Should You Disclose Your Military Experience in a Job Application? (2024)

FAQs

Should You Disclose Your Military Experience in a Job Application? ›

Disclosing your military affiliation and military experience is pretty much required if you plan on using the experience for career progression. Whether you have four or 20+ years of service, your support for the country counts as career experience, and you should be proud of it.

However, an employer should not ask an applicant the reason he or she was discharged from the military or request to see military discharge papers (DD-214), except when directly related to the job or to determine veteran's preference.

Your military experience is an asset. You should own it proudly. Don't be afraid to include your military title and rank in your resume, but provide a civilian translation as well. As you write the work experience section of your resume, list your military positions with separate subheadings.

Here's the good news: As a service member, you're part of one of the best-trained workforces in the world. You have skills that employers value: discipline, work ethic and teamwork. Your military experience also has given you training that you can put to work in the civilian world.

Upon receipt of consent of the former service member, employers will most likely be given a copy of the DD214. This report provides a general overview of a person's experience in the military. Employers should examine the form thoroughly to understand if the applicant is fit for the job they're applying for.

Disclosing Military Experience on a Job Application

While answering the question is not necessarily required and can be left blank, not disclosing any affiliation could potentially result in legal employment termination if the military affiliation conflicts with employment requirements.

Does Your Military Record Show Up on Background Check? Your military record will not automatically appear in a general background check unless your potential employer requests it. Employers will need to get your permission to request your military record.

Military skills and experience are highly valuable in the workplace. Veterans bring a unique set of skills that can greatly contribute to the success of an organization. Their experience in the military has taught them leadership and problem solving skills that are transferable to work settings.

Your military experience is valuable to many employers. Not many people have your proven work ethic and dedication. Like everything, finding the right job is a matter of being prepared and doing the work.

If you're still on active duty, it's totally acceptable to list your current job title and military experiences – especially if you don't know what you want to do after the military. But when you're applying for jobs in the private sector, you need to speak to your ability to do a specific type of job.

Does the FBI prefer military experience? ›

A law enforcement or military background is not required. Because of the breadth and scope of the FBI's mission, it looks for candidates with a wide variety of backgrounds, not just law enforcement or military experience. The FBI seeks special agents with any occupation that requires a college degree.

May an employer ask if an applicant is a "disabled veteran" if it is seeking to hire someone with a disability? Yes. Although employers generally may not ask for medical information from applicants prior to making a job offer, they may do so for affirmative action purposes.

Supplement the information from your VMET document with information from your DD Form 214, performance and evaluation reports, training certificates and DA Form 1059s, military and civilian transcripts, diplomas, and other certifications. Use the DD214 to verify your rank and time in grade.

If you have military experience relevant to the job you want, you should list it in your resume's work experience section. Treat your military service the same as any other professional work experience by listing it chronologically and adding your dates of service and positions held.

Employers may ask to see copy 1 of the DD-214 to confirm dates served in the military. They may also ask to see copy 4 of the DD-214 (the copy that shows the type of discharge) if they have a good business reason for asking for it.

DD-214 reports will also provide the candidate's discharge type. While the type of discharge can be viewed by an employer, the employer should not ask the candidate to provide a reason as to why they were discharged from the military during the hiring process.

Mandatory service fosters national unity and a greater sense of purpose. “National service, be it in the military, Peace Corps, or other public or private sector opportunities, breaks down the barriers of race, class, income, geography, and even language.

The service member has to consent to the release of their DD-214 at the time of the background check, since they are not public records. If the applicant is applying for a job and is claiming their military service under veteran's preference, they must provide a copy of their DD-214 to the employer.

An employer must not deny initial employment, reemployment, retention in employment, promotion, or any benefit of employment to a person on the basis of a past, present, or future service obligation.

Protected veteran status is a system for qualifying veterans to prevent discrimination throughout all parts of the employment process. This status was established by the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA).