FAQs

You can request ‘certification’ through your Military Personnel Office. 

There are no regulations that dictate when a service member can apply for a position with the Federal Government. However, agencies typically will not adjudicate veterans’ preference unless the service-member has a DD-214 or "certification" that is a written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed.

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.

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.

Maybe.  Eligibility for veterans’ preference in Federal employment is dependent on military service dates or service-connected disability and having served honorably.  The Feds Hire Vets website (www.fedshirevets.gov) provides guidance on veterans’ preference and special hiring authorities for veterans.

No.  Veterans' preference does not apply when the agency is using merit promotion procedures to fill a position.

No.

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.

Yes. 

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.

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

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."

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/