Mr. Steve Muro Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs October 20th, 2010

1. Transition to the Civilian Workplace Mr. Steve Muro Acting Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs October 20th, 2010 1

2. Mission The National Cemetery Administration honors Veterans with final resting places in national shrines and with lasting tributes that commemorate their service to our Nation. 2

3. Responsibilities • Provide burial space for Veterans and maintain cemeteries as National Shrines • Administer the Federal grants program for construction of state veterans cemeteries • Furnish headstones and markers • Administer the Presidential Memorial Certificate Program • First Notice of Death 3

4. National Cemetery Administration • 131 Cemeteries • 3.1 million gravesites • Approximately 19,000 total acres • 111,828 total burials FY 2010 • 1,700 FTE…71 percent are veterans • Five Memorial Service Networks 1 Philadelphia, PA 2 Atlanta, GA 3 Denver, CO 4 Indianapolis, IN 5 Oakland, CA 4

5. Open National and State Cemeteries(Funded by the State Cemetery Grants Program) _ National Cemetery State Cemetery January 2010 National cemeteries offering first interments for both casketed and cremated remains 5

6. Status of National Cemeteries Open 71 Cremation Only 20 Closed 40 131 Fort Bliss National Cemetery – El Paso, TX Florida National Cemetery – Bushnell, FL 6

7. Most Active National CemeteriesFY 2009 Burials • Riverside (CA) 8,077 • Calverton (NY) 6,500 • Florida (FL) 6,495 • Fort Snelling (MN) 4,666 • Jefferson Barracks (MO) 4,584 • Willamette (OR) 3,789 • Fort Logan (CO) 3,606 • Fort Sam Houston (TX) 3,590 • Dallas-Fort Worth (TX) 3,133 • Ft. Rosecrans (CA) 2,945 47,385

8. Eligibility • Any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who dies on active duty. • Any veteran who was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. • National Guard members and Reservists with 20 years of qualifying service, who are entitled to retired pay or would be entitled, if at least 60 years of age. • Spouses and minor children. 8

9. Burial Benefits • Grave Site • Opening and closing of the grave • Grave liner • Headstone or marker • Perpetual care of the grave site • U.S. Flag • Presidential Memorial Certificate 9

10. National Cemetery AdministrationFY 2010 – Memorial Programs 355,640 Headstones and Markers Provided 803,675Presidential Memorial Certificates Medallion New Benefit 10

11. Military to Civilian Transition • Start your transition before you leave active duty. • Whether your still in the military, recently left or a long time Veteran: • Look for job assistance • Set realistic objectives • Assess your abilities • Explore potential jobs/job markets • Have a effective resume • Apply for jobs both private and government • Job interview • Dress for success 11

12. Military to Civilian Transition • Job assistance • Family and friends • Your branch of the service • Office of Personnel Management • Department of Labor • Department of Veterans Affairs • State and local government • Your University 12

13. Military to Civilian Transition • Realistic Objectives • What are your: • Interests • Skills • Work Values • Qualifications • Locations • Financial Considerations 13

14. Military to Civilian Transition • Assess your abilities (be realistic) • Skills • Training and educations • Use VA’s GI Bill to get a Bachelor or Masters degree • Certifications • Experience • Can you translate your military experience into terms civilian employers can understand • Certifications and Licenses • Pilot, dive, Security Clearance, HAZMAT, police accreditation, medical, law? • Work style and ethic 14

15. Military to Civilian Transition • Job market • Open • Hidden • Private • Governmental (Federal, state and local) • Industry 15

16. Military to Civilian Transition • Effective Resumes and applications • Tailor for position you are applying for • Translate • Focus • Summarize • Format • Content • Appearance • Don’t be afraid to ask for help Resumes either can open doors or eliminate you from the running. 16

17. Military to Civilian Transition • Apply for positions • Federal Government 17

18. Federal Government Application Process • Agency posts vacancy announcement • Competitive service jobs • Apply to the agency usually through USA Jobs • Optional Application for Federal Employment, Form OF-612 • Resume • Additional requirements, DD214, college transcripts, etc. 18

19. Vacancy Announcement • Position Title • Series & Grade • Salary Range • Promotion Potential • Type of Appointment • Location • Announcement Number • Open/Close Dates • Area of Consideration • Duties • Qualifications • Application for Information 19

20. Eligibles • Agency generates candidates in 3 categories from the applicants • Competitive list of eligibles • Civil service status • Noncompetitive appointing authority 20

21. Agency “Panel” • Some type of agency review of the eligibles • VA has a “panel” • Usually an Intensive application review buy subject matter experts • Interviews • May include several rounds of interviews • Contact previous employers • Security reviews etc • Selection, Job Offer and Coming on-board 21

22. Military to Civilian Transition • Interview • Basic knowledge of the organization • Can be several types • Screening • Technical • Hiring decision • Performance-based interviews 22

23. Military to Civilian Transition • Dress for success • Work environment appropriate 23

24. Veterans Preference • Recognizing the sacrifices made by the men and women who serve our nation, Congress enacted laws to prevent service members from being penalized for their time spent in military service. • Seeks to restore veterans to a favorable competitive position for federal government employment. • 5 Point • 10 Point 24

