Skip to Main Content

University Library

LibGuides

Military Veterans in the Fire Service

This guide talks about resources, opportunities, and challenges for military veterans entering and currently in the fire service.

Illinois Hiring Preferences and Other Benefits

In the Illinois Municipal Code, it states that veterans will be given preference when making original appointments to a full-time fire department.

The applicable law is 65 ILCS 5/10-1-7.1. Note that a municipality can choose to follow an alternative hiring procedure and that this subsection does not necessarily apply to areas with over 1,000,000 residents.*

* This is not legal advice. For legal advice, consult a legal professional.

The Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshall also has a program for certification based on past military experience.

Other State and Federal Benefits

Contact the veteran support services for your state or county to find out if military veterans are given hiring preference in firefighting departments, can apply their military training towards a certification, or receive other benefits. Also consider using the GI Bill to help pay for classes that may help you gain certification or preference in other ways. For example, an associate's degree in fire science can be useful in getting hired.