How many years do you have to be active in one of the armed forces to be considered a veteran?????

No, once you have finished your military service, and leave with a honorable or "Exemplary" discharge papers, you are a veteran, regardless of whether you served in combat or not. I personally do not count people who were discharged during training as veterans, or anybody who has a self inflicted injury. And I do not consider anybody who is convicted of a serious criminal offense as being worthy as being called a veteran. But thats just my humble opinion.

2 year and an honorable discharge from active duty will make you eligible for most vet benefits and enable you to claim independent student status for college. Has nothing to do with combat.

None. Once you are deployed to a foreign counrty during combat you are officially a veteran and you carry that with you forever when you return home

A minimum enlistment.

It depends on which organization, but ranges from 30 days to 2 years. The two below are the most common requirements you will ever find: The VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) requires 30 consecutive days, 60 non-consecutive days in Korea, to have received hostile fire or imminent danger pay, or to have received a campaign medal for overseas service. Short answer, 30 days. (which means anyone who has even gotten 4 weeks through Basic Training.) The VA (Department of Veteran's Affairs) requires a minimum of 2 years of active duty

once you are done serving your signed term then you are a vet.

A minimum of one hitch, 2-4 years.

you must serve 180 consecutive days to be considered a veteran in the armed forces.

6 years Army active