It is the policy of Escambia County to give preference to eligible veterans and spouses of veterans in the filling of non-exempt vacant positions, in accordance with state law requirements. Veteran’s preference does not apply to certain exempt positions, such as department directors. 

Veterans' Preference Eligible Groups

• Disabled veteran
• Spouse of disabled veteran , MIA, captured, detained or interned in line of duty
• Wartime veteran
• Unremarried widow or widower of disabled veteran
• Mother, father, legal guardian or unremarried widow or widower of veteran who died in line of duty
• Veterans defined in Section FS 1.01 m (14)

• A current member of any reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces Reserve or the Florida National Guard

Eligibility

• A veteran with an existing compensable service-connected disability who is eligible for or receiving compensation, disability retirement or pension under public laws administered by the DVA and the Department of Defense/Disabled Veterans.
• The spouse of a veteran who cannot qualify for employment because of a total and permanent service-connected disability, or the spouse of a veteran missing in action, captured in line of duty by a hostile force, or detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power.
• A veteran of any war who has served at least one day on active duty during a wartime period as defined in FS 295.07, Section 1.01 (14), excluding active duty for training, and who was discharged under honorable conditions from the Armed Forces of the United States of America or who has been awarded a campaign or expeditionary medal.
• The unremarried widow or widower of a veteran who died of a service-connected disability.
• The mother, father, legal guardian, or unremarried widow or widower of a service member who died as a result of military service under combat-related conditions as verified by the United States Department of Defense.
• A veteran as defined in Section FS 1.01 m (14), excluding active duty for training. A person who has served in any branch of the Armed Forces and has been honorably discharged.

• A current member of any reserve component of the United States Armed Forces or the Florida National Guard. 

Claiming Preference

When claiming Veteran's Preference you must:

• Complete the Veteran's Preference section of the job application
• Submit Veterans' Preference documentation (DD 214 required when claiming Veteran’s Preference)
• Failure to upload the required documentation will result in Veteran’s Preference not being awarded to candidate. Documents that arrive after the closing of a posting will not be accepted.
• Do not submit originals, as documents cannot be returned.

Documents may be:

• Attached to the application
• Scanned and e-mailed to recruiter@myescambia.com
• Faxed to 850-595-3020
• Hand-delivered by the job seekers or representative or
• Mailed to:
  • Escambia County Human Resources
  • 221 Palafox Place, Suite 200 Pensacola, FL 32502

Documentation Required

Veteran

• Form DD-214 (member 4) or
• Military discharge papers or equivalent certification from the VA listing:
  • military status,
  • dates of service
  • discharge type and
  • campaign and expeditionary medals awarded

Disabled Veterans

• Form DD-214 (member 4) or
• Military discharge papers or equivalent certification from the DVA listing:
  • military status,
  • dates of service,
  • discharge type and
  • campaign and expeditionary medals awarded
  • documents from the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans' Affairs or the Division of Veterans' Affairs certifying to the existence of a compensable service disability dated within the year

Spouse of disabled veteran, missing in action, captured or forcibly detained

• Form DD-214 (member 4) or
• Military discharge papers or equivalent certification from the VA listing:
  • military status,
  • dates of service and
  • Discharge type
• Certification from the DVA that the veteran is totally and permanently disabled
• Evidence of marriage to the veteran and a statement that he/she is still married to him/her when applying for employment
• Proof that the disabled veteran cannot qualify for employment because of the service-connected disability
• A document from the DVA certifying that the person on active duty is listed as:
  • missing in action,
  • captured in the line of duty, or
  • forcibly detained/interned in the line of duty by a foreign government or power

Unremarried widow or widower of veteran who died of service connected disability

• Document from the DOD or DVA certifying the service-connected death of the veteran
• Evidence of marriage and a statement that the widow or widower has not remarried

Mother, father, legal guardian or unremarried spouse of veteran who died as a result of military service under combat related conditions

• Document from the DOD or DVA certifying the service-connected death of the veteran while on duty
• Evidence of marriage and a statement that the widow or widower has not remarried
• Veteran’s birth certificate, adoption papers or other proper court document as evidence of parentage.
• The legal guardian shall show the proper court documents establishing the legal authority for the guardian 

Current member of any reserve component of the US Armed Forces or the Florida National Guard

• Document from their commanding officer or military human resources department stating the dates of their military service to establish that they are currently active

Wartime periods as defined by law include:

• World War II: December 7, 1941 to December 31, 1946
• Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950 to January 31, 1955
• Vietnam Era: February 28, 1961 to May 7, 1975
• Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990 to January 2, 1992
• Operation Enduring Freedom: October 7, 2001 to TBD
• Operation Iraqi Freedom: March 19, 2003 to TBD

• Operation New Dawn: September 1, 2010 to TBD

Promotional Provisions for County Employees

Escambia County employees who leave their employment to serve in the armed forces may be eligible for Veteran's Preference for promotion upon their return to the workforce.

To be eligible, the veteran must have had an honorable discharge from the armed forces and be reinstated as a county employee within the time frame prescribed to their respective military tours.

Upon reinstatement, the veteran will provide for his permanent records, a copy of the latest documents issued upon his discharge: The DD-214, or military discharge papers, or equivalent certification from the DVA meeting all the requirements of FAC 55A-7.0111

Summary of Changes effective July 1, 2014

A veteran, as defined in section 1.01m (14) Florida Statutes, does not have to be a Florida resident or have served during a wartime period to claim veterans’ preference. Current members of any reserve component of the United States Armed Forces or the Florida National Guard are now eligible for Veteran's Preference in employment. Also, the mother, father and legal guardian of a service member who died as a result of military service under combat-related conditions, as verified by the U.S. Department of Defense, are now also eligible for Veteran’s Preference in employment.