PREC 6-95    Classification of Service -- Attendance at the United States Military Academy Preparatory School or Naval Academy Preparatory School     Citation: Vet. Aff. Op. Gen Couns. Prec. 6-95, VAOPGCPREC 6-95, 1995

QUESTION PRESENTED:

Whether service consisting solely of attendance at the United States Military Academy Preparatory School or United States Naval Academy Preparatory School may be considered “active duty” for purposes of title 38, United States Code.

HELD:

The analysis of O.G.C. Prec. 18-94 regarding characterization of service while attending the United States Air Force Academy Preparatory School applies equally to service consisting of attendance at the United States Military Academy Preparatory School or the United States Naval Academy Preparatory School.  Accordingly, persons transferred to these schools from active duty remain on active duty status while in attendance at the schools.  For members entering the USMAPS and the USNAPS from reserve components and the Army National Guard, attendance at the schools may generally be characterized as active duty for training.  However, in adjudication of individual claims of persons who enrolled in the USNAPS from the Naval Reserve or Marine Corps Reserve, it may be necessary to confirm from service records that such persons attended the USNAPS in the status of reserves called to active duty for training pur­poses.  In addition, it may be necessary in individual cases of persons entering the USMAPS and USNAPS from civilian life to examine the pertinent service records to confirm that such persons entered the service in reserve status in order to attend the preparatory school.