Persons who have been members of the armed forces of the United States or who, while citizens of the United States, were members of the armed forces of allies of the United States in time of hostilities with a foreign country, and have served under one or more of the conditions listed under subsection (a) of Section 1 shall be preferred for appointment to and employment with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the positions of snow removal operator and winter salaried highway maintainer under the Department’s Winter Seasonal Employment Program.