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Veterans Programs

Hiring Authorities for Veterans

Veterans' Preference

By law, veterans who are disabled or who have served on active duty in the Armed Forces, during certain specified time periods or military campaigns, are entitled to preference over non-veterans both in hiring from competitive lists of eligibles and in retention during a "reduction in force." Entitlement to Veterans' Preference does not mean the placement of veterans in all vacant Federal jobs or guarantee jobs to veterans. This would be incompatible with the merit principle of public employment. Also, Veterans' Preference does not apply to promotions or other in-service actions. There are many ways an agency can fill its vacancies, and Veterans' Preference provides a uniform method by which special consideration can be given to qualified veterans seeking Federal employment.

30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans' Program

The Department of Defense (DoD) and other Federal agencies have special discretionary authority to appoint a citizen with a 30 percent (or more) service-connected disability. A veteran selected under this authority is given an initial temporary appointment which can be converted to a permanent appointment without competition. There is no limitation on the grade level of the position to be filled.

Veterans' Readjustment Appointment Authority

The Veterans' Readjustment Appointment is another authority which may be used to hire eligible veterans into DoD or governmentwide. A veteran selected under this authority is given a two-year excepted appointment with the possibility of conversion to a permanent appointment at the conclusion of two years of satisfactory performance.

More Information

To get detailed information about the various veterans' programs, click on the following links:

• Department of Veterans Affairs
• Eligibility Criteria
• Veterans' Readjustment Appointment