Military Credit Veterans Preference

Military Credit

If you have not done so already, request a military transcript of credits you have earned from your military service. Each branch has its own system for recording military education and experiences.

Locate one of the many accredited colleges and universities that participate in offering life experience credits, as well as credits for certain military schools and courses. At your request, each service branch will send an official copy of your military transcript, which can be transcribed by the receiving institution.

For more information, contact your respective military branch.

Veterans Preference

Are you entitled to veteran status pursuant to N.J.S.A. 11A:5-1?

The New Jersey State Police provides several distinct benefits for current and former US Armed Forces members when applying for a career with the NJSP. The following sections identify these benefits and their specific requirements.

Veterans Preference Overview

Eligible Veterans are provided an absolute Veterans Preference when applying for a New Jersey State Police position. Qualified Veterans who receive a passing score are placed at the top of the final scoring, ahead of Non-Veterans, regardless of their scores.

Please note that Federal Veterans preference is not the same as New Jersey State Veterans preference. Veteran’s preference in New Jersey is more stringent and is established by State Law PL 2007, Chap 115.

Veterans Preference Qualifying War Era Service Dates

The amount of active duty service required to qualify for Veterans Preference varies by war era. Regardless of the war era, active duty service accrued during the following Reserve or National Guard training obligations does NOT count towards the Veterans Preference active duty requirement:

To qualify for a Veterans Preference, the following war eras require at least 90 days of active duty service, begun within the specified windows:

To qualify for Veterans Preference, the following war eras require:

At least 14 days of active duty service begun within the specified window OR at least one day of active duty service started within the specified window and received a service incurred injury or disability
The service was in the geographic area or on a ship patrolling the territorial water of the nation (or in airspace over it, in the case of Bosnia/Herzegovina)

Lebanon Crisis: July 1, 1958 to November 1, 1958
Lebanon Peacekeeping Mission: September 26, 1982 to December 1, 1987
Grenada: October 23, 1983 to November 21, 1983
Panama: December 20, 1989 to January 31, 1990
Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm: August 2, 1990 to February 28, 1991
Operations Southern and Northern Watch: August 27, 1992 to current
Somalia: December 5, 1992 to March 31, 1994
Bosnia and Herzegovina: November 20, 1995 to December 20, 1998
Haiti: September 19, 1994 to March 31, 1995
Operation Enduring Freedom: September 11, 2001 to current
Operation Iraqi Freedom: March 19, 2003 to current

Required Supporting Documentation

Member 4 copies of DD214 and/or DD215 showing service during qualifying period and in relevant qualifying duty locations.
Discharge document showing Honorable Discharge; if not annotated on Member 4 portion of DD214.
Additional supporting documentation may be provided if your DD214 does not explicitly identify relevant and qualifying service, such as an Award document or military orders.
VA disability rating documentation (if applicable)

If you need to obtain copies of your military record:

General Services Administration
National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
Website: http://vetrecs.archives.gov
Phone: 866.272.6272

The US Department of Veterans Affairs eBenefits site lets veterans download various letters for verification purposes from their website:

https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits

College Credit for Military Service

US Armed Forces veterans who served at least two years in an Active Duty status (does not need to be consecutive time) may qualify for a reduction in the minimum education requirement for application to the NJSP as follows:

An applicant must have 30 college credits from an accredited college or university PLUS at least 24 months of active duty military service.

Military experience, in active duty or inactive duty (drilling) status can be otherwise used to satisfy the 104 weeks of work experience requirement necessary to apply when the applicant has an associate degree or at least 60 college credits for an accredited college or university. The 104 weeks are not required to be consecutive.

Military College Transcripts

If you have not done so already, request a military transcript of credits you have earned from your military service. Each branch has its system for recording military education and experiences.

Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard (Active Duty, Reserve, and Veterans; you can access your transcript via the Joint Services Transcript: Home page (doded.mil)

Air Force: If you are or were in the Air Force, you will not have a JST unless:

(1) you took another service course that has ACE Military Guide credit, check the ACE Military Guide online, or

(2) you took an Air Force course that has ACE Military Guide credit. Air Force and Space Force members should contact the Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) for transcripts. You can order an official transcript through the Air University (website: Air University Transcript Requests (af.edu).

Please note that your military transcript alone does not signify college credit. Instead, it is a recommendation and must be provided to an accredited college/university for their review and consideration of which courses/credit hours they will grant. Locate one of the many accredited colleges and universities that offer life experience credits and credits for certain military schools and courses. Each service branch will send an official copy of your military transcript at your request, which the receiving institution can transcribe.

General Veterans Questions

If you have questions about specific eligibility periods or documents necessary to establish veterans’ preference or other related questions, contact:
NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
Attn: DVS-VBB
PO Box 340
Trenton, NJ 08625-0340
Phone: 888-865-8387
Fax: 609-530-6970
Website: New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (nj.gov)