Military Employment Preference
Military Employment Preference: TEA provides Military Employment Preference in accordance with Texas Government Code Chapter 657. Individuals who meet the eligibility requirements established by state law are entitled to a preference in employment over other applicants for the same position who do not have greater qualifications. Applicants seeking Military Employment Preference should review the eligibility and documentation requirements below before submitting an application.
Who Is Eligible for Military Employment Preference?
The following individuals may qualify for Military Employment Preference:
1. A veteran with a disability
2. A veteran
3. The spouse of a member of the United States Armed Forces or Texas National Guard serving on active duty
4. The spouse of a veteran if the spouse is the primary source of income for the household and the veteran has a total disability rating based either on a service-connected disability rating of at least 70 percent or on individual unemployability
5. A veteran's surviving spouse who has not remarried
6. An orphan of a veteran if the veteran was killed while on active duty
For purposes of Military Employment Preference, a veteran is an individual who served in qualifying military service and was honorably discharged. A veteran with a disability is a veteran who has a service-connected disability and is classified as disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the applicable branch of military service.
Documentation Requirements
Applicants claiming Military Employment Preference must submit documentation sufficient for TEA to verify eligibility for the preference category claimed.
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| Preference Category | Supporting Documentation |
|---|---|
| Veteran | DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) or other official military documentation establishing qualifying service and honorable discharge |
| Veteran with a Disability | DD Form 214 or other documentation establishing qualifying service and honorable discharge, and official documentation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or applicable military branch verifying a service-connected disability |
| Surviving Spouse Who Has Not Remarried | Marriage certificate and DD Form 1300, or other official documentation sufficient to establish eligibility |
| Orphan of a Veteran Killed While on Active Duty | Birth certificate and DD Form 1300, or other official documentation sufficient to establish eligibility |
| Spouse of a Member of the United States Armed Forces or Texas National Guard Serving on Active Duty | Marriage certificate and documentation verifying the service member's current active-duty status |
| Spouse of a Veteran with a Qualifying Disability | Marriage certificate, documentation establishing the veteran's qualifying military service, documentation verifying the required disability rating or individual unemployability, and any additional documentation necessary to establish eligibility |
TEA may request additional documentation when the materials submitted are not sufficient to verify eligibility.
Important: Self-identifying as eligible for Military Employment Preference does not by itself establish eligibility. Human Resources must review the supporting documentation and confirm eligibility before Military Employment Preference is applied at any stage of the selection process, including the interview process.
How to Claim Military Employment Preference
To claim Military Employment Preference:
1. Complete the Military Employment Preference questions in the employment application.
2. Identify the applicable preference category.
3. Upload supporting documentation sufficient to verify eligibility for that category.
4. Verify that all uploaded documents are complete and legible.
5. Submit the application and supporting documentation by the application deadline.
Human Resources will review the information and documentation submitted and determine whether the applicant qualifies for Military Employment Preference.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Yes. Applicants seeking Military Employment Preference must identify the applicable preference through the employment application and submit supporting documentation so TEA can verify eligibility.
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No. Claiming Military Employment Preference does not by itself guarantee an interview. TEA must first determine that the applicant qualifies for Military Employment Preference and meets the minimum qualifications for the position.
For each announced open position, TEA applies the interview requirements established by Texas Government Code Section 657.0047:
- If six or fewer applicants are interviewed, at least one qualified applicant eligible for Military Employment Preference must be interviewed.
- If more than six applicants are interviewed, at least 20 percent of the applicants interviewed must be individuals qualified for Military Employment Preference.
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No. Military Employment Preference does not guarantee an offer of employment. An individual who qualifies for the preference is entitled to preference over another applicant for the same position who does not have greater qualifications.
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TEA must be able to verify eligibility before Military Employment Preference can be applied. If sufficient documentation is not submitted, TEA may be unable to consider the applicant eligible for the preference.
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TEA may request additional documentation when the materials submitted are insufficient to verify eligibility. If TEA is unable to verify eligibility based on the information provided, Military Employment Preference will not be applied.
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Veterans may obtain military service records, including a DD Form 214, through the National Archives or other authorized military records services.
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Questions regarding Military Employment Preference, eligibility requirements, supporting documentation, or the application process may be directed to TEA's Veterans Liaison.
Veterans Liaison
Paula Finnegan, Talent Acquisition Manager
paula.finnegan@tea.texas.gov
Texas Education Agency