To join the American Legion, you must have served at least one day on ACTIVE DUTY during any of these periods of conflict:

April 6, 1917 to November 11, 1918 (World War I)
December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946 (World War II)
June 25, 1950 to January 31, 1955 (Korean War)
February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975 (Vietnam War)
August 24, 1982 to July 31, 1984 (Lebanon/Grenada)
December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990 (Operation Just Cause - Panama)
*August 2, 1990 to today (Operation Desert Shield/Storm/Iraqi Freedom)

A copy of your DD214 showing dates and character of service is required at application.

To join the SAL you must be a male descendant (includes stepsons and adopted sons but does not include in-laws) of...

...a member of The American Legion
...or a Veteran who died in service during any of the qualifying periods of conflict listed above
...or of a Veteran who served during one of the qualifying periods of conflict, was honorably discharged, and died subsequent to their service

Those men who are qualified for Legion membership through their own military service are also qualified for SAL membership, and are encouraged to join.

A copy of The American Legion membership card or DD214 of the Veteran through whom you are qualified is required at application.

To join the Auxiliary you must be a woman who...

...is eligible for membership in The American Legion
...or is the mother, wife, daughter, sister, granddaughter, great-grand-daughter, or grandmother of members of The American Legion
...or is the mother, wife, daughter, sister, granddaughter, great-grand-daughter, or grandmother of deceased veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces during the listed war periods
...or is a step relative to a qualified or deceased veteran.

Note that, as with the SAL, in-law relatives to the qualified Veteran are not eligible for membership.

A copy of The American Legion membership card or DD214 of the Veteran through whom you are qualified is required at application.