United States Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act of 2025

This bill would recognize service in the United States Cadet Nurse Corps between July 1, 1943, and December 31, 1948, as active duty service for the purpose of certain federal benefits. Qualifying individuals would be eligible for honorary veteran status and burial benefits, though they would not be eligible for interment at Arlington National Cemetery or most other Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. Additionally, the Department of Defense would be authorized to issue honorable discharges to these individuals and provide service medals, plaques, or grave markers in their honor.

This bill affects individuals who served as members of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps between July 1, 1943, and December 31, 1948, by recognizing their service as active duty. These individuals would become eligible for honorary veteran status and specific burial and memorial benefits, though they would remain ineligible for most other Department of Veterans Affairs benefits. Additionally, the Department of Defense is affected as it would be required to issue honorable discharges to qualifying members and is authorized to produce commendations, plaques, or grave markers in their honor.

• Recognition of active duty service. Designates service in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps between July 1, 1943, and December 31, 1948, as active duty service for the purpose of qualifying for specific veteran benefits.
• Issuance of honorable discharges. Directs the Department of Defense to provide discharges under honorable conditions to eligible corps members based on the nature and duration of their service.
• Eligibility for burial and memorial benefits. Entitles qualifying individuals to honorary veteran status and burial benefits, though it excludes interment or inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery and most other Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.
• Commemorative honors and medals. Authorizes the Department of Defense to create and distribute service medals, commendations, memorial plaques, or grave markers to honor those who served in the corps.

The bill reclassifies service in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps between 1943 and 1948 as active duty service, thereby extending existing veteran burial and memorial benefits to qualifying members. It also authorizes the Department of Defense to issue formal discharges and commendations under standards similar to those used for other recognized military service periods.

This bill seeks to recognize service in the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps between 1943 and 1948 as active duty service, granting qualifying individuals honorary veteran status and eligibility for specific burial and memorial benefits. It also directs the Department of Defense to issue honorable discharges where warranted and authorizes the creation of medals or markers to honor their service.