Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA)

Formerly Veterans' Readjustment Appointment

What it provides: VRA allows appointment of eligible veterans up to the GS-11 or equivalent (entry- to mid-level positions). Veterans are hired under excepted appointments to positions that are otherwise in the competitive service. After the individual satisfactorily completes 2 years of service, the veteran must be converted noncompetitively to a career or career-conditional appointment.

Who is eligible: VRA eligibility applies to the following categories:

• 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 3 years.

Determine your VRA eligibility and if it applies to you.

What To Do Next

If you qualify to claim eligibility under this authority, follow these guidelines. 

Disclaimer

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) administers entitlement to veterans’ preference in Federal employment under title 5, United States Code, and overseas other statutory employment requirements in title 5 and 38.  However, the veterans’ preference laws do not guarantee veterans a job, nor do they give veterans preference in internal agency actions such as promotion, transfer, reassignment and reinstatement.

This page was last reviewed/modified on May 20, 2008.