Eligibility

Overview

National Registry

Eligibility

Application

Under the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015, Public Law 114-265, 130 Stat. 1376 (114th Cong.) (the “CGM Act”), Section 3 defines “Filipino Veterans of World War II” as follows:

Any individual who served:

  • honorably at any time during the period beginning on July 26, 1941, and ending on December 31,1946;
  • in an active-duty status under the command of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East; and
  • (A) within the Philippine Commonwealth Army, the Philippine Scouts, the Philippine Constabulary, Recognized Guerrilla units, the New Philippine Scouts, the First Filipino Infantry Regiment, the Second Filipino Infantry Battalion, or the First Reconnaissance Battalion; or
  • (B) commanding or serving in a unit described in paragraph (A) as a United States military officer or enlisted soldier;

Eligibility of applicants to receive the Congressional Gold Medal in the United States

  • Living Veterans who reside in the United States.
  • Next of Kin of deceased veterans, but resides in the United States.
  • Next of Kin of deceased veterans interred in the Philippines, but reside in the United States.
  • Next of Kin of deceased veterans interred in the United States, but reside in Canada, Europe, Australia, South America, South Korea, or anywhere in the world (will be evaluated on a case by case basis and granted an exemption).
  • Other exceptions on eligibility will be evaluated on a case by case basis.

Eligibility of Applicants to Receive Congressional Gold Medal in the Philippines:

  • Living Veterans who reside in the Philippines.
  • Next of Kin of deceased veterans, but resides in the Philippines.
  • Next of Kin of deceased veterans interred in the Philippines, but reside in the Philippines.
  • Other exception on eligibility will be determined on a case by case basis by the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO).

How is eligibility for the CGM Award determined?

As both the proponent of the CGM legislation and the CGM POC, FilVetREP has created an eligibility committee (the “Eligibility Committee”) which is tasked with the responsibility of reviewing and vetting potential CGM Awardees under the CGM Act (the “Eligibility Process”). The Eligibility Process requires the potential CGM Awardee (if the potential CGM Awardee is living) or the potential CGM Awardee’s next-of-kin (if the potential CGM Awardee is deceased) to fill out and submit to the Eligibility Committee a Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Application (the “CGM Application”). 

​The Eligibility Committee is composed of regional directors, each of whom is responsible for determining CGM eligibility for Filipino Veterans of World War II (or their next-of-kin) residing within their assigned regions. Currently, there are twelve (12) such regions. The regional director assigned to the region in which the CGM applicant resides examines the CGM Application and determines whether the CGM applicant is eligible as a “Filipino Veteran of World War II” under the CGM Act. Once CGM eligibility is confirmed, the name of the Filipino Veteran of World War II or his/her next-of-kin and all related information are entered into, and become part of, the National Veterans Registry. The National Veterans Registry is owned and managed by FilVetREP. FilVetREP considers the National Veterans Registry to be confidential and proprietary, only to be used in connection with the CGM and CGM-related activities.

​Veterans and Next-of-Kin residing in the Philippines will register through the Philippine Veterans point of contact (POC). The POC will coordinate submission of verified applications with the FilVetREP Registry POC headquartered in the United States.

Note: The Filipino veteran of World War II or his/her next-of-kin (if deceased) must submit a CGM application to his/her assigned region in order to obtain a determination or confirmation of his/her eligibility under the CGM act, and to receive a framed copy of the CGM act and a bronze replica of the CGM, where possible. The National Veterans Registry will serve as the official record of confirmed CGM awardees, and will be kept and maintained by FilVetREP for historical and other CGM-related purposes.

Resource Links for Veterans Documentation

UNITED STATES
National Archives:

  • https://www.archives.gov/veterans

National Personnel Records Center

Access to Archival Database

US Veteran Affairs Records

PHILIPPINES
Philippines Veterans Affairs Office

FOREIGN COUNTRIES
Philippine Embassy

Overview

National Registry

Eligibility

Application