Military-Friendly Jacksonville, Florida
The city of Jacksonville is located in northeast Florida, right on the Atlantic Ocean. A Forbes Top 10 best city for finding employment, Jacksonville is a metropolitan center home to unique neighborhoods, restaurants, exceptional arts and culture, and a wide variety of entertainment options.
Our city also has a long history as a military- and veteran-friendly city. Northeast Florida is home to two major Naval installations, Marine Corps Blount Island, Camp Blanding Joint Training Center and other facilities. Fully 1 of every 4 Jacksonville residents has a tie with the military. Download an overview of the Jacksonville Military Community.
Cited as being an “Up and Coming City,” a “Best City to Start a Business,” and a “Best City for Tech Jobs,” Jacksonville is the largest city in the continental United States with:
- 68 miles of ocean coastline
- 300 miles of riverfront
- 111,669 acres of parks
- 500 large employers
The cost of living is comparatively low for such a bustling metropolitan area, and Florida has the privilege of boasting no state income tax.
We're proud to call Jacksonville home, and we think you will be, too.
Learn more about Jacksonville
How the City of Jacksonville supports veterans
Military students have resources beyond those on campus, as outlined below:
- Naval Air Station Jacksonville
- Naval Station Mayport
- Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay
- Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island
- VA Jacksonville Outpatient Clinic, located at 1536 North Jefferson St., Jacksonville, Florida 32209.
- The Jacksonville Vet Center, Readjustment Counseling Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, located at 300 East State Street, Suite J, Jacksonville, FL 32202. Phone: (904) 232-3621.
- The Jacksonville Military Veterans Coalition (JMVC) is committed to honoring military veterans and currently serving members of the National Guard and Reserve by facilitating career, business, and education opportunities in Jacksonville. Central to the JMVC vision is the recognition that many of the skills veterans developed in the military–leadership, fast and accurate decision–making, operational focus, and the drive to accomplish a mission–have a direct application to Jacksonville businesses. The JMVC works with military organizations, veterans groups, industry associations, governmental entities, and Jacksonville businesses to build awareness and understanding of how these skills and cultural attributes make military veterans outstanding employees.
How the State of Florida supports veterans
The State of Florida has earned a reputation as the most veteran friendly state in the nation. The Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs (FDVA) is a helpful entry point for Florida veterans and military families to access earned services, benefits, and support.
These are some of the ways Florida is friendly to veterans, members of the military, and their dependents:
- No state income tax. While this applies to all Florida residents, having no state income tax significantly enhances the value of military retirement and all income.
- Florida Veterans' Benefit Guide: This document, provided by the Florida Veterans' Foundation, is designed to bring you the latest information on federal and state benefits in a concise, easy to read format. This is a key tool in our arsenal to advocate for our state’s veterans.
- “V” for Veteran Designation on Driver License: Florida’s veterans can add a veteran designation to their driver license or identification card.
- Free Benefits Counseling: The Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs has Claims Examiners co-located with the VA Regional Office in Bay Pines, each VA Medical Center, and many VA Outpatient Clinics. Assistance with claims is free and covers all state and federal veterans’ programs. FDVA, through its Bureau of State Approving Agency, also evaluates and approves secondary and post-secondary education programs so Floridians can take advantage of federal veterans’ educational programs such as the Post 9/11 GI Bill. For more information, call (727) 319-7440.
- County Veteran Service Offices: Information on current federal, state, and local veterans’ programs, entitlements, and referral services is also available in Florida through a network of County Veteran Service Offices. The counselors are trained and accredited annually by the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. All services are provided free of charge.
- Women Veterans’ Coordinator: The Sunshine State is home to more than 160,000 women veterans. Many women veterans may not be aware of their eligibility for the full range of federal and state benefits. Watching over women veterans’ issues in Florida is a State Women Veterans’ Coordinator. For more information, call (727) 319-7440, or visit www.floridavets.org.
- Employ Florida Vets: Employ Florida Vets is the state’s online job portal that provides employment services to Florida veterans.
- Waiver of Fees from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and Florida Department of Health: Recent state regulations waives the initial licensing and application fees for military veterans and spouses. For example, the waiver includes professional licenses for contractors, real estate agents, certified public accountants and others. For health related licenses, the VALOR (Veterans Application for Licensure Online Response) provides an expedited process for honorably discharged veterans with an active license in another state, with most licensing fees waived.