NOAA’s Commitment to Increase Veteran Hiring

While NOAA has a strong commitment to hiring veterans, there is still a lot more we can do. NOAA managers and supervisors play a key role in hiring our future workforce, and it is critical that our hiring officials are aware of the following Veterans hiring authorities and programs that can be used to increase the representation of veteran’s in our workforce:

• Veterans Recruitment Appointment (VRA) Authority – This appointment authority allows us to appoint eligible veterans, without competition, to positions at any grade level through General Schedule (GS) 11 or Pay Band III. After two years of satisfactory service, we must convert the veteran to a career or career-conditional appointment.
  
  
• Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 – This appointment authority allows eligible veterans to apply for positions announced under internal merit promotion procedures.
  
  
• 30% or More Disabled Veterans - We may give a noncompetitive temporary appointment of more than 60 days or a term appointment to any veteran with a disability rating of 30% or more. While there is no grade level limitation for this authority, the appointee must meet all qualification requirements. We may then convert the employee, without a break in service, to a career or career-conditional appointment at any time during the employee’s temporary or term appointment.
  
  
• Disabled Veterans Enrolled in a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Training Program – This program allows disabled veterans eligible for training under the Program to enroll for training or work experience at NOAA under the terms of an agreement between the us and the VA. The veteran is not a Federal employee of the agency, but a beneficiary of the VA. Upon successful completion of the training, NOAA and the VA give the veteran a Certificate of Training showing the occupational series and grade level of the position for which the veteran was training. NOAA is allowed to appoint the veteran noncompetitively under a status quo appointment which may be converted to a career or career-conditional appointment at any time.

In addition to information regarding hiring, the following websites below also contain valuable information regarding our Nation’s Veterans, and you are encouraged to explore these sites to gain a better understanding of what you can do to assist these citizens who have served this country:

President's Initiative To Transform Federal Government into Model of Veterans Employment - The Initiative underscores to federal agencies the importance of recruiting and training veterans, aims to increase the employment of veterans within the Executive Branch, and helps recently hired veterans adjust to service in a civilian capacity. On this site, fellow veterans share their stories of their paths to careers in the Federal Government using the training and skills they gained in the military.

Hiring Veterans at NOAA - PDF Format   or   PowerPoint with notes

Veteran's Day - Honoring All Who Served

Veterans' Employment & Training Service (VETS)

Veterans Employment Information - OPM

Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment Service

Should you need any assistance or have any questions on the Veterans hiring authorities and programs available, please contact your servicing Workforce Management Office.

Page last edited: November 12, 2009