Civilian careers with the Department of the Navy (DON) can provide veterans with another opportunity to continue government service. Because of their service to the United States, veterans of the Armed Forces are given a degree of preference appointments to federal employment opportunities. In the federal government, retired service members are provided these special hiring authorities:
Veterans' Recruitment Appointment (VRA): You may be eligible for this appointing authority if you are a:
- Disabled veteran; or,
- Veteran who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which you received an authorized campaign or expedition badge or medal; or,
- Veteran who, while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces, participated in a United States
military operation for which you were awarded an Armed Forces Service Medal (AFSM); or,
- Veteran who have separated from active service within the last three years.
NOTE: The highest grade level you may be appointed under this authority is GS-11 or equivalent.
30% or More Disabled Veteran: You may be eligible for this appointing authority if you have:
- Retired from active military service with a disability rating of 30% or more
- Have a rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more.
Veterans' Employment Opportunity (VEOA): You are eligible for this hiring authority if you are a:
- Preference eligible or,
- Veteran who separated from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions after substantially completing an initial 3-year term of active service.
NOTE: "Preference eligible" under VEOA includes those family members entitled to derived preference.
Additional information on veterans’ preference may be located on www.fedshirevets.gov or
www.dol.gov/elaws/vets/vetpref/choice.htm.
Check out how other veterans are making the difference by viewing this YouTube video: Vet to Fed Compilation Video.