25. Veterans Preference • Gives eligible veterans preference in appointment over many other applicants. • Veterans' preference does not guarantee veterans a job and it does not apply to internal agency actions such as promotions, transfers, reassignments and reinstatements. • Only veterans discharged or released from active duty in the armed forces under honorable conditions are eligible for veterans' preference. 25

26. Veterans Preference • 5 Point • Five points are added to the passing examination score or rating of a veteran who served: • 180 or more consecutive days, any part of which occurred during the period beginning September 11, 2001 and ending on a future date prescribed by Presidential proclamation or law as the last date of Operation Iraqi Freedom, or • Between August 2, 1990 and January 2, 1992, or • 180 or more consecutive days, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955 and before October 15, 1976. • In a war, campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized or between April 28, 1952 and July 1, 1955. 26

27. Veterans Preference • 10 Point • Ten points are added to the passing examination score or rating of a veteran who • Has a service connected disability or 10 percent or more, • Received a Purple Heart. • NOTE: Disabled veterans receive 10 points regardless of their disability rating. 27

28. Veterans Preference • How it works • When agencies use a numerical rating and ranking system to determine the best qualified applicants for a position, an additional 5 or 10 points are added to the numerical score of qualified preference eligible veterans • Preference eligibles are divided into 4 groups • Disability rating of 30% or more (10 points) • Disability rating of at least 10% but less than 30% (10 points) • Disability rating less than 10% (10 points) • Preference eligibles with no disability rating (5 points) • NOTE: Disabled veterans receive 10 points regardless of their disability rating. 28

29. National Veterans Employment Program • Veterans' Recruitment Authority (VRA) • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998 (VEOA) • 30 Percent or More Disabled Veterans • Disabled Veterans Enrolled in VA Training Programs 29

30. Veteran’s Recruitment Authority (VRA) • An excepted authority that allows agencies, to appoint eligible veterans without competition. • You are in receipt of a campaign badge for service during a war or in a campaign or expedition; or • Are a disabled veteran, or • Are in receipt of an Armed forces Service Medal for participation in a military operation, • Are a recently separated veteran (within the last 3 years), and • Are separated under honorable conditions (this means an honorable or general discharge), you are VRA eligible. 30

31. Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) • The VEOA allows eligible veterans to apply and compete for Federal employment under merit promotion procedures (inside the federal government) when the agency is recruiting outside of its own workforce. Veterans preference is not a consideration when selections are made for these appointments. • a preference eligible (defined in title 5 U.S.C. 2108(3)) or • a veteran who substantially completed 3 or more years of active service 31

32. 30 Percent or More Disable Veterans • Veterans retired from active military service with a 30 percent or more disability or who receive a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more from the Department of Veterans Affairs, may be appointed noncompetitively to a temporary or term appointment. There is no grade level limitation for this authority. Applicants must meet all qualification requirements for the position to be filled. • retired from active military service with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more; or • you have a rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. 32

33. Disabled Veterans Enrolled in VA Training Programs • Disabled veterans eligible for training through VA’s vocational rehabilitation program may enroll in training or work experience under an agreement between the federal agency and VA. 33

34. Veterans Employment Program Offices • Promote Veterans' recruitment, employment, training and development, and retention within their respective agencies. Veterans are encouraged to contact these individuals for specific information on employment opportunities in those agencies. • Department of Veterans Affairs, Dennis May, vecs@va.gov 866-606-6206 • www.fedshirevets.gov/AgencyDirectory/index.aspx 34

35. VA and Federal Government Employment Websites • VA • http://www4.va.gov/jobs/ • USA Jobs • www.usajobs.com • Office of Personnel Management • www.opm.gov • Feds Hire Vets • www.fedshirevets.gov

36. National Cemetery AdministrationThe Leader in Veterans’ Employment • To recruit Veterans, NCA uses: • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) • Veterans Recruitment Act (VRA) • Non-competitive hiring authority for >30% disabled Vets

37. National Cemetery AdministrationThe Leader in Veterans’ Employment • 71.75 percent of permanent NCA employees are Veterans • Highest by far among any federal agency • # 2 is Dept. of the Air Force at 49.5 percent • NCA has hired 135 OIF/OEF Veterans since Jan. 1, 2009 37

38. NCA Contracting with Veteran-Owned Small Businesses • Veteran-Owned Small Business: • VA FY2009 Goal: 10 Percent of Total Procurement • VA FY2009 Actual: 19.68% • NCA FY 2009 Actual: 59.3% ($104.9M) • Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business: • VA FY 2009 Goal: 7 Percent of Total Procurement • VA FY 2009 Actual: 16.75% • NCA FY 2009 Actual: 55.61% of Total Procurement ($98.4M) • Construction Support Division awarded 100% of all construction contracts for Minor Construction, Non-Recurring Maintenance and Stimulus Funds to SDVOSBs.

39. Questions and Comments 39