Post-Military Career Benefits

Veterans receive preference in the civil hiring process, and may be entitled to additional preference depending on their service. 

To get Veterans’ preference, you must fall under the following criteria:

• You must have an honorable or general discharge 
• Your military rank must have been below major, lieutenant commander (or higher) unless you are disabled
• Your military service must be more than Guard or Reserve active duty for training purposes. 
• You must claim preference on your application when applying for Federal jobs

You can also apply for five or ten-point preference if you fall under additional criteria. 

To meet the five-point criteria, you must have served during the following time periods:

• December 7, 1941-July 1, 1955
• More than 180 consecutive days any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955 or before October 15, 1976 
• During the Gulf War from August 2, 1990 through January 2, 1992 (If you are a Gulf War Veteran or medal holder, you must have served continuously for 24 months or for the full period called to active duty, unless  you were separated from the line of duty for disability or hardship, or you have a service-connected disability).
• In a campaign or expedition authorized by a campaign medal, such as El Salvador, Grenada, Haiti, Lebanon, Panama, Somalia, Southwest Asia and Bosnia
• On active duty for more than 180 consecutive days any part of which occurred after September 11, 2001 or ended on the last date of Operation Iraqi Freedom 

To meet the ten-point criteria, you must: 

• Be a Veteran with a present service-connected disability or who is receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits or pension from the military of Department of Veterans Affairs. 
• You received the Purple Heart Medal. 

Unmarried spouses and parents of Veterans who died in service or who are permanently and totally disabled may also apply for ten-point preference.

If you are claiming a 10-point preference, you must complete SF-15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference. 

The Department of Labor’s Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) provides states grants for employment and training services to eligible Veterans through the Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program and Local Veterans’ Employment Representative (LVER).

Local Veterans’ Employment Representatives are employed at the state level, but you can reach out to your Regional Veterans’ Employment Coordinator to be connected with opportunities in your area.

Additionally, Transition Assistance Programs (TAPs) are also available for transitioning servicemembers. 

You can also receive vocational counseling from PVA’s Veterans Career Program.

The Small Business Administration offers numerous programs to support Veteran entrepreneurship, including the Veterans Business Outreach Center Program (VBOC). Learn more on their website.

The VA provides vocational rehabilitation services to Veterans with service-connected disabilities that prevent them from finding employment through their Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program. Additionally, the VA offers Compensated Work Therapy at all of their locations, which provides individualized vocational assessments and work experiences to eligible Veterans.