For purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply:

Whenever any veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran achieves a passing score on an entrance examination, he or she shall be ranked in the top rank of the resulting eligibility list. This section shall not apply to any veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.

Any member of the Armed Forces who successfully passes any state civil service examination and whose name as a result is placed on an employment list and who within 12 months after the establishment of the employment list for which the examination was given qualifies for veterans’ preference as provided for in this article shall be allowed the appropriate veterans’ credit to the same effect as though he or she were entitled to that credit at the time of the establishing of the employment list.

Periods of service in the recognized military service shall be counted by the department and designated appointing authority as qualifying experience upon a showing by the veteran that the veteran’s service involved duties and responsibilities of the kind for which credit for experience is being allowed.

commanding officer of the military to verify that applicant’s military service. The department or designated appointing authority, before the applicant enters state service with the benefit of the veterans’ preference, shall require the same proof of eligibility for veterans’ preference used for veterans under subdivision (a).

Where experience is required as a minimum qualification for any civil service examination, a person, who is or has been on military leave from a state civil service or exempt position or from a position in any federal or other public agency the functions of which as they relate to the position have been transferred to the state shall be granted full credit for time spent on that

military leave, as if he or she had remained in the position he held at the time he or she entered the military service.