Special Hiring Flexibilities

Option #1: Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment (VRA)

We can appoint veterans to positions (if qualified), up to the GS-11 (or equivalent pay band) level without further competition.  Upon satisfactory completion of a 2-year appointment, veterans can be converted non-competitively to a career-conditional appointment.  For all veterans that receive an honorable discharge, they may be eligible under the VRA appointment. A few examples include:

• Disabled veterans;
• Veterans who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized;
• Veterans who participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces Service Medal was awarded; and recently separated veterans.

Note: All veterans interested in being considered non-competitively with DOT must provide the following documentation, when required:

• Current Resume; Copy of DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty);
• Copy of SF-50 (if still a current or past federal worker); and a copy of an official college transcript (only for those individuals who meet definition of a student using education for qualification purposes).

Option #2: 30 Percent [30%] or More Disabled Veterans

We can appoint veterans with compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more without further competition. All eligible candidates may be appointed to any position for which they are qualified, for all occupational grade levels (or equivalent pay bands).  Note: An initial appointment is time-limited; however, veterans may be non-competitively converted to permanent status at any time during the time-limited appointment.  A few examples include:

• Retired from active military service possessing a disability rating of 30% or more; or
• Rated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with the preceding year (upon leaving active duty) as having a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more.

Note: All veterans interested in being considered non-competitively with DOT (VRA or 30% or more disabled) must provide the following documentation, when required:

• Current Resume: Copy of DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty);
• Copy of Veterans Administration (VA) Certification Letter (confirming minimum 30% disability*);
• SF-15 (Application for 10-point veteran preference*);
• Copy of SF-50 (if still a current or past federal worker); and a copy of college transcript (only for those individuals who meet definition of a student using education for qualification purposes).

*This documentation is not required for VRA appointments.