Protected veteran is a term defined by the U.S. government as someone who is disabled, recently separated from the military, served in wartime or during a campaign, or earned the Armed Forces Service Medal.
The Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 (VEVRAA) and its subsequent amendments stipulates that VEVRAA veterans be given equal opportunity and that employers take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment these protected veterans.
To further clarify what a protected veteran is, let’s look at the various classes of protected veteran.
- A disabled veteran is considered a protected veteran if they served in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service and they are entitled to compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs; or they are considered a protected veteran because they are a person discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
- A recently separated veteran is a protected veteran if they served during the three-year period beginning on the date of the veteran’s discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military.
- If a veteran served on active duty during wartime or if he/she earned a campaign badge, that individual is considered a protected veteran. The protected veteran must have served in ground, naval or air service during a war or expedition for which a campaign badge was authorized by the Department of Defense.
- An Armed Forces Services Medal Veteran is also a protected veteran because they served on active duty in the U.S. military during a U.S. military operation for which an Armed Forces Service Medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.
Earning protected veteran status is as simple as finding a qualifying opportunity to serve and in recent years veterans of the Global War on Terror, those responding to the COVID-19 crisis and those serving in Operation Inherent Resolve all qualify and have earned their protected veteran status. But rather than chase preferred employment status, its probably better to do your duty, do it well, and reap the benefits of things you’ve earned, not pursued.
12 comments
Read the ending. “But rather than chase preferred employment status, its probably better to do your duty, do it well, and reap the benefits of things you’ve earned, not pursued.” Ya, dont take advantage of something you’ve earned, be a dipshit like this dude and don’t because he called out your man hood…WTF…either a marine or a civilian….Mainly those two would convince people of not doing what they have earned to do…
I was adopted in 1973 buy a army ww2 & korean war sgt. veteran and at age 17 years old was in a auto-pedestrian accident which required 2 hospitals with my stay in the 2nd hospital for over 4 months and woke up from coma with a closed head injury with a shattered left hip and femur and eventually learned how to walk gain. Tried joining the military after my accident but with all this hardware in my left hip and femur they would not accept me and the hospital had a day set to remove the zickel nail hardware but when i showed up at the hospital they acted like they were not going to remove it and told me they did not have the surgical tools to preform the operation.So i never went back. Upon my release from the hospital i ended up dropping out in my senior year of high school and moving out of my parents house and into living on the streets .I did not realize that i may be entitled to some benefits. Because of being disabled before age 18 years old . My parents are passed now and really i looking for someone to give me some advice please on how ,where ,how , to i need to talk with .
I served in Desert Sheild, Desert Storm, Provide Promise and expeditionary medal and unit commendation personally fron Dick Cheneny yet I am going through the same plight as George Sherwood who was mentioned above. I am being persecuted not protected?
I received a Achievement Medal during a scramble in the QRA for Alerting the Aircrew that was doing Direct observation check of the Alert aircraft while I was posted out front while the 2 man crew was in compliance in the no lone zone inside the Alert Aircraft shelter unaware of the scramble I made them aware following protocol securing the side entrance then posting out front as the Aircrew entered their F-111 and completed their task.in compliance with the scramble in the QRA in Upper Heyford England
Hi usamm.com administrator, Thanks for the informative post!
we have Colonel John Williams as the grand marshall of our hometown festival this year . all i know is he was married to Amelia Griner Williams , worked at the Pentagon and was active during at-least the Viet Nam war . He was a full Colonel and drips with medals . We have a picture of L.B.J. awarding him something. I know he went to Nam while the war was going on and speaks of people he was proud to have known but I do not recognize by name . He walks with the aid of a walker for short spurts and is full of stories .. He achieved his Dr. title while in service and we are hoping to have him awarded with and additional medal at our VIP breakfast before the parade . I would appreciate any help we can get .Is there a veteran award or a medal for serving and being a Dr. ? anything that would give him the recognition we believe he deserves. Air Force retired
I WAS SEVERLY INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE DOING MY DUTY, I WAS GIVEN CPR AND LEFT FOR DEAD THEY CALLED FOR AN AMBULANCE TO COME AND GET MY BODY. I WAS PLACED IN THE NAVAL HOSPITAL UNDER DOCTOR CARE THE DOCTOR WANTED TO OPERATE ON ME, HE FILLED OUT ALL OF THE PROPER MEDICAL FORMS AND SUBMITTED THEM TO HIS SUPERIOR WHOM REFUSED THE DOCTOR REQUEST. I WAS REDUCED FROM 1A, TO 1AH, THEN TO 1F, AND FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE GOVERNMENT I WAS SEPARATED FOR AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRAINING AND RETIRED OUT OF THE SERVICE. HOWEVER, THE VA DIDN,T LET ME KNOW THIS INFORMATION AND HAVE BEEN GIVING ME THE RUNAROUND FOR OVER 46 YEARS.
Darryl F.,
If you believe you are eligible for points preference for federal employment, recommend you take that up with OPM. Sounds like you are correct. Good luck.
I received the Armed Force Expeditionary Medal for being in the Libyan conflict , I am a 10 point Vet and i received 30 % disability , I thought i get preference when it comes to the hiring field for Government Jobs
To be a protected veteran of the Vietnam era. The period beginning on February 28, 1961, and ending on May 7, 1975, inclusive, in the case of a veteran who served in the Republic of Vietnam during that period. The period beginning on August 5, 1964, and ending on May 7, 1975, inclusive, in all other
cases. (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 101(29))
I received the armed forces expeditionary metal for the Vietnam evacuation in April of 1975 on the USS Midway and served in the U,S Navy from 1973 to 1983 and the VA has me as a piece time veteran . They look at that in my record and try their best to cheat me out of my benifts
I received the armed forces expeditionary metal for the Vietnam evacuation in April of 1975 on the USS Midway and served in the U,S Navy from 1973 to 1983 and the VA has me as a piece time veteran . They look at that in my record and try their best to cheat me out of my benifts