17.806: Veteran's Preference in Federal Employment
Overview
Program Number
17.806
Status
Inactive
Last Modified
Aug. 2, 2019
Date Posted
June 18, 2019
Objective
To provide assistance to preference eligible individuals who believe that their rights under veterans' preference statutes and regulations have been violated. Recognizing their sacrifice, Congress enacted laws to prevent veterans seeking Federal employment from being penalized for their time in military service. Veterans' preference recognizes the economic loss suffered by citizens who have served their country in uniform, restores veterans to a favorable competitive position for Government employment, and acknowledges the larger obligation owed to disabled veterans. Veterans' preference is not so much a reward for being in uniform as it is a way to help make up for the economic loss suffered by those who answered the nation's call to arms. Historically, preference has been reserved by Congress for those who were either disabled or who served in combat areas. Eligible veterans receive many advantages in Federal employment, including preference for initial employment and a higher retention standing in the event of layoffs. However, the veterans' preference laws do not guarantee the veteran a job, nor do they give veterans' preference in internal agency actions such as promotion, transfer, reassignment, and reinstatement. By law, veterans who are disabled or who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during certain specified time periods or in military campaigns are entitled to preference over others in hiring from competitive lists of eligibles and also in retention during reductions-in-force. Preference applies in hiring for virtually all Federal jobs, whether in the competitive or excepted service. In addition to receiving preference in competitive appointments, veterans may be considered for special noncompetitive appointments for which only they are eligible.
Type of Assistance
O - Federal Employment
Applicant Eligibility
(1) Five-point preference is given to those honorably separated veterans (this means an honorable or general discharge) who served on active duty (not active duty for training) in the Armed Forces: During any war (this means a war declared by Congress, the last of which was World War II); during the period April 28, 1952, through July 1, 1955; for more than 180 consecutive days, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; during the Gulf War period beginning August 2, 1990, and ending January 2, 1992; for more than 180 consecutive days, any part of which occurred during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on the date persribed by Presidential proclamation or by law as the last date of Operation Iraqi Freedom; or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized, such as El Salvador, Lebanon, Granada, Panama, Southwest Asia, Somalia, and Haiti. Medal holders and Gulf War veterans who originally enlisted after September 7, 1980, or entered on active duty on or after October 14, 1982, without having previously completed 24 months of continuous active duty, must have served continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active duty. Effective on October 1, 1980, military retirees at or above the rank of major or equivalent, are not entitled to preference unless they qualify as disabled veterans. Ten-point preference is given to those honorably separated veterans who: (1) Qualify as disabled veterans because they have served on active duty in the Armed Forces at any time and have a present service-connected disability or are receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or pension from the military or the Department of Veterans Affairs; or (2) are Purple Heart recipients; the spouse of a veteran unable to work because of a service-connected disability; the unmarried widow of certain deceased veterans; and the mother of a veteran who died in service or who is permanently and totally disabled. When applying for Federal jobs, eligible veterans should claim preference on their application or resume. Applicants claiming 10-point preference must complete form SF- 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference. Veterans who are still in the service may be granted 5 points tentative preference on the basis of information contained in their applications, but they must produce a DD Form 214 prior to appointment to document entitlement to preference. Note: Reservists who are retired from the Reserves but are not receiving retired pay are not considered retired military for purposes of veterans' preference. (2) Veterans who have been separated from the armed forces under honorable conditions shortly before completion of 3 years, or completion of 3 years or more of active duty military service are eligible to compete for vacant Federal positions for which the agency making the announcement will accept applications from individuals outside its own workforce under merit promotion procedures. This does not make them preference eligible, but allows access to certain Federal job openings for which they would otherwise not be entitled to apply. (3) Public Law 94-502 authorizes Federal agencies to provide unpaid training or work experience, as a part of the Department of Veterans Affairs vocational rehabilitation for a disabled veteran. Such training may be designed to provide noncompetitive appointment.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Non-disabled veterans, disabled veterans and certain wives or husbands, widows, widowers, and mothers of veterans.
Related Programs
Grant Awards
Veteran's Preference in Federal Employment direct grants
Grant Opportunities