All employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs below the level of secretary shall be selected as provided by chapter 3-6D. However, any employee that holds the title of state veterans service officer must be a veteran who has served in the armed forces of the United States and is a citizen of the United States. All other employees must be veterans, if available. These employees shall perform duties assigned to them by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
SDCL 33A-1-12