Ala. Code § 31-5-8

The commissioner may appoint additional assistant commissioners to serve as employees in the department, subject to the rules of the department. Assistant commissioners shall be appointed on the basis of education, ability, and experience in handling veterans’ affairs, and without regard to political affiliations. The appointees shall be residents of this state, shall be veterans who served on active duty for a period of 60 days or more in the Armed Forces of the United States, and shall have been honorably discharged.