-10

Free tuition to child or spouse of National Guard member disabled or deceased in line of duty--Administration. Any resident of this state who is less than twenty-five years of age and whose parent has died or has sustained a total disability, permanent in nature, resulting from duty as a member of the South Dakota National Guard, while on state or federal active duty or any authorized training duty, is entitled to tuition without cost and is entitled to attend any course or courses of study in any state educational institution under the control and management of the Board of Regents. Any person who is a resident of this state whose spouse has died or has sustained a total disability, permanent in nature, resulting from duty as a member of the South Dakota National Guard, while on state or federal active duty or any authorized training duty, is entitled to tuition without cost and is entitled to attend any course or courses of study in any state educational institution under the control and management of the Board of Regents.

The application and receipt of the benefits of this section are governed by the provisions of §§ 13-55-6 to 13-55-9, inclusive.

"SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES"

NOTE: Special distinctive license plates are available for veterans who are residents of South Dakota. For additional information on eligibility and application procedures, visit the SD Department of Revenue and Regulation website at www.state.sd.us/drr2/motorvehicle/plates.htm.

Air Force Cross

Bronze Star

Bronze Star wtih Valor Device

Disabled Veteran

Distinguished Flying Cross

Distinguished Service Cross

Gold Star

Medal of Honor

Navy Cross