Why is any program needed to give Disabled Vets a chance to work for Congress?

The concern we have with this is that it is yet another distraction from the real issues facing America’s Veterans. Instead of the DAV, VFW, American Legion, VVA, or whomever outrageously fighting to make Veterans Preference a reality instead of a joke, at least the DAV is doing this political photo-op that makes a mockery out of Veterans Preference laws that frankly are and have been a joke. Ask anyone hired under Veterans preference and they will tell you that (1) it is common practice [automatic] for the civil service to apply Veterans Preference when a Veteran applies for a federal job, and (2) a federal agency will only hire you if it wants to there are no guarantees.

BASIC QUESTION: Why haven’t members of Congress been recognizing Veterans Preference all along? Why do politicians want to make it appear as if Vets Preference is something NEW? We realize that Wounded Warrior, Inc (the efficient fund raising effort for younger Disabled Vets benefits, that the VSOs and VA benefit in controlling the program, but where exactly does the Disabled American Veteran benefit from being selectively chosen by VSOs to work for Congress when legally we don’t have to go through ANY VSO for Veterans Preference, and this program is in direct violation of federal codes by allowing VSOs to control access to it. There’s nothing in the long existing law allowing such control by a few Veterans over the many who are not members.

By Joseph R. Chenelly

An extract:

"The DAV applauds the House leadership for creating this program," said National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson. "This program benefits both veterans and lawmakers. Disabled veterans gain valuable insights into the inner workings of the democracy they fought to defend. At the same time, elected officials experience of disabled veterans as capable workers and gain better understanding of the issues they confront as result of their disabilities." The program was put together at the direction of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Committee on House Administration Chairman Robert Brady (D-Pa.).

In a letter ordering the program to be developed, the trio of lawmakers wrote, "From our visits with our wounded military over the past several years, we are well aware that these service men and women possess a wide range of valuable skills and experiences, as well as enthusiasm for hard work, which would be enormously valuable to any employer."

Applicants must be veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom and must have a 30 percent or greater service-connected disability rating from either a military Physical Evaluation Board or the VA. The veterans must also be honorably discharged and posses a high school diploma or GED certificate. Positions are available in member, committee and leadership offices in Washington and in district offices nationwide. If a fellowship is located within a Representative’s district, the appointment is contingent on the elected official’s continuous representation of that district.

Wherever possible, those selected for the program will be given the opportunity to transition into full-time employment, but employment is not guaranteed at the conclusion of the two years. [In other words these are in common civil service lingo Temporary Hires] Salaries will vary from job to job, depending on the duties and recommendations from the office or Congressional Member that has hired the wounded warrior. There is no reimbursement for relocation expenses.

Applicants must be referred to the program by a veteran’s service organization recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the VA itself, or the veteran’s branch of service. To apply for a referral from the DAV, contact the National Service Office closest to where you live.

This is the part of the program that WE at VT believe is in violation of standing federal codes on Veterans Preference, and why it is that mainstream VSOs are not speaking out on beefing up the existing Vets Preference laws instead of trying to control access to any special program. It is not the Wounded Warrior program that we question, but how it is controlled and who determines access. In a word Bullshit! Frankly, knowledge of the Vets preference laws and system is power despite it being a JOKE!!!

DAV MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2009 PAGE 32

WHAT DOES THE LAW ON VETERANS PREFERENCE "ALREADY" SAY IN PLAIN ENGLISH?

      In order to explain this in such a way that someone like me with a high school GED can understand is to get the legal bullcrap out of the way first. Readers you see as I said it is not the Wounded Warrior Vets Preference program that we question but the fact that the rules of engagement reflect not only how much the mainstream VSOs take Vet Preference (VP) overall serious – there are reasons why VP is a JOKE and to get at those reasons WE the collective Veteran community regardless if we are members of a VSO or not must encourage our leadership of VSO and challenge them to provide us the rank and file, but especially all American Veterans who want to work with a status report on achievements our and your VSO has made in the past decade or so getting the federal government, and yes the Congress is part of the federal government hiring practice outside of elected officials.

     Staff members on Congressional staffs ARE NOT elected officials, but according to programs like this they are selected, and that brings into question improper personnel hiring practices that need to be examined by the Office of Special Council. However, than is not going to fly because who polices members of Congress? WE THE PEOPLE DO!

     Though I may be wrong, God pray let me be wrong, I don’t seriously think that Congressional representative have intentionally NOT hired Veterans, we simply believe this program is a prime example of just how IGNORANT of laws and federal codes regarding VP members of Congress and whomever on their staff responsible for hiring is. Well knowledge is power, and we are going to try providing you the knowledge on how to apply for federal employment including positions that open up on a Congressional staff at local or national level without having to go through a VSO.

      First step is finding out where and when there are vacancies on a Congressional staff, what the job description is, and make sure if you want to work for a politician that you know the rules and regulations government civil service employees like you know who the President, various house and senate leaders are. If you don’t know who these people are, we don’t advise seeking employment with them. Point: you need to know a little something about political science even having a degree would be helpful but not necessary. Now OK that’s common sense, but who in Congress has common sense? When sense doesn’t work, you need to know the law!!!

(A) the individual is a disabled veteran (using the same 30% rating criteria that Nancy Pelosi is trying to appear as if it is something NEW???); or

(B) The individual retired below the rank of Major or its equivalent; and (that means Major and below. Major Hanafin)

(5) "Retired member of the armed forces" means a member or former member of the armed forces who is entitled, under statute, to retired, retirement, or retainer pay on account of service as a member.

Lastly this lack of basic knowledge that the collective we need to be teaching Congress NOT having photo-ops with Disable Veterans is so important to America’s Veterans during economic hard times that we intend posting a series of article that teach YOU the Veterans, disable or not, how to apply for federal employment, including Congressional jobs without having to go through a VSO.