Notwithstanding any other provision of law, persons retired from the United States military, honorably discharged from active military duty with a service-connected disability, or honorably discharged from active duty, shall be eligible to apply for promotional civil service examinations and career executive assignment examinations for which they meet the minimum qualifications of the class to which they seek appointment. Persons receiving passing scores shall gain list eligibility for appointment. In evaluating minimum qualifications, the person’s military experience shall be considered state civil service experience in a comparable class that has the same or substantially similar duties and responsibilities as the person’s position in the military.