What Does "Military Status Exempted" Actually Mean on a Resume?

If you served in the military and were discharged under conditions that exempt you from certain civil service requirements — like competitive examination — your discharge status can matter on a resume. "Military status exempted" typically refers to a veteran who qualifies for a hiring preference or special appointment authority that bypasses the standard competitive hiring process.

This comes up most often in federal hiring. Programs like the Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA), 30% or More Disabled Veteran authority, and the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) all create pathways where your military service status directly affects how your application is processed. Some veterans see the phrase on job announcements and wonder if they should put it on their resume. Others have been told to include their discharge status somewhere on the document but have no idea where or how.

I spent 1.5 years after separating from the Navy applying for government jobs and getting zero callbacks. Part of the problem was that I had no idea how to communicate my eligibility status on paper. Once I figured out the right way to present it — and more importantly, where on the resume it actually matters — things changed fast. I went on to get hired into six different federal career fields.

This article breaks down exactly when to include your military exemption status on a resume, how to format it for both federal and civilian applications, and what the actual examples look like on paper.

When Should You Include Military Status on Your Resume?

The short answer: it depends on who is reading it. Federal applications and private sector applications handle military status very differently, and putting the wrong information in front of the wrong audience can actually work against you.

Federal Resumes: Yes, Include Your Eligibility

On a federal resume, your veteran status and hiring authority eligibility are directly relevant to how your application gets processed. HR specialists at federal agencies use USA Staffing to determine which applicants qualify under which hiring authorities. If you are eligible for VRA, VEOA, or 30% Disabled Veteran appointment, that information should be clearly stated.

Where to put it: create a dedicated section near the top of your federal resume — right after your contact information — labeled something like "Veteran Status" or "Hiring Eligibility." Keep it tight. Two to four lines. Here is what that looks like:

The specific version tells the HR specialist exactly which authorities apply without making them guess. That matters because federal HR is processing hundreds of applications per announcement. If they have to dig through your resume to figure out whether you qualify under VEOA, your application might get categorized incorrectly — or just ranked lower because the information was buried.

For a full walkthrough of how to structure a federal resume, check out the 2026 OPM-compliant federal resume template.

Private Sector Resumes: Be Strategic

Civilian employers do not process VRA or VEOA. They do not use USA Staffing. So listing "eligible for Veterans Recruitment Appointment" on a resume going to a tech company or a manufacturing firm is wasted space at best and confusing at worst.

For private sector resumes, your military service belongs in the experience section — formatted like any other job. Branch, rank, dates, and translated accomplishments. You do not need a separate "veteran status" block unless you are applying to a company with a known veteran hiring program (Amazon Military, Hiring Our Heroes corporate partners, etc.), and even then, a single line is enough.

The exception: if a job posting specifically asks about military status or veteran preference (some state government and defense contractor positions do), include it. Otherwise, let your experience speak for itself and save the resume space for accomplishments that directly match the job description.

Applying to Jobs but
Not Hearing Back?

A generic resume won't cut it — federal and private sector jobs need completely different formats. Our builder knows the difference and tailors your resume to each position you apply for.

Federal (USAJOBS) & private sector formats Translates military jargon into civilian language Tailored to each job — not a generic template

Build Your Resume Free

2 free resumes — no credit card required

How to Translate "Exempted" Status Into Resume Language

The word "exempted" throws people off. In military and federal HR context, it usually means you are exempt from the competitive examination process — you do not have to take a civil service exam to be considered for federal positions. This is a benefit, not a limitation. But you should never just write "military status exempted" as a line on your resume without context. HR specialists know what it means, but it reads awkwardly and does not tell them which specific authority applies to you.

Translate it into the actual hiring authority language. Here are the common ones:

Each of these has specific eligibility requirements. If you are not sure which ones apply to you, check your DD-214 for discharge characterization and campaign badges, and cross-reference with your VA disability rating if applicable. For a deeper dive into how VEOA works, read our full VEOA breakdown.

What Does This Look Like on an Actual Resume? (4 Examples)

Theory is fine, but you came here for examples. Here are four real-world formatting scenarios, each for a different situation.

