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Operation Recognition — 1,700 Diplomas Since 1999, and You Need Not Live Here Any More

Nebraska awards an honorary high school diploma, jointly by the Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Department of Education, to honorably discharged veterans who left school to serve in WWII (7 Dec 1940 – 31 Dec 1946), Korea (25 June 1950 – 31 Jan 1955) or Vietnam (1 Nov 1955 – 7 May 1975) and did not complete their education afterwards. More than 1,700 have been awarded since 1999. FORMER NEBRASKA RESIDENTS LIVING OUT OF STATE REMAIN ELIGIBLE, so moving away did not close it.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

Nebraska awards an honorary high school diploma, jointly by the Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Department of Education, to honorably discharged veterans who left school to serve in WWII (7 Dec 1940 – 31 Dec 1946), Korea (25 June 1950 – 31 Jan 1955) or Vietnam (1 Nov 1955 – 7 May 1975) and did not complete their education afterwards. More than 1,700 have been awarded since 1999. FORMER NEBRASKA RESIDENTS LIVING OUT OF STATE REMAIN ELIGIBLE, so moving away did not close it.

What it's worth: An honorary high school diploma from the state

  • WWII: 7 December 1940 – 31 December 1946.
  • Korea: 25 June 1950 – 31 January 1955.
  • VIETNAM: 1 NOVEMBER 1955 – 7 MAY 1975 — an earlier start date than many other programmes use.
  • The veteran must have left school to serve AND not completed their education afterwards.
  • An honorable discharge is required.
  • FORMER NEBRASKA RESIDENTS LIVING OUT OF STATE REMAIN ELIGIBLE.
  • Awarded jointly by NDVA and the Nebraska Department of Education; more than 1,700 since 1999.

Who is entitled to it

  • You are in one of the groups who can pursue this.
  • The discharge was honorable.
  • School was interrupted by service.
  • Nebraska awards it.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

  1. 1Apply to the Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs, which works with the Department of Education on the award.
  2. 2Check the Vietnam window carefully — it opens on 1 November 1955, earlier than many Nebraska programmes.
  3. 3Send the discharge papers. NDVA also helps recover a lost DD-214 at no charge.
  4. 4If you have left Nebraska, apply anyway. Former residents remain eligible.
  5. 5Ask whether a ceremony is planned; districts often present these publicly.
Form
Operation Recognition application, NDVA
File with
Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs
Documents you will need
dd214
No renewal
Once granted it does not need renewing.
Worth knowingThe Vietnam start date of 1 November 1955 is unusually early. Someone told they served too soon to qualify should have the date checked against this programme's own window.

Sources

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.