Qualifying Situations

Other situations that count as time served in a combat zone or qualified hazardous duty area are:

• Missing status such as missing in action or prisoner of war time counts as time served
• Support personnel including Red Cross, accredited correspondents, and civilian personnel acting under the direction of the Armed Forces
• Hospitalization outside the U.S. and up to five years of hospitalization in the U.S. as a result of an injury while serving in a combat zone or a contingency operation