‘Mind’

VOW (Veterans Opportunity to Work) to Hire Heros Act of 2011

Reprinted from Chief Human Capital Officers Council Transmittal “VOW (Veterans Opportunity to Work) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011”, 6/15/2012

Q. What is the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011?

A. The VOW (Veterans Opportunity to Work) To Hire Heroes Act of 2011 requires Federal agencies to treat active duty service members as veterans, disabled veterans and preference eligibles for purposes of an appointment in the competitive service.

Q. Why was VOW enacted?

A. Many service members begin their civilian job search prior to being discharged or released from active duty service and thus do not have a DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, when applying for Federal jobs. The VOW Act was enacted to ensure these individuals do not lose the opportunity to be considered for Federal service (and awarded their veterans’ preference entitlements if applicable) despite not having a DD Form 214 to submit along with their résumés.

Q. What type of documentation is an active duty service member required to furnish with a job application?

A. The VOW requires the active duty service member to furnish a “certification.”

Q. What is a “certification?”

A. A “certification” is any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed.

Q. What affect does this new provision have on how agencies process applications of eligible veterans?

A. Agencies are required to accept, process, and grant tentative veterans’ preference to those active duty service members who submit a certification along with their job application materials.

Q. Should agencies automatically award veterans’ preference to individuals eligible under the VOW Act upon receiving the veteran’s job application?

A. No, agencies must grant service members’ tentative veterans’ preference but verify the individual meets the definition of ‘preference eligible’ prior to appointment.

Q. What should an agency do if the certification has expired, i.e., more than 120 days have lapsed since the date the certification was signed?

A. If the certification has expired; an agency must request other documentation (e.g., a copy of the DD Form 214) that demonstrates the service member is a preference eligible, before veterans’ preference can be awarded.

Q. Does VOW to Hire Heros Act apply to the Excepted Service?

A. No. The Act applies only to applications for appointments in the competitive service.

For more information go to: http://www.benefits.va.gov/VOW

Wounded, Ill and Injured Marine Interns

Transition cell assists wounded, ill and injured Marines with employment
By Aquita Brown

Marine veteran Lance Cpl. Ovais Khalil is one of the many Marines who the Regiment’s Transition Cell has assisted over the years. Five years ago, Khalil was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease known as guillain-barré syndrome. “According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “guillain-barré syndrome is a disorder in which the body’s immune system damages part of the nerve cells. Approximately one to two people out of every 100,000 people are diagnosed with guillain-barré syndrome a year.”

For six months, he was completely paralyzed and remained bed ridden for four additional months after. Some side effects included nerve damage, difficulty breathing and residual weakness. However, Khalil was confident because he knew that the Corps that he joined July 30, 2007 would be there to look after of him. “I love the Marine Corps; they have helped me throughout my recovery, financially and mentally.”

Although Khalil’s dreams of becoming a Marine Corps officer are no longer possible, he has set his sights on new goals.  He was placed in an internship through the WWR Transition Cell as a linguist, with the National Security Administration. On July 30, 2011 he retired from the Corps and his internship with NSA ultimately landed him a full time position with Nangwik Services as a language specialist.  According to the Nangwik website, “the company provides services in the areas of intelligence, information technology, logistics, linguists and other specialized training.”

“When we saw this position we knew that Khalil was the right person because he had experience speaking another language and the skills to succeed in a fast-paced and demanding position,” said Bilski.

Through his position at Nangwik, Khalil hopes to assist wounded, ill and injured Marines with obtaining a rewarding career after they transition from the Corps.

“I enjoy my job because I know I make a difference every day I bring in the leadership experience from the Marine Corps. Even though I am no longer in the Marine Corps I am Marine in heart,” said Khalil.

He continues to encourage wounded, ill and injured Marines to set the bar high and take advantage of the opportunities that are out there.

“The Marine Corps provides many opportunities, even after getting out,” said Khalil. “You can do whatever you set your mind to. Take advantage of the opportunities that the Regiment offers, strive to be better and improve yourself every day.”

2012 Wounded Warrior Employment Conference: “Employment…A Pathway to Independence”

The Wounded Warrior Regiment, in conjunction with the other services’ wounded warrior programs, hosted the 2012 Wounded Warrior Federal Employment Conference at the Fort Belvoir Officers’ Club Feb. 28-29. The mission of the conference was to increase hiring of wounded warriors throughout the federal and private workforce by educating employers on the resources available for hiring qualified wounded warriors into available positions and developing an environment to facilitate the veteran’s success in their new position.

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - Col. John L. Mayer, the commanding officer of the Wounded Warrior Regiment, shows a conference attendee the Regiment's new app for the iPhone, iPad and Android as LtCol. Mike Wall looks on. The military's wounded warrior programs are hosting the 2012 Wounded Warrior Employment Conference to encourage federal and private agencies to hire wounded warriors. The conference will educate agency human resource managers, equal employment opportunity disability program managers and veterans' employment program managers about the resources available to place qualified wounded, ill and injured transitioning service members and veterans in open positions.

Conference attendees learned about the variety of injuries facing today’s military personnel and the resources available to support and accommodate veterans once they begin working. This conference included a Career Transition Boot Camp for wounded warriors providing employment readiness training for wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans and their spouses. Attendees learned about interview skills, networking, employer identification and more. They even met with potential employers after completing the training.

FORT BELVOIR, Va. - Col. John Mayer motivates over 200 attendees with his opening remarks during the Wounded Warrior Employment Conference here Feb. 28. The military's wounded warrior programs are hosting the conference to encourage federal and private agencies to hire wounded warriors. The conference will educate agency human resource managers, equal employment opportunity disability program managers and veterans' employment program managers about the resources available to place qualified wounded, ill and injured transitioning service members and veterans in open positions. Photo by Tim Poch.

Unique to this year’s conference was the signing of the Wounded Warrior and Employment Community Covenant on Feb. 29. This covenant is a commitment of support by federal, local government, nonprofit and corporate employers to WII service members and their families. It is designed to develop and sustain collaborative efforts amongst employers to assist wounded warriors and their families reintegrate back into the community and on their path to independence.

Please contact the WWR Transition Section at wwrtransition@usmc.mil for more information on future events.

Wounded Warrior Regiment celebrates Warrior Care Month

BETHESDA, MD (November 8, 2011) Cpl. Jeff Kessler lifts weights at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

By Capt. Jill Wolf

The Secretary of the Navy has designated November as Warrior Care Month to recognize the sacrifices and achievements of our wounded, ill and injured (WII) service members, their families and those who care for them.

“Warrior Care Month is a Navy and Marine Corps-wide effort to  increase awareness and understanding of wounded warrior programs and  services available to Navy and Marine Corps service members and  their families, government and non-government partners, and the  American public,” Secretary Ray Mabus said in his message to all Department of the Navy personnel today. Read more

Recovery Care Coordinator resource expo first of its kind

The Wounded Warrior Regiment hosted the annual United States Marine Corps Recovery Care Coordinator (RCC) program training Arlington, Va.  July 26-28 to provide instruction, professional development and networking opportunities to RCCs who directly support wounded, ill and injured (WII) Marines and their families. Read more