Preferences

MILITARY SPOUSE PREFERENCE (MSP)
Military spouses may be eligible to apply for employment preference for DoD NAF positions in conjunction with their military sponsor's transfer to a new duty station. Spouse preference eligibility begins 30 days before the military sponsor's reporting date to the new duty location.  A military spouse preference eligible is a military spouse who entered into marriage with the military member prior to relocating because of service under a statutory tour.  Military spouses may apply for any position in all employment categories in pay band NF-III and below, CC positions, and equivalent hourly paid crafts and trades positions.  However, preference applies only when the grade/pay band for which the spouse has applied is no higher than that previously held in the federal service.

Spouse preference eligibility is terminated upon placement or declination (whichever occurs first) of a continuing position (APF or NAF) for which application is made. A continuing position is defined as a "regular" position and does not include "flexible" or "temporary" positions.  Military Spouses will be referred using Military Spouse Preference until such time as they accept or decline a continuing position.  Military Spouse Preference will not be lost if the military spouse declines an offer of employment in a non-continuing position (flexible or temporary).  There is no limit to the number of times that Military Spouse Preference may be applied to referral and selection for non-continuing positions.  Upon acceptance of a non-continuing position (flexible NTE or Regular NTE), the spouse's eligibility for preference for other non-continuing positions will be suspended until 60 days prior to the expiration date of the non-continuing position.

Documents Required To Claim Spouse Preference:  Documents depicting proof of military spouse preference eligibility are the sponsor's permanent change of station (PCS) orders where the spouse is named as the husband or wife of the military member, or a copy of the commander's letter of approval of command sponsorship together with a copy of the sponsor's PCS orders. To apply using spouse preference you must provide us with a copy of these documents.  The military sponsor must be an active duty military member of the Armed Forces, including the U.S. Coast Guard, relocating because of service under a statutory tour.  Military spouse preference does not apply when the military members sponsor's move is a PCS move is in conjunction with retirement or separation.

TRANSITION HIRING PREFERENCE
Certain categories of involuntarily separated military members, and in some cases, their family members, are to be provided benefits and services to ease the transition process from military to civilian life.  Transition Hiring Preference (THP) became available with the 1991 National Defense Authorization Act (Public Law 101-510). Preference may be used for any NAF job open to competition according to merit practices, at CC, NF-III and below and crafts and trades positions.  THP is terminated upon placement in, or declination of, any NAF position (whichever occurs first) for which a THP-eligible has applied.

Documents Required To Claim Transition Hiring Preference:  To apply using THP, you must provide us with a copy of your transition assistance identification card and a copy of the orders showing that you or your spouse were involuntarily separated.  You will receive this preference only if you are fully qualified for the position. You may receive THP only once. That means if we offer a position to you, you lose your THP whether you accept or not.

VETERAN PREFERENCE APPLICANTS
If you ever served in any branch of the armed forces you may be eligible for Veterans' Preference. By law, veterans who are disabled or who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during certain specified time periods or in military campaigns are entitled to preference over nonveterans. 

Veteran's Preference Change:  Due to a recent change, individuals previously ineligible for veteran’s preference may now be eligible.  This change applies to anyone who served on active duty for more than 180 consecutive days, any part of which occurred beginning September 11, 2001 and ending as of the close of Operation Iraqi Freedom, if otherwise eligible.  If you meet the requirements of this new eligibility and wish to claim veterans' preference for hiring purposes, ensure you provide appropriate documentation to the Human Resources Office.

Documents Required To Claim Veteran's Preference:  To be considered for Veterans' Preference you need to send us the member copy 4 of your last DD Form 214. Not everybody who served in the Armed Forces is eligible for this preference. There are strict guidelines to use in determining Veterans' Preference and not all will qualify. The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided the following website for veterans to gain access to their DD-214 online: http://vetrecs.archives.gov/.