Veterans and Military Spouses

The EEOC's Mission is to prevent and remedy unlawful employment discrimination and advance equal opportunity for all. The EEOC is dedicated to recruiting and retaining talented individuals from diverse backgrounds. Explore this page to learn more about the federal hiring process, career resources, and opportunities available to veterans and military spouses.

Why Join Us?

Your commitment to serving the Country does not have to end when you or your military spouse separates from military service. By working for the EEOC, you can help advance our mission. The EEOC also offers opportunities for career advancement, competitive benefits, and a supportive work environment.

Special Hiring Authorities

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA)

The Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998, as amended, provides preference eligibles and certain eligible veterans the opportunity to compete for certain positions announced under an agency’s merit promotion procedures. It applies only when the agency is filling a permanent, competitive service position and has decided to solicit candidates from outside its own workforce. It allows eligible veterans and preference eligibles to apply to announcements that would otherwise be open to so called "status" candidates, i.e., "current competitive service employees and certain prior employees who have earned competitive status." "Preference eligible" under VEOA includes those family members entitled to derived preference.

To be eligible to be considered pursuant to VEOA appointment, your latest discharge must be issued under honorable conditions (this means an honorable or general discharge), AND you must be either:

• a preference eligible (defined in title 5 U.S.C. 2108(3)), OR
• a veteran who substantially completed 3 or more years of active service under honorable conditions.

When applying under VEOA, you must rate and rank among the best qualified applicants, overall, to be considered for appointment. The preference conferred, in this case, is the opportunity to compete; the statute confers no entitlement to be selected ahead of non-preference eligible candidates. Your veterans' preference does not apply to actions such as promotions, transfers, and reassignments.

Current or former federal employees meeting VEOA eligibility can apply. However, current employees applying under VEOA are subject to time-in- grade restrictions like any other General Schedule employee.

30% or More Disabled Veteran

The 30% or More Disabled Veteran authority allows an agency to non-competitively appoint any veteran with a 30% or more service-connected disability.

You are eligible if you:

• retired from active military service with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more, OR
• have a rating by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more.

This authority can be used to make temporary (at least 60 days but not to exceed 1 year) or term (more than 1 year, but not more than 4) appointments in the competitive service. There is no grade level restriction. There is no requirement that you be converted to a permanent position, but an agency has the authority to convert such a position to a permanent position if it chooses to do so.

The agency would first place you on a time limited appointment of at least 60 days and could then convert that appointment to a permanent appointment at management's discretion. When the authority is used to meet a time-limited need, you will not be converted to a permanent appointment.

Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA)

Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) is an excepted service appointment authority that allows an agency to non-competitively appoint an eligible veteran. If you:

• served during a war or are in receipt of a campaign badge for service in a campaign or expedition, OR
• are a disabled veteran, OR
• are in receipt of an Armed Forces Service Medal (includes the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal) for participation in a military operation, OR
• are a recently separated veteran (within 3 years of discharge), AND
• separated under honorable conditions (this means an honorable or general discharge).

You can be appointed under this authority at any grade level up to and including a GS-11 or equivalent. Upon satisfactory completion of 2 years of substantially continuous service, you will be converted to the competitive service. If an agency has two or more VRA candidates and at least one is preference eligible, the veterans' preference procedures of 5 CFR, part 302 of OPM’s regulations must be applied when using the VRA authority.

Agencies may also use VRA to fill temporary (not to exceed 1 year) or term (more than 1 year but not to exceed 4 years) positions. If you are employed in a temporary or term position under VRA, you will not be converted to the competitive service after 2 years.

There is no limit to the number of times you can apply under VRA, as long as you meet the definition of a covered veteran under applicable law.

Eligibility Documentation

The abovementioned authorities require documentation to prove eligibility. Please visit the following link for additional information and acceptable documentation:

https://www.OPM.gov/fedshirevets/veteran-job-seekers/vets/

Military Spouse Hiring Authority Executive Order (EO) 13832

Military Spouse Non-competitive Appointing Authority allows agencies to provide greater opportunities for military spouses to be considered for federal jobs in the competitive service through the use of the government-wide noncompetitive hiring authority for military spouses. The authority does not entitle spouses to an appointment over any other applicant.

For additional information on Military Spouse Appointing Authority, please visit https://www.opm.gov/fedshirevets/hiring-officials/strategic-recruitment-and-hiring/military-spouses-family-members/

Interested in Joining the EEOC?

Visit https://eeoccareers.usajobs.gov to search our current job opportunities, view job announcements, and how to apply.

Still have a hiring related question? We’re here to help! Email: jobs@eeoc.gov

Additional Resources

• FedsHireVets
• Vets - OPM.gov
• Military to Federal Jobs Crosswalk