Veterans

Who can claim veterans' preference?

You get preference if:

1. You served on active duty in the armed forces during a war, in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, during specified time periods, or you have a service-connected disability or derive preference through a veteran who is unable to use it.
2. You need an honorable or general discharge, or you should get one within 120 days.

High-ranking retired veterans (above O-4) usually don't get preference unless they’re disabled or won't get military retirement pay until age 60. National Guard or Reserve training doesn't count for preference unless you're disabled. For more details, check Section 2108 of Title 5, USC, and the Vet Guide from the Office of Personnel Management.

How to claim veterans’ preference

You’ll need to determine what level of preference you’re claiming and provide required documents when applying for a job. The job announcement will inform you of what documentation to provide. There’s a point system used to classify preference levels, giving veterans varying levels of advantage.

You may be able to claim a 5-point preference if:

1. You served during a war.
2. You were in a campaign or expedition with a campaign medal.

For 5-point claims, submit a DD-214 form that certifies your release/discharge, or a letter from the military confirming your expected honorable release/discharge within 120 days of the application date.

You may be able to claim a 10-point preference if:

1. You have a service-connected disability rated at 10% or more.
2. You get disability compensation, disability retirement benefits, or a pension.
3. You received a Purple Heart.
4. You're the spouse or parent of a veteran who died in service or can't work due to a service-connected disability.

For 10-point claims, see Standard Form 15 (SF-15) for required documents. At NIH, you won’t need to submit the SF-15 form itself unless you're claiming a special type of preference called "derived preference," based on certain situations outlined in questions 7 - 9 of the form.

Special opportunities for veterans:

30% or more Disabled Veteran Appointment Authority:

• If you're a veteran with a 30% or higher disability rating and meet the job requirements, you might get a noncompetitive appointment.
• The appointment can be temporary, and there's no limit on the job level.
• They can turn your temporary job into a long-term one without a break in service.

Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) Authority:

• VRA is a way for agencies to hire eligible veterans for jobs up to GS-11 or similar levels.
• Veterans' preference is applied to these appointments.
• You're eligible if you're a disabled veteran, served during a war, received certain medals, or are a recently separated veteran.
• You must also have been honorably discharged.

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA):

• VEOA lets eligible veterans apply for jobs announced under merit promotion procedures.
• If you're selected, you'll get a career or career conditional appointment.
• Veterans' preference doesn't play a role in these appointments, and there are no location restrictions.
• You're eligible if you have veterans' preference or were honorably discharged after at least 3 years of active service.

Special Leave for Veterans:

The Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act of 2015 provides up to 104 hours of disabled veteran leave to employees hired on or after November 5, 2016, who have a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more from the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs. This leave is for medical treatment related to their disability.

Opportunities for Military Spouses:

Military spouses may qualify for 10-point derived preference or non-competitive appointment under Executive Order 13473 if they meet specific conditions described on the military spouse page.