Of Special Interest to Veterans

There are several programs designed to provide eligible veterans with special consideration when applying for federal jobs. Unfortunately, many veterans are unaware of what may be available to them. Here's a quick look at several especially helpful programs for qualified veterans in finding federal employment.

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998, as amended

Qualified veterans may apply for any federal agency vacancy announcement advertised under the agency's merit promotion procedures that is open to applicants outside the hiring agency's workforce. For example, if an agency is recruiting among all federal employees (i.e. status applicants), qualified veterans who do not have status may apply. The veterans will compete with other eligible applicants for the job under normal merit promotion procedures and no additional veterans preference will be given. To be eligible you must have three or more years of continuous active military service and an honorable discharge or you must be a veterans' preference eligible.

Veterans Preference

When the government is examining outside applicants (non-status candidates), preference is given to qualified veterans who are disabled or who served during certain time periods or in military campaigns. This preference takes the form of having points added to the veterans examination or evaluation score.

Military retirees at the rank of major, lieutenant commander, or higher are not eligible for this preference unless they are disabled.

To receive a 5-point preference, you must have:

• Served during any war
• Or served during 4/28/52-7/1/55
• Or for more than 180 consecutive days, any part of which occurred between 1/31/55 and 10/15/76;
• Or during the Gulf War from 8/2/90-1/2/92;
• Or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized including El Salvador, Grenada, Haiti, Kosovo, Lebanon, Panama, Somalia and Southeast Asia.

Medal holders and Gulf War veterans, who enlisted after September 7, 1980 or entered active duty after October 14, 1982, must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called to active duty.

For ten-point preference, you must have a present service-connected disability or be receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or pension from the military or the Department of Veterans Affairs. Unmarried spouses of certain deceased veterans and spouses of disabled veterans as well as mothers of veterans who died in service or are totally disabled are also eligible.

You will need to submit an SF-15 or a DD-214 with your application to show proof of veterans' preference.

Veterans Recruitment Appointment (formerly Veterans Readjustment Appointment) (VRA)

This is a special authority that allows an agency to appoint an eligible veteran to a job without competition. The VRA excepted appointments begin as two-year appointments and, when successfully completed, are then converted to permanent appointments. Initial appointment must be at a grade or pay level no higher than GS-11.

In November of 2002, Congress passed the Jobs for Veterans Act. The new law changed the complexion of the VRA immediately. The major changes were the elimination of the time restraints on appointments of veterans, specifically:

• Those with disabilities, and
• Those fighting in a campaign where a badge was authorized, and
• Those veterans who served in a US military campaign where an Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM) was awarded.)

Those veterans who are not disabled and who do not have a badge or AFSM may only be appointed within the first three years after their most recent separation. The new VRA provisions also cover those that may have a 'dishonorable' discharge, depending on the circumstance.

To find out about employment opportunities, Veterans should contact the personnel office at the agency where they would like to work and ask for the veterans employment coordinator.

30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans

The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 established a special hiring authority for veterans who are considered to be 30 percent or more disabled as the result of a service-connected injury. Those eligible may be hired non-competitively (at any grade level for which they are qualified) under an appropriate temporary appointment even though the position filled is permanent. At its discretion, the agency may convert the employee to permanent status after a brief period (61 days or longer) of service.

Disabled Veterans Affirmative Action Program

This program is administered by each agency. Its purpose is to encourage the recruitment and advancement of qualified disabled veterans for federal jobs.

To get more information about any of these or other veterans programs, contact the personnel office at the agency where you would like to work and ask for the veterans employment coordinator, or contact the Office of Personnel Management at 703-724-1850 and respond to the menu choices by pressing 2, 2 and then 2.

Last updated: 8/13/2003