Example 1: Federal Resume — Army E-6 With Campaign Service

This veteran served in Operation Enduring Freedom and received an honorable discharge. They are applying for a GS-9 Logistics Management Specialist position through USAJOBS.

Notice it takes four lines. The HR specialist can confirm eligibility in seconds. This is how it should look on a federal resume — clean, specific, no fluff.

Example 2: Federal Resume — Navy Veteran With 30% Disability

This veteran has a 30% service-connected disability rating from the VA and is applying under both VEOA and the 30% Disabled Veteran authority for a GS-11 position.

Including the disability rating on the resume header is optional. Some veterans prefer to disclose it only in the USAJOBS questionnaire. Both approaches work — the key is that the hiring authority (30% Disabled Veteran) is named explicitly so HR can process it. For more on how to handle disability disclosure on your resume, see the disabled veteran resume guide.

Example 3: Private Sector Resume — Marine Corps Veteran

This veteran is applying for a project management role at a civilian company. No federal hiring authorities are relevant here.

No "veteran status" block. No mention of VRA or VEOA. The military experience is formatted the same way any civilian employer would expect — translated job title, dates, and accomplishments with numbers. The rank and branch provide context, but the resume leads with what a hiring manager actually cares about: what you did and what the results were.

Example 4: Defense Contractor Resume — Air Force Veteran

This is the in-between case. Defense contractors are private sector, but many of their positions require clearances and they actively recruit veterans. Some postings mention veteran preference.

One line. Branch, clearance, discharge characterization, year. Defense contractors care about the clearance and the military background but do not process federal hiring authorities. Keep it tight.

Where Exactly Does Military Status Go on a Federal Resume?

Placement matters more than people realize. I have reviewed thousands of federal applications from the hiring side, and resumes where the eligibility information was buried on page two or tucked into the experience section consistently created problems. The HR specialist doing the initial review needs to see your eligibility up front to categorize your application correctly.

Here is the order that works:

The veteran status block goes at position two — after your name but before your summary and experience. Make sure your contact header also uses the correct installation address format — that is another detail that trips people up. This placement is not how civilian resumes work, and that confuses a lot of transitioning service members who are used to putting a summary or objective first. On a federal resume, your eligibility information is functional — it determines how your application is processed.

Keep your federal resume to 2 pages max. That is tight, and every line has to earn its place. The veteran status block should take 3-4 lines at most.

Common Mistakes That Hurt Your Application

After helping over 15,000 veterans through BMR, I see the same mistakes with military status formatting over and over. Here are the ones that actually cost people interviews.

Writing "Military Status Exempted" Without Context

Just typing "Military Status: Exempted" on your resume without specifying which authority you are claiming is like saying "I have a degree" without naming the school or the field. The HR specialist needs the specific authority — VRA, VEOA, 30% Disabled Veteran, Schedule A — to process your application correctly.

Listing Every Possible Authority Even If You Do Not Qualify

Some veterans list VRA, VEOA, 30% Disabled, and Schedule A as a blanket approach, hoping one sticks. If you claim 30% Disabled Veteran authority and your VA rating is 20%, that creates a problem when HR requests documentation. Only list authorities you actually qualify for. If you are unsure, check USAJOBS veteran hiring paths for eligibility details.

Putting Veteran Status on a Civilian Resume Where It Does Not Belong

Adding a "Veteran Hiring Eligibility" block to a resume going to Google or Toyota is wasted space. Those companies do not have federal hiring authority. Your military service should show up in the experience section as translated accomplishments, not as a separate status declaration. Learn more about translating military job titles for civilian resumes.

Burying Eligibility at the Bottom of the Resume

If your veteran status block is after your education section on page two, the HR specialist might not see it before they finish their initial categorization. Federal HR processes are fast — they are working through stacks of applications. Put your eligibility where they will see it first: right after your contact information.

