One of the best ways for the Federal Government to honor the service of the brave men and women in our armed forces is to make sure they have ample opportunities for civilian employment in the Federal Government. Veterans are valued, experienced, and trained. In doing so, we are not only demonstrating appreciation for their service and sacrifice; we are making it possible for the Nation to continue to benefit from their talents, dedication, and training. Hiring veterans makes good business sense.
The Council on Veterans Employment advises and assist the President on improving employment opportunities for veterans in the Federal Government. The Council is co-chaired by the Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs. The Director of OPM serves as Vice Chair and Chief Operating Officer. Twenty-four agencies are represented on the Council.
OPM works with the Council to develop the Strategic Plan for Governmentwide Veterans Recruitment and Employment. The Strategic Plan maps a comprehensive assault on barriers to veteran employment in the areas of leadership commitment, skills development, marketing employment opportunities for veterans, and the creation of a single-source information gateway for disseminating Federal veteran employment information.
The Veterans Employment Program Office (VEPO) was established within each of the 24 agencies represented on the Council. The mission of each of these offices is to support the Veterans Employment Initiative and provide employment assistance to veterans at the agency level. VEPO provides a full range of support to transitioning service members, other veterans – including disabled veterans – and their family members who seek information on employment in the Federal Government.
