§ 20-82. Addition of points to rating—Able-bodied veterans.

(a)

Any veteran who has served on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States for a period of more than one hundred eighty (180) days (not counting service under an initial period of active duty for training under the six (6) months' reserve or National Guard programs), any portion of which service occurred during a period of armed conflict in which any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States engaged, whether under United States command or otherwise, and who was honorably discharged shall be entitled to and shall have five (5) points added to his or her passing score on any examination for employment in any position under the merit system.

(b)

Notwithstanding the one hundred eighty-day minimum active duty requirement of subsection (a) of this section, the five-point preference granted to veterans under said subsection shall apply to any member of the National Guard or armed forces reserve who served on active duty for:

(1)

Any length of time during any portion of the time the Armed Forces of the United States were engaged in Operation Desert Shield or Operation Desert Storm if such service occurred in an area of imminent danger as defined by the United States Department of Defense as follows:

a.

The Persian Gulf;

b.

The Red Sea;

c.

The Gulf of Oman;

d.

The portion of the Arabian Sea that lies north of ten (10) degrees north latitude and west of sixty-eight (68) degrees east longitude;

e.

The Gulf of Aden; and

f.

The total land area of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Yemen, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates; or

(2)

Any length of time during a period of war or armed conflict in which any branch of the Armed Forces of the United States was engaged after Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, whether under United States Command or otherwise.