The online job application on careers.dc.gov includes a question about the preference we give to military veterans. Some of the terms have specific legal meanings so to avoid any ambiguity, they are listed here along with their definitions and a link to the relevant sections of US Code.

Active Duty

Full-time duty in the Armed Forces, other than active duty for training (38 U.S.C. § 101(21)(a))

Armed forces

United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard (5 U.S.C. § 2101)

Compensation

A monthly payment made by the Secretary to a veteran because of service-connected disability, or to a surviving spouse, child, or parent of a veteran because of the service-connected death of the veteran occurring before January 1, 1957. (38 U.S.C. § 101(13))

General Discharge

A separation from the naval service under honorable conditions. The issuance of a discharge under honorable conditions is contingent upon military behavior and performance of duty which is not sufficiently meritorious to warrant an Honorable Discharge (32 CFR 724.109(a)(2))

Honorable Discharge

A separation from the naval service with honor. The issuance of an Honorable Discharge is contingent upon proper military behavior and performance of duty (32 CFR 724.109(a)(1))

Pension

A monthly or other periodic payment made by the Secretary to a veteran because of service, age, or non-service-connected disability, or to a surviving spouse or child of a veteran because of the non-service-connected death of the veteran.

Retiree of the armed forces

A member or former member of the armed forces who is entitled, under statute, to retired, retirement, or retainer pay on account of service as a member. (5 USC § 2108(5))

Service Connected

With respect to disability or death, that such disability was incurred or aggravated, or that the death resulted from a disability incurred or aggravated, in line of duty in the active military, naval, air, or space service (38 U.S.C. § 101(16))

Veteran

A person who served in the active military, naval, air, or space service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable; (38 U.S.C. §101)

War

The Spanish-American War, the Mexican border period, World War I, World War II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam era, the Persian Gulf War, and the period beginning on the date of any future declaration of war by the Congress and ending on the date prescribed by Presidential proclamation or concurrent resolution of the Congress (38 U.S.C. § 101(11)) as well as any contingency operations as defined under 10 U.S.C. § 101 (a)(13)