The Office of Personnel Management has issued interim regulations extending veterans’ preference in hiring to any former military personnel who served on active duty — training not included — for at least 180 consecutive days after September 11, 2001 through whenever Operation Iraqi Freedom is proclaimed to have ended.
The regulations published in the June 9 Federal Register implement statutory changes to veterans’ preference in the fiscal 2006 defense authorization act.
OPM said the changes are needed because there’s a chance reservists that have been released from active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan could be denied veterans’ preference based upon the language of the current regulations.
The regulation also clarifies that discharge or release from active duty means with either an honorable or general discharge from active duty in the armed forces. Comments are due by August 8.
