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Veteran Priority of Services
As a Veteran of the Armed Services, you are a valued member of Maryland's civilian workforce with the
skills, training, and character to meet the toughest challenges faced by today's employers. The U.S.
Department of Labor (USDOL) provides grant funds to the State of Maryland providing employment and
training services to eligible residents and workers. As a condition to receiving those funds, priority of
service (POS) is given to qualified veterans when referring individuals to job openings, USDOL funded training
programs and related services. In accordance with the implementation of the Veterans' Priority Provisions of the
"Jobs for Veterans Act" (PL 107-288), qualified veterans receive priority referral to services over non-veterans
as determined by each program's mandatory eligibility criteria.
The Uniform Services Employment and Reemployment
Rights Act (USERRA) protects the rights of men and women absent from their jobs in order to serve in this
country's uniformed services. If you are having problems returning to your former employer, contact your DOL/VETS
representative. USERRA is administered by the Department of Labor (DOL)
through the Veterans Employment Service (VETS). Veterans, National Guard Personnel, and Reservist can contact the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for benefits earned while on active
duty. DOL/VETS also provides technical assistance to employers on USERRA rights to their employees who are members
of the uniformed services. Employers can download the
USERRA poster from the DOL/VETS site.
Maryland's Department of Labor , Licensing and Regulation ( DLLR) strives to ensure all Veterans and Transitioning
Service Members have access to the tools needed to find good jobs with good wages and career pathways. DLLR accomplishes
its mission through a variety of programs, including services provided by dedicated individuals who work in Maryland's
34 One Stop Career Centers. Veterans are encouraged to avail themselves of these opportunities. For more information
on program eligibility and Veteran Priority details, visit or contact your local
One-Stop Career Center. Veteran Employment and Training, as well as
Career Center staff, are available to explain mandatory program
eligibility and veterans' priority. Additional information regarding services and resources is found at
DLLR's Maryland Workforce Exchange Virtual One Stop (MWE-VOS).
Examples of specific programs and services available to veterans include the following:
- Maryland's Commitment to Veterans
(MCV) (1-877-770-4801, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) is a program that falls under the Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene. MCV assists veterans and their families with coordinating behavioral health services,
including mental health and substance abuse, with either the VA or Maryland's public health system. MCV facilitates
and covers the transportation costs to behavioral health appointments for veterans.
- Maryland Higher Education Commission
serves as a State Approving Agency (SAA) for the Department of Veterans Affairs to grant approval for post-secondary
institutions and training establishments accepting G. I. Bill education benefits for a veteran, reservist, and/or
dependent enrolled in their institutions.
- Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
(DHCD) works with partners to finance housing opportunities and revitalize great places for Maryland citizens
to live, work, and prosper. DHCD's Maryland Mortgage Program
offers a variety of loans with great rates and generous down payment and settlement cost assistance for veterans
and military families.
- The Warriors to Work program provides career
guidance and support services to Wounded Warriors interested in transitioning to the civilian workforce. An
individual's skills and experience are matched to the needs of hiring managers. These services are also open
to registered family members and caregivers.
- Helmets to Hardhats program connects men and women
from the Armed Forces with quality career opportunities in the construction industry. DLLR works in partnership
with the Department of Veterans Affairs providing services facilitating transition to employment.
- Troops to Energy Jobs is designed to help veterans
make a successful move to a rewarding career in the energy industry.
- The Work
Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) (PDF document, download
Adobe Acrobat for free) is a Federal tax credit available to employers who hire veterans and individuals from other
eligible target groups with significant barriers to employment. Each year, employers claim over $1 billion in tax
credits under the WOTC program. The success and growth of this income tax credit for business is beneficial for
all who participate, while increasing America's economic growth and productivity.
- The Military Personnel and Service-Disabled Veterans No-Interest Loan Program is administered by the
Department of Business and Economic Development
(DBED) in consultation with the Maryland Department of Veterans
Affairs. The Program was established to assist (1) Military reservists and National Guard members called to active
duty; (2) service-disabled veterans, and (3) businesses which employ or are owned by such persons.
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