Veterans Recruitment Appointment

[BoJackUSMC]

Dear Calgun LEO members
I just received an email from Border Patrol hiring center. They told me I meet all the requirement for the Veterans Recruitment Appointment. Anyone here ever used VRA before to get hire? any feedback will be much appreciated
thank you very much

[choprzrul]

No, but I sure am interested in learning more. Keep us posted.

.

[ankyle62]

It means you will get your 5 or 10 point preference for being a veteran. Just make sure they get your DD214 so you can cash in on it.

http://federaljobs.net/veterans.htm

* Disabled veterans; or
* 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; or
* Veterans who, while serving on active duty in the armed forces, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces Service Medal was awarded; or
* Recently separated veterans.

[BoJackUSMC]

Dear Applicant

Further review of your Border Patrol Agent (BPA) application shows that you are eligible to be hired under a special appointing authority. You are eligible for an excepted service Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment. If you choose to be hired under this special appointing authority, we can expedite your pre-employment processing.

We will expedite your processing under the applicable special appointing authority unless you contact us by April 1, 2011 by email or phone at (612) 727-7135, to decline the expedited processing. If your processing is expedited, you will be contacted for scheduling within the next 30 days. If you decline the expedited processing, you will remain in the selection process based on your original date of referral and adjudicated veterans preference.

Hope something good comes out from this. Uncle Sam, help me out.

[crashbubba]

VRA is a special hiring authority that a federal agency may choose to employ to fill positions. It IS NOT the same as veterans preference. The two are seperate and distinct programs and there are circumstances where one with vets preferene is not eligible for VRA. VEOA is another special hiring authority with slightly different criteria.

First off, an agency has to choose to fill a position using VRA or VEOA eligible applicants. If an applicant is qualified (ie - meets the position qualifications) and VRA qualified, the agency may appoint the individual without further competition.

Normally a vet-preference applicant would still have to compete for the position after being rated/ranked after their 5 or 10 points were added.

Note that if hired as a VRA, you are hired under an "excepted service" appointment. There may be restrictions on moving to another GS position for 2 years, RIF rights, etc. Generally, you'll be converted to a normal appointment after 2 years. Check with your HR contact to get the exact rules that apply to your position.

For federal employment, OPM is a great resource http://www.opm.gov/staffingPortal/Ve...#VRA-Authority

[C.W.M.V.]

Hey bo jack where are you at in the process now? Medical? Physicals?

[Soldier415]

tag

[BoJackUSMC]

I still have to do the medical/fitness exam. However, last couple weeks, the hiring center has been contacting me like crazy. Even today, I just received the email from them about this veterans recruitment appointment. I just finished faxing more paper work to them. I am hoping I will do my medical/fitness exam very soon because this program I am eligible suppose to make the process go faster.

[rckjeep]

That's awesome since their website says they aren't hiring at all. Good luck

[ankyle62]

VRA is a special hiring authority that a federal agency may choose to employ to fill positions. It IS NOT the same as veterans preference. The two are seperate and distinct programs and there are circumstances where one with vets preferene is not eligible for VRA. VEOA is another special hiring authority with slightly different criteria.

First off, an agency has to choose to fill a position using VRA or VEOA eligible applicants. If an applicant is qualified (ie - meets the position qualifications) and VRA qualified, the agency may appoint the individual without further competition.

Normally a vet-preference applicant would still have to compete for the position after being rated/ranked after their 5 or 10 points were added.

Note that if hired as a VRA, you are hired under an "excepted service" appointment. There may be restrictions on moving to another GS position for 2 years, RIF rights, etc. Generally, you'll be converted to a normal appointment after 2 years. Check with your HR contact to get the exact rules that apply to your position.

For federal employment, OPM is a great resource http://www.opm.gov/staffingPortal/Ve...#VRA-Authority

Good info, thanks for correcting me.

[C.W.M.V.]

I still have to do the medical/fitness exam. However, last couple weeks, the hiring center has been contacting me like crazy. Even today, I just received the email from them about this veterans recruitment appointment. I just finished faxing more paper work to them. I am hoping I will do my medical/fitness exam very soon because this program I am eligible suppose to make the process go faster.

Hmmm, WTF?
Ive got my physical/first fitness test next week. I just dropped them a message about this, had to send them my new phone number anyway.

[crashbubba]

I don't know the specifics of the position ya'll have applied for, but generally the position announcement has to state that they are considering VRA and/or VEOA applicants. Often for entry level positions (ie 1811, 0080) they'll have two job announcements. One for "all US citizens" and one for preference eligibles, merit system, VRAs, etc, etc. It's listed under the "who may be considered" section of the announcement, and there's often text in the announcement that says to be considered for VRA status you must apply under the appropriate announcement number.

Good luck and congrats!

[Cpl. Haas]

Here's some more info from MHC:

Only veterans that have a selection date of 10/12/2010 and later were offered the VRA consideration.

How much faster this will make the process go is hard to say.* These applicants still have to go through all of the same steps everyone else has to go through.*"

HR Staffing Assistant

CBP OAM and OPB

Servicing Entry Level

(612) xxx-xxxx* Fax (612) xxx-xxxx

[BoJackUSMC]

I dont mind the wait, but I just hope I get station at San Diego if I were to get hire in the future.

[C.W.M.V.]

Really? I requested anywhere but CA!