FAQs

The Department of Defense (DOD) Military Spouse Preference Program applies to spouses of active duty military members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the U.S. Coast Guard and full-time National Guard, who desire priority consideration for competitive service positions at DOD activities in the U.S. and its territories and possessions. For more information, contact your local Department of Defense Civilian Personnel Office.

No. Your veterans' preference does not apply to internal agency actions such as promotions, transfers, reassignments and reinstatements

For many veterans, Federal Civil Service is a natural transition and therefore, highly competitive.  You are competing against other highly skilled, highly educated, and highly qualified individuals, including veterans. Veterans' preference does not require an agency to use any particular appointment process. Agencies have broad authority under law to hire from any appropriate source of eligible including special appointing authorities.  An agency may consider candidates already in the civil service from an agency-developed merit promotion list or it may reassign a current employee, transfer an employee from another agency, or reinstate a former Federal employee. In addition, agencies are to give priority to displaced employees before using civil service examinations and similar hiring methods.

In 1978, the Civil Service Reform Act amended the employment preference for retired officers by denying it to those retiring at the rank of major (O-4) and above.

Schedule A is a special appointing authority that agencies can use to non-competitively appoint individuals, including eligible veterans, who have a severe physical, psychiatric, or intellectual disability.  For more information visit www.USAJOBS.gov, Individuals with Disabilities page.

The SF-15 is used by Federal agencies to adjudicate an individual’s claims for veterans' preference.  Veterans and certain family members who claim 10-point preference must fill out and submit the SF-15, to include supporting documentation when applying for Federal positions.

The FedsHireVets.gov website has a Resume Writing guide posted at http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/links/Resume%20Writing%20Participant%20Handout.pdf. USAJOBS.gov Help Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/account/documents/resume/  OPM:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF7j03wGV6A

No. However, eligible veterans should contact any of the 24 Veteran Employment Program Offices for information about non-competitive opportunities that may exist at their respective agencies. A complete listing of Federal agency VEPOs is located on the Feds Hire Vets website http://www.fedshirevets.gov/AgencyDirectory/index.aspx Additional resources include the FedsHireVets Facebook and Twitter webpages: o  Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Feds-Hire-Vets/262183904582    o  Twitter: https://twitter.com/fedshirevets/

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998, as amended (VEOA) is a competitive service appointing authority that can only be used when filling permanent, competitive service positions. It allows veterans to apply to announcements that are open to "status" candidates, which typically includes "current and former competitive service employees."

Military Spouse Non-competitive Appointing Authority (Executive Order 13473) allows agencies to appoint certain military spouses without competition. The authority does not entitle spouses to an appointment over any other applicant. For additional information visit https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/shams/index.aspx.

Preference eligibles are divided into five basic groups as follows:

1. CPS - Disability rating of 30% or more (10 points)
2. CP - Disability rating of at least 10% but less than 30% (10 points)
3. XP - Disability rating less than 10% (10 points)
4. TP - Preference eligibles with no disability rating (5 points)
5. SSP - Sole Survivorship Preference (0 points)

These codes are used to designate on rating sheets and certificates the category of veterans’ preference to which an applicant is entitled.

Yes. A service-member who is on terminal leave pending separation from active duty under honorable conditions may accept a civilian position in the Federal government.

Your military pay, grade, and rank alone cannot determine your eligibility for a specific civilian salary, grade level, or pay range.  On your job application, it is important that you completely and accurately describe the duties you performed during your military service, particularly those military duties that relate directly to the position you are applying for.  The agency will then evaluate your qualifications to determine whether you are eligible for the occupation and grade levels advertised on the vacancy announcement. Please be sure to submit all requested documents in a timely manner and follow the application procedures described in the vacancy announcement.

Yes. Current employees applying under VEOA are subject to time-in- grade restrictions like any other employee.