Federal Employment Benefits for Veterans — Hiring Preference, VRA & VEOA

Q: How do I know if a job is open to veterans?

On USAJOBS, look at the 'Who May Apply' section of each job announcement. Jobs open to the public ('All U.S. Citizens') are open to veterans. Merit promotion jobs normally open only to current/former federal employees are also accessible to veterans through VEOA. Look for job announcements that specifically mention VEOA, VRA, or Schedule A. You can also filter USAJOBS results to show only jobs with veterans hiring authorities.

🏛️ Federal employment is one of the most overlooked veteran benefits. Veterans' hiring preferences, non-competitive appointments, and job protection laws can open doors that are closed to most applicants. These benefits apply across all federal agencies — from the VA to the Department of Defense to the IRS.

Section 1

Veterans' Preference in Federal Hiring

The most widely applicable benefit — and the one most veterans don't fully understand. Preference adds points to your score in competitive federal hiring processes.

Preference Type	Who Qualifies	Points Added
5-Point (TP)	Served during wartime, received a campaign badge, or honorably discharged	+5 points to exam score
10-Point (CPS)	Service-connected disability of 30% or more, or Purple Heart recipient	+10 points, plus additional protections
10-Point (CP)	Service-connected disability rating (any rating)	+10 points
10-Point (XP)	Non-compensable disability, Silver Star, or other qualifying criteria	+10 points

How to Claim Your Preference

Mark "veteran" on your USAJOBS application profile
Upload your DD-214 (Member Copy 4)
For 10-point preference: also submit VA disability letter (SF-15)
If preference is denied, you can appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)

Section 2

VRA — Veterans' Recruitment Appointment

VRA lets agencies hire eligible veterans non-competitively — skipping the normal competitive hiring process entirely. This is a powerful tool many veterans never use.

Who Qualifies

VRA Eligibility

Vietnam-era veterans, veterans with service-connected disabilities, veterans who served in a military campaign or expedition, and veterans who separated from active duty within the past 3 years with an honorable discharge.

How It Works

Non-Competitive Appointment

Agencies can appoint you directly to positions up to GS-11 without posting a competitive job announcement. Initial 2-year appointment, converted to career-conditional after successful completion.

How to Use It

Request It Directly

Contact agency HR offices directly. Tell them you're VRA-eligible and request a VRA appointment. Many agencies actively seek VRA candidates — you just need to ask. Bring your DD-214 and any disability documentation.

Section 3

VEOA — Veterans Employment Opportunity Act

VEOA opens thousands of federal jobs to veterans that are normally only available to current federal employees through internal "merit promotion" announcements.

📋

What it does

Allows veterans to apply to merit promotion job announcements even when those jobs are only advertised to current/former federal employees.

✅

Who qualifies

Veterans separated from armed forces after 3+ years of active service with an honorable discharge, or current/former federal employees who are veterans.

🔍

How to find VEOA jobs

On USAJOBS, look for "VEOA" in the "Who May Apply" section of each job announcement. You can filter specifically for VEOA-eligible announcements.

Section 4

Schedule A — Non-Competitive Hiring for Disabled Veterans

Schedule A is a non-competitive hiring authority specifically for people with disabilities, including veterans with service-connected disabilities. No need to compete with other applicants.

Applies to veterans with service-connected disabilities of any rating
No competitive examination required — agency can hire you directly
Get a Schedule A letter from your VA physician or HR
Present the letter to federal agency HR departments
Works at any GS level — no cap like VRA's GS-11 limit
Many large agencies have specific Schedule A coordinators

Section 5

USERRA — Job Protection for Guard & Reserve

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act protects your civilian job when you're called to active duty — whether you work for the federal government or a private employer.

Reemployment

Your Job Must Be Held

Employers must reemploy you in the same (or comparable) position after military service. You cannot be fired for up to 1 year after returning from service of more than 180 days.

Benefits

Benefits Continuity

Health insurance must be continued during service (you may pay up to 102% of premiums). Pension and retirement benefits continue to accrue during military service periods.

File a Complaint

If Your Rights Are Violated

Contact the Department of Labor VETS program: dol.gov/agencies/vets or call 866-487-2365. Free legal assistance available.

Section 6

Finding Federal Jobs on USAJOBS

USAJOBS.gov is the official federal job site. Here's how to use it effectively as a veteran.

USAJOBS Tips for Veterans

Create a profile and check "I am a veteran" — it unlocks filtered veteran searches
Use the "Veterans" filter to show jobs with special hiring authorities
Copy exact keywords from job announcements into your resume (federal hiring is keyword-matched)
Include all military experience — quantify duties, weapons systems, leadership, budgets
Translate MOS/AFSC/NEC to civilian terms using O*NET's Military Crosswalk
Federal resumes should be 3–5 pages — not 1 page like civilian resumes
Apply even if you don't meet every qualification — preference gives you an edge

Need help translating your military experience? Our AI can help translate your MOS to civilian equivalents →

Section 7

Federal Pay & Benefits Overview

The General Schedule (GS) pay scale covers most federal civilian positions. Benefits are comprehensive and often exceed private sector equivalents.

GS-1 Entry

~$24K

Starting clerical/support roles

GS-7 Mid

~$49K

Many veteran entry points

GS-11 Senior

~$73K

Top VRA appointment level

GS-15 Executive

$143K+

Highest GS level

Federal Benefits Package:

FEHB — Federal Employees Health Benefits: choose from many plans, government pays ~70% of premiums
FEGLI — Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance: basic coverage at low cost
TSP — Thrift Savings Plan: like a 401(k), with government matching (up to 5% for FERS employees)
FERS Pension — Defined benefit pension based on years of service and salary
Annual & Sick Leave — 13–26 days annual + 13 sick days per year
Locality Pay — Additional pay based on your geographic area (can add 15–40%)

Section 8

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Veterans' preference gives you a score advantage (5 or 10 points added to your assessment score) and some procedural protections, but it does not guarantee selection. Agencies still evaluate qualifications, experience, and interview performance. However, preference significantly improves your competitive position, and special hiring authorities like VRA and Schedule A allow non-competitive appointments — meaning you can be hired without competing at all if you meet the criteria.

Yes, in certain circumstances. Derived preference allows a spouse, widow/widower, or mother to receive veterans' preference when the veteran cannot use it. A spouse may be eligible if the veteran has a service-connected disability that prevents them from being employed. A widow or widower may be eligible if the veteran died in service or from service-connected causes and the spouse hasn't remarried. Check OPM's derived preference guidelines for full eligibility details.

On USAJOBS, look at the "Who May Apply" section of each job announcement. Jobs open to the public ("All U.S. Citizens") are open to veterans. Merit promotion jobs normally open only to current/former federal employees are also accessible to veterans through VEOA. Look for job announcements that specifically mention VEOA, VRA, or Schedule A. You can also filter USAJOBS results to show only jobs with veterans hiring authorities.

Yes, but with conditions. Military service can be credited toward FERS (Federal Employees Retirement System) if you pay a deposit equal to 3% of your military base pay plus interest. This can significantly increase your pension calculation. Active duty service that ended in an honorable discharge generally qualifies. If you're receiving military retirement pay, you typically must waive it to get credit for the same years in FERS — unless you have post-1956 military service.

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