Using Military Jargon Without Translation

Listing "E-7, MOS 92A, OEF/OIF veteran" and expecting a civilian HR specialist to understand what that means is asking too much. Federal HR folks are better at military terminology than private sector recruiters, but they still appreciate clarity. Spell out your branch, use the full campaign name, and pair your military acronyms with plain-language equivalents.

How ATS Handles Military Status Information

Federal ATS systems like USA Staffing do not treat your veteran status block the same way they treat your work experience. The eligibility information on your resume supports what you already entered in the USAJOBS questionnaire — it is confirmation, not the primary data source. USA Staffing pulls your claimed eligibilities from the questionnaire and then the HR specialist verifies against your documentation (DD-214, VA disability letter, etc.).

So why put it on the resume at all? Because the resume is what the hiring manager reads after HR certifies you. Having your eligibility clearly stated at the top gives the hiring manager context about your background before they even read your experience section. It is also a signal of professionalism — you know how the federal process works, which sets you apart from applicants who clearly have never applied to a federal job before.

For private sector ATS systems (Workday, iCIMS, Greenhouse), the keyword matching focuses on skills, job titles, and qualifications — not veteran status. These systems rank resumes based on how well your experience matches the job description. Your military status does not help your ranking in a private sector ATS. What helps is translating your military terms into civilian equivalents that match the keywords in the posting.

Should You Mention Your Discharge Characterization?

This is a judgment call, and the answer depends on your discharge type and where you are applying.

Honorable Discharge: Yes, include it. It is a baseline requirement for every federal veteran hiring authority, and it communicates that you completed your service in good standing. On a civilian resume, it is optional but generally positive.

General (Under Honorable Conditions): Be careful here. A general discharge qualifies you for some veteran benefits and hiring authorities, but not all. You are still eligible for 5-point veteran preference in many cases, but VRA eligibility depends on your specific circumstances. If you include it on a federal resume, state it accurately. On a civilian resume, you can simply list your branch and dates of service without specifying the discharge type — civilian employers rarely ask about characterization unless the application form specifically requires it.

Other Than Honorable (OTH) or Below: Do not list it on your resume. An OTH discharge generally disqualifies you from federal veteran hiring authorities and preference. If you are applying to civilian jobs, list your military service in the experience section for the skills and accomplishments, but leave discharge characterization off entirely. Some veterans with OTH discharges have had their status upgraded through the Discharge Review Board — if that applies to you, use the upgraded characterization.

What About Retired Military Veterans?

If you did 20+ years and retired, your situation is slightly different. Military retirees are eligible for veteran preference and most hiring authorities, but you also carry something that shorter-service veterans do not: decades of progressive leadership that needs serious translation work.

The military status block on a retired veteran's federal resume looks similar to anyone else's — branch, discharge (retired), applicable authorities. But the bigger challenge is fitting 20+ years of service into a 2-page federal resume while still including the veteran status block, a summary, and your most relevant positions.

For retired E-7s, O-5s, and similar senior grades, the temptation is to list every position you held. Do not do it. Pick the 2-4 positions most relevant to the job you are applying for, and give those real depth. A GS-13 Program Manager announcement does not need to know about your first duty station as an E-3. Read the full retired military resume guide for a complete walkthrough on handling 20+ year careers.

The veteran status block for a retiree might look like this:

What to Do Next

You now know exactly when to include military status on your resume, how to format it for federal vs. civilian vs. defense contractor applications, and what the common mistakes look like. The next step is to actually build your resume with the right format for your target job. If you are also working on your resume summary, our military training instructor resume summary templates show how to structure that section for federal and civilian applications.

If you are targeting federal positions, start with the BMR Federal Resume Builder — it structures your veteran status, eligibility, and experience in the format federal HR specialists expect. If you are going private sector, the Military Resume Builder translates your military experience into civilian language and tailors it to each specific job posting.

Either way, do not just guess at how to present your eligibility. The difference between a veteran who gets referred and one who does not is often in how clearly they communicate their qualifications — and that starts with how your resume is structured from the very first line.

If you want to see how your MOS, rating, or AFSC maps to civilian and federal career paths, try the Military to Civilian Jobs tool to find roles that match your background.