DD-214 Veteran's preference for jobs. Department of Veterans Affairs. Vietnam veterans. DD214. SF-15 MIA POW.

MILITARY VETERANS INFORMATION

VEOA - Veterans' Employment Opportunities Act of 1998, as amended
When an agency accepts applications from outside its own workforce, the Veterans' Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) allows preference eligibles or veterans to compete for these vacancies under merit promotion procedures. Veterans who are selected are given career or career conditional appointments. Veterans are those who have been separated under honorable conditions from the armed forces with 3 or more years of continuous active service.

Purpose of the Law
Improved Access: The intent of the law is to open up opportunities to veterans that might otherwise be closed to them because agencies were increasingly limiting announcements just to "status" candidates - i.e., those who were already civil service employees. This law requires an agency to allow eligible veterans to apply when the agency will accept applications from individuals outside its own workforce. ("Agency," in this context, means the parent agency - i.e., Department of Defense, not Department of the Army.) Veterans' preference, however, does not apply to selections made under merit promotion procedures.

Improved Redress: The VEOA also allows a preference eligible who believes an agency has violated any of his or her rights under the veterans' preference laws or regulations, to file a formal complaint with the Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS). If VETS is unable to resolve the complaint within 60 days, the veteran may appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). The law also makes a willful violation of veterans' preference a prohibited personnel practice under law.

Who is Eligible
To be eligible for a VEOA appointment, a veteran must be honorably separated and either a preference eligible or have substantially completed 3 or more years of active service. ("Active Service" under this law means active duty in a uniformed service and includes full-time training duty, annual training duty, full-time National Guard duty, and attendance, while in the active service, at a school designated as a service school by law or by the Secretary concerned.) A veteran who is released under honorable conditions shortly before completing a 3-year tour is also eligible.

How to Apply
Agency announcements will say when veterans eligible under this law may apply. The veterans will be rated and ranked with other merit promotion eligibles. Those who are among the best qualified may be selected by the appointing official, but veterans' preference is not a factor. If selected, the veteran will be given a career or career conditional appointment, as appropriate.

AS OF: 05-16-2000

Veteran's Preference

NOTE: veteran's preference AND VEOA are two separate classifications. You can be eligable for VEOA yet ineligable for veteran's preference if you do not meet the following requirements.

If you served on active duty in the United States Military and were separated under honorable conditions, you may be eligible for veterans' preference. To receive preference if your service began after October 15, 1976, you must have a Campaign Badge, Expeditionary Medal, or a service-connected disability. For further details, call OPM at 912-757-3000. Select "Federal Employment Topics" and then "Veterans." Or, dial our electronic bulletin board at 912-757-3100. Veterans' preference is not a factor for Senior Executive Service jobs or when competition is limited to status candidates (current or former Federal career or career-conditional employees).

To claim 5-point veterans' preference, attach a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other proof of eligibility.

To claim 10-point veterans' preference, attach an SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference, plus the proof required by that form.

SF-15 Veterans' Preference Form Word document - Fill out online OR save to PC and print

Download SF-15 Veterans' Preference Form 30 Seconds - PDF
Requires Free Adobe Acrobat Reader

Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA)
The VRA is a special authority by which agencies may, if they wish, appoint an eligible veteran without competition. The candidate does not have to be on a list of eligibles, but must meet the basic qualification requirements for the position. The VRA is a convenient method of appointment for both the agency and the veteran. However, use of the authority is entirely discretionary and no one is entitled to a VRA appointment.

VRA appointees initially are hired for a 2-year period. Successful completion of the 2-year VRA appointment leads to a permanent civil service appointment. (Please note, however, that a veteran may be employed without competition on a temporary or term appointment based on VRA eligibility. Such an appointment is not a VRA appointment and does not lead to conversion to a permanent position.)

Eligibility Requirements
The following individuals are eligible for a VRA appointment:

Disabled veterans;
Veterans who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during a war declared by Congress, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized.
Veterans who, while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces, participated in a military operation for which the Armed Forces Service Medal was awarded; and
Veterans separated from active duty within the past 3 years.

There is no minimum service requirement, but the individual must have served on active duty, not active duty for training.

Training Requirement
If you are selected for a VRA and have less than 15 years of education, you must agree to participate in a training or educational program.

Grade Level of Jobs That Can be Filled
Agencies can use the VRA authority to fill white collar positions up through GS-11 and equivalent jobs under other pay systems.

Conditions of Employment
VRAs are in the excepted service. After 2 years of substantially continuous service under a VRA appointment, provided your performance has been satisfactory, your appointment may be converted to the competitive service, i.e., a permanent appointment.

How to Apply
You should contact the Federal agency personnel office where you are interested in working to find out about VRA opportunities. Agencies recruit candidates and make VRAs directly.

For a list of local agency personnel offices, consult your telephone directory under "U.S. Government" for the nearest location and telephone number.

30% or more Disabled Veteran Program
Federal agencies have the authority, by law, to give noncompetitive appointments to any veteran who has a service-connected disability of 30% or more. Like the VRA, this authority is discretionary with the agency.

Who is Eligible?
To be eligible, you must be a disabled veteran who has a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. The disability must be officially documented by the Department of Defense or the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Grade Level of Jobs that Cannot be Filled
This authority covers all grade levels and occupations.

Conditions of Qualifications
You must meet all qualification requirements for any position to which you are appointed. This could include the requirement to achieve a passing score on a written test.

Gulf War (88)
Korean War (13)
Vietnam War (286)

Organizations (477)
POW-MIAs@ (199)
Publications (5)
Reunions (29)
War History (0)
Web Directories (13)
World War II (50)