Equal protection under the law in New Jersey does not apply to all veterans

The NJ law '4A:5-1.1 Veterans preference' makes a mockery of our veterans civil rights

When is a Veteran not a Veteran in New Jersey?  The answer to this question might surprise you.  You can serve our country honorably for 5 years during the war time period of Iraq and Afghan or during any period of time and when you return home and apply for veterans preference you are denied because NJ does not recognize your sacrifice of 5 years worthy enough to grant you Veterans preference.

We intend to demonstrate to the great State of New Jersey that the military service of our boys and girls must be recognized, honored, and accepted for all the benefits that veterans are otherwise afforded without discriminating as to the period of time when that service may have been honorably completed.  There should be no lines drawn to disqualify the honorable military service of some while accepting the service of others. A veteran is a veteran!

We will accomplish our goal in two steps.  Our plan A is to first go thru the legislative channels to lobby the Assembly and the Senate to amend this archaic and discriminatory law - they have the authority to change the law to make the State of New Jersey veterans friendly.  The State of New Jersey and the Department of Defense are deceiving our boys and girls when during the recruiting process they PROMISE them all kinds of benefits, to lure them into signing up for military duty, including veterans preference for civil service jobs.  This is unfair and fraud because when they return home they find themselves without the recognition and the veterans preference they were promised when they joined the military and if that wasn't bad enough they are then labeled NON-VETERANS by the state.

We intend to force the Department of Defense to CLEARLY tell the boys and girls of New Jersey that they will be considered NON-VETERANS and that they will not be awarded any recognition and benefits by the state of NJ when they return home from duty.  That has to be stipulated in the contract they sign when they are being recruited for military service, doing otherwise could be construed as FRAUD.  They have to stop luring them with false benefits that the State of NJ is too cheap to afford.  They must know that you can serve a 5, or 10 years tour of duty and the State will classify you as a NON-VETERAN.

We expect to succeed with this approach; but will move on to plan B which will included the Class Action Suit, press releases, demonstrations, and other actions including Civil Disobedience in front of Military recruiting stations if plan A does not work.

This law should be struck down as unconstitutional for the following reason.  This law recognizes 90 days of time served during the Vietnam war period good enough to grant those soldiers veterans preference while at the same time it does not recognize the same sacrifice made by our soldiers during the Iraq/Afghan wars good enough to grant the same benefit to those veterans.

It appears that this law considers the Vietnam War more important
than the Iraq and Afghan Wars.

Why does this law draw a distinction between these two wars and classifies the Vietnam era soldiers as full pledged Veterans yet it disqualifies the Iraq/Afghan era soldiers from the same recognition and benefits?  Today's Veterans should be treated with the same respect and honor as the Veterans that served during the Vietnam war time era.

A war is a war and those that served during war time periods should be treated equally.  In all fairness to our soldiers the law should not make distinctions between wars.

Did you know that in NJ you can volunteer to serve your country during time of war and when you come back home from 5 years of active duty you are not considered a veteran and classified as a NON-VETERAN?

In New Jersey you can volunteer and be ready a willing to serve the country during time of war and when you finish your 5 years of active duty and you apply for Veteran Preference you are told that you do not qualify for veteran benefits.

New Jersey does not really support the troops

Have you been denied Veterans Preference?
Would you like to join in a Class Action suit to fight this law as unfair and unconstitutional?

Please send us an email with your comments

In defense of the Veterans civil rights of the State of New Jersey that have served our country honorably and that are unfairly classified as NON-VETERANS by our state.

[Please exchange links with us] [Letter to government officials] [Text of NJ Veterans law 4A:5-1.1]

Determine your points - The Department of Labor (DOL) developed the Veterans' Preference Advisor - an online tool that allows Veterans to examine the preferences for which they might be entitled with regard to Federal jobs and to determine the points they are entitled to according to their military service.

You should take a look at some of these short YouTube videos BEFORE YOU ENLIST.  You will get an idea of the tricks of the trade the RECRUITERS use to bait you into ELISTING: