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State Veteran's Employment Preference and Federal Protected Veteran Information

UTSA is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Females, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Our campuses are accessible to persons with disabilities.

Texas Veteran Definition and Preference Eligibility

In accordance with Texas legislation, an eligible veteran, surviving spouse of a veteran or an orphan of a veteran is entitled to preference in the selection process over other applicants who do not have greater qualifications.

Veteran

  • An individual who served in
    • the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps of the United States or the United States Public Health Service under 42 U.S.C. Section 201 et seq., as amended;
    • the Texas military forces as defined by Section 437.001; or
    • an auxiliary service of one of those branches of the armed forces; and has been honorably discharged from the branch of the service in which the person served.
  • has been honorably discharged from the branch of the service in which the person served.

Surviving Spouse of a Veteran

  • A person who is the spouse of a veteran who was killed while on active duty; and
  • the spouse has not remarried.

Orphan of a Veteran

  • A person who is the child of a veteran who was killed while on active duty.

Federal Protected Veteran Category Definitions

Disabled Veteran 

This term means (A) a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or (B) a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

Armed Forces Service Medal Veteran 

This term means any veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order No. 12985. Note: With respect to this category, contractors may want to consider requiring veterans who self-identify as an "Armed Forces Service Medal Veteran" to provide a copy of their DD Form 214 otherwise known as their Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.

Recently Separated Veteran 

This term means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

Active Duty Wartime or Campaign Badge Veteran 

This term means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.