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Since the time of the Civil War, Veterans of the Armed Forces have been
given some degree of preference in appointments to Federal jobs. Recognizing
that sacrifices are made by those serving in the Armed Forces, Congress
enacted laws to prevent veterans seeking Federal employment from being
penalized because of the time spent in military service.
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 non-veterans both in hiring from competitive
lists of eligibles and in retention during reductions in force.
Preference does not have as its goal the placement of a veteran in every
vacant Federal job; this would be incompatible with the merit principle
of public employment. Nor does it apply to promotions or other in-service
actions. However, preference does provide a uniform method by which special
consideration is given to qualified veterans seeking Federal employment.
Preference applies in hiring through the competitive examining process,
for most excepted service jobs, and when agencies make temporary appointments
or use direct hire and delegated examining authorities from the U. S.
Office of Personnel Management.
General Requirements for Preference
To be entitled to preference, a veteran must meet the eligibility requirements
in section 2108 of title 5, United States Code. This means that:
A discharge or release from active duty in the armed forces under honorable
conditions (i.e., an honorable or general discharge from active duty
in the armed forces) is necessary.
Military retirees at the rank of major, lieutenant commander, or higher
are not eligible for preference unless they are disabled veterans.
Guard and Reserve active duty for training purposes does not qualify
for preference.
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.
The SF-15 is available online at: http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf .
TYPES OF PREFERENCE:
5-Point Preference
Five points are added to the passing examination score of a veteran who
served:
During the period December 7, 1941, to July 1, 1955; or
For more than 180 consecutive days, any part of which occurred after
January 31, 1955, and before October 15, 1976; or
During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990 through January 2, 1992; or
For more than 180 consecutive days, other than for training, any part
of which occurred during the period September 11, 2001, and ending on
the date prescribed by Presidential proclamation or by law as the last
day of Operation Iraqi Freedom; or
In a campaign or expedition for which a campaign medal has been authorized,
including El Salvador, Grenada, Haiti, Lebanon, Panama, Somalia, Southwest
Asia, Bosnia, and the Global War on Terrorism.
Medal holders and Gulf War veterans who enlisted after September 7, 1980,
or entered on active duty on or after October 14, 1982, must have served
continuously for 24 months or the full period called or ordered to active
duty. The service requirement does not apply to veterans with compensable
service-connected disabilities, or to veterans separated for disability
in the line of duty, or for hardship.
10-Point Preference
Ten points are added to the passing examination score of:
A veteran who served any time and who (1) has a present service-connected
disability or (2) is receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits,
or pension from the military or the Department of Veterans Affairs. Individuals
who received a Purple Heart qualify as disabled veterans.
An unmarried spouse of certain deceased veterans, a spouse of a veteran
unable to work because of a service-connected disability, and
a mother of a veteran who died in service or who is permanently and
totally disabled.
PREFERENCE IN EXAMINATION
Veterans meeting the criteria for preference and who are found eligible
(achieve a score of 70 or higher either by a written examination or
an evaluation of their experience and education) have 5 or 10 points
added to their numerical ratings depending on the nature of their preference.
For scientific and professional positions in grade GS-9 or higher,
names of all eligibles are listed in order of ratings, augmented by
veteran preference, if any. For all other positions, the names of 10-point
preference eligibles who have a compensable, service-connected disability
of 10 percent or more are placed ahead of the names of all other eligibles
on a given register. The names of other 10-point preference eligibles,
5-point preference eligibles, and non-veterans are listed in order
of their numerical ratings.
Entitlement to veterans' preference does not guarantee a job. There are
many ways an agency can fill a vacancy other than by appointment from
a list of eligibles.
FILING APPLICATIONS AFTER EXAMINATIONS HAVE CLOSED
A 10-point preference eligible may file an application at any time for
any positions for which a non-temporary appointment has been made from
a competitive list of eligibles within the past 3 years.
In addition, a person who is unable to file for an open competitive examination
because of military service may file after the closing date. In either
of the above situations, the veteran should contact the agency that announced
the position for further information.
POSITIONS FOR PREFERENCE ELIGIBLES ONLY
Certain examinations are open only to preference eligibles as long as
such applicants are available. These are custodian, guard, elevator
operator and messenger.
SPECIAL COMPLAINT PROCEDURES FOR VETERANS
Veterans who believe that they have not been accorded the preference
to which they are entitled may file a complaint with the U. S. Department
of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS).
The Department of Labor's
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy and Veterans' Employment
and Training Service developed an "expert
system" to help veterans receive the preferences to which they are
entitled. Two versions of this system are currently available, both of
which, help the veterans determine the type of preference to which they
are entitled, the benefits associated with the preference and the steps
necessary to file a complaint due to the failure of a Federal Agency
to provide those benefits. The Internet address for the veterans' preference
program is http://www.dol.gov/elaws/vetspref.htm. (State Employment Service
Offices have veteran representatives available to assist veterans in
gaining access to this information.)
California
offers preference points which are added to the final score of a civil
service examination as follows:
a) Open Entrance Exams-15 points for a disabled veteran and 10 points
for other veterans and surviving spouses.
b) Open Nonpromotional Entrance Exams-10 points for disabled veterans
and 5 points for other veterans.
WHO MAY BE ELIGIBLE
a) Veterans with service-connected disabilities rated at 10% or greater.
b) “Wartime” veterans who served have served with honor.
c) A veteran who served under honorable conditions for a period of at
least 181 days
d) Spouses of totally disabled service-connected veterans.
e) Unmarried, surviving spouses of a veteran who has died of service-connected
causes.
WHERE TO APPLY
Please mail an application, discharge papers, and other documents to:
State Personnel Board
Veterans Preference Coordinator
P.O. Box 944201
Sacramento, CA 94244-2010
(916) 653-1502
http://www.spb.ca.gov
Preference
points as a part of the selection process are also used by most State,
County and City agencies. Some civilian employers will also give preference
to veterans. Always ask if special consideration is given to veterans.
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