DISABLED VETERANS REGISTER PROCESS WASHINGTON, D.C. METRO AREA ONLY Veterans who have a documented (SF-15 criteria) service-connected disability of any degree, compensable or not, may apply to the address below for automatic referral to competitive announcements in this area only: U.S. Office of Personnel Management Office of Washington Examining Services P. O. Box 24 Washington, D.C. 20044 Applicants should follow these procedures in order to be referred to openings in the competitive service for which they are qualified, if you did not apply directly during the regular open period (which is still your primary objective): Submit an SF-171 and a cover letter, with the SF-15 and current VA or Armed Forces documentation, stating up to three (3) occupations (title and/or series number) and grade levels for which you believe you are qualified. Include typical sample "KSA" narratives (knowledges, skills and abilities descriptions) from recent applications under the "case examining" process, as described in the "Veterans Federal Employment Briefing" manual. That manual is available online on the WASNET and OPM Mainstreet networks and at military transition offices throughout the D.C. Metro area. Request eligibility for a six-month period beginning with the date of your letter from us indicating you have been entered on this special register. You will have to request an extension of that date within 30 days of the end of each six month period. When your name is referred to an agency and you have been selected for a permanent position in the Federal Government, we will remove your name from the register. If you want to renew your eligibility for other positions then, please reapply. Questions regarding this process for jobs in the D.C. Metro Area may be addressed to this office, or you may call us at (202) 606-2575. For information on how other OPM offices handle the same process, contact your local OPM office. A list of those may be requested by calling (202) 606-2700 and pressing code 1-2-280. Remember, this process is not a substitute for direct application under the "case examining" process described in the Veterans Federal Employment Manual. It is another part of the employment process which veterans with service-connected disabilities may chose to use. ---------- Office of Personnel Management FPM Bulletin 330-95 Federal Personnel Manual System FPM Bulletin JUNE 25, 1993 Bulletin No. 330-95 Washington, DC 20415 SUBJECT: Nationwide Implementation of the Job Ready Disabled Veterans Connection (JRDVC) Component of the Automated Applicant Referral System (AARS) Heads of Departments and Independent Establishments: 1. Nationwide Announcement. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in cooperation with the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) announces the implementation of a new component of the nationwide Automated Applicant Referral System (AARS). This new component, the Job Ready Disabled Veterans Connection (JRDVC), enables Federal agencies to have rapid access to referral lists of "Job Ready" disabled veterans. 2. Purpose of JRDVC. The JRDVC matches disabled veterans, who have successfully completed a DVA vocational rehabilitation plan, with Federal personnel opportunities. The veterans may be appointed through a variety of noncompetitive appointments (i.e., Veterans' Readjustment Act, 30 percent or more disabled veteran authority, Schedule A authorities, etc.). Enrollment is for disabled veterans who: (1) are certified as "Job Ready" under the DVA's Vocational Rehabilitation Program; (2) are rated 20 percent or more disabled (some rated 10 percent disabled may qualify based on previous eligibility); and (3) are willing to work for the Federal Government under noncompetitive appointing authorities. The system will support the placement of disabled veterans enrolled in the DVA's vocational rehabilitation program who have successfully completed required coursework or training. 3. Background to JRDVC. Among DVA's vocational rehabilitation program goals are to have its clients seek and achieve higher educational and vocational pursuits over an extended period of time. The DVA skills plan is designed to qualify the veteran for suitable employment and builds upon his/her proven military record. These skills are designed to supplement demonstrated military leadership and team skills. The DVA's rehabilitation program funds the cost of training and pays the veteran a subsistence allowance during the training period. The DVA estimates that it spends between $12,000 to $15,000 a year per enrollee in vocational rehabilitation. It is sound business for those Federal expenditures to be reinvested in ongoing Government operations. 4. Reasons for the Program. For nearly 20 years, the U.S. military has recruited and retained more capable and experienced troops. The Gulf War, significant military downsizing, and new legislative drives are rapidly increasing our roles in supporting veterans programs and our responsibility for veteran employment services. Americans cannot and should not forget the contributions of those who served in the military, especially those who carry service-connected disabilities. It is critical that frontline managers, selecting officials, and personnel specialists be reminded that there is a tremendous debt owed our Nation's service men and women by awarding veterans' preference or other special consideration in Federal employment avenues. The JRDVC is designed to help agencies meet Disabled Veterans Affirmative Action Program (DVAAP) goals. Agency JRDVC usage is being tracked for these purposes. 5. Development of the JRDVC. The JRDVC began as a pilot program tested in the cities of Baltimore, Atlanta, and Chicago. Early results of the JRDVC program show that substantial numbers of trained, qualified disabled veterans are interested and available for Federal employment and that these veterans can now be accessed easily by Federal agencies using this automated referral system. As a result, we expanded the program nationwide in November 1992. 6. National Scope. DVA's vocational rehabilitation specialists nationwide are trained on how to enroll their "Job Ready" candidates into the JRDVC system and provide counseling on Federal employment opportunities, including pre-appointment (SF-171) and interview preparation. The program became fully operational on Veterans' Day, November 11, 1992. 7. Profiles. Currently, there are 600 disabled veterans registered in the JRDVC, the maximum number expected is 800. Typical JRDVC veterans are men and women who served during the Vietnam Era or Gulf War. Most have associate or higher degrees and have indicated availability for positions at the GS-5/11 levels. The enrollees have frequently requested JRDVC referral to jobs in core administrative career fields such as personnel, computer science, general business, accounting, social work, program management, psychology, contract, and training specialist fields. There are some enrolling for consideration in clerical, scientific, and wage grade occupations. 8. System Access. Access to and use of the JRDVC involves the same operating procedures and office equipment as the other components of the Automated Applicant Referral System; guidance on this is in the JRDVC Operations Manual. The JRDVC listings are referral lists, not OPM certificates of eligibles. There are no special appeal rights under the JRDVC. While use of the JRDVC system is not mandatory, agencies are strongly encouraged to use the system routinely rather than on an exception basis. We will keep agencies informed of future system developments in the JRDVC. 9. JRDVC/AARS Promotion. With the nationwide implementation of the JRDVC, we are continuing our efforts to make the OPM Automated Applicant Referral System a "seamless" placement tool which provides the capability to draw upon the talent and resources of several diverse groups. For example, in addition to JRDVC disabled veterans, the Automated Applicant Referral System can provide agencies with access to: - Referral Lists of candidates for Direct Hire Authorization; - Lists of Defense Outplacement Referral System (DORS) registrants who are being affected by Defense downsizing; - Certificates of candidates for Administrative Careers with America occupational groups 3-6 through the Automated Applicant Certification component; and - Lists of candidates for part-time and job-shared positions through The OPM Connection. We encourage you to take full advantage of the full electronic capacity of the AARS by gaining electronic access and requesting multiple searches for fax listings under each of these "menus" for your vacancies. /SIGNED Patricia W. Lattimore Acting Deputy Director TRANSMITTED VIA WASNET (WASHINGTON AREA SERVICE NETWORK) JOB READY DISABLED VETERANS CONNECTION ---------- End of Document