The Office of Personnel Management has issued final
regulations changing who is eligible for veteran recruitment
appointments — previously called veterans readjustment
appointments.
With VRAs, agencies can hire qualified veterans for a
two-year probationary period without competing the position
first, then convert the position to permanent status.
VRAs are excepted appointments to positions otherwise
in the competitive service so agencies have to apply
either OPM, or OPM-approved and agency-specific
qualification standards, as they would filling any position
in the competitive service.
According to a notice in the Dec. 1 Federal Register, the
final rules implement provisions of the Jobs for Veterans
Act making the following groups eligible for these
appointments: disabled veterans, those who served on active
duty in the armed forces during a war or in a campaign or
expedition for which an armed services medal was awarded,
or for veterans separated from active duty for less than
three years.
Veterans in the latter category must be appointed prior to
the expiration of that three-year period. The rules take e
ffect on January 3, 2006.
