Vet Hiring Change

From the Stars and Stripes:

"Veteran groups blast Senate plan to scale back preferential hiring"

Veteran groups on Monday blasted an effort by the Senate and Defense Department to scale back veteran preferences in federal job hiring. The American Legion called the move “morally bankrupt” and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which has 1.7 million members, said it is adamantly opposed to the hiring changes passed by the Senate earlier this month as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, an annual defense policy bill. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America said lawmakers were backpedaling on their support for veteran employment. The changes were requested by the DOD and sponsored by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a lead architect of the bill, and would eliminate hiring preferences for veterans once they are already employed by the federal government. Under the bill, veterans would still be preferred over equally qualified candidates when applying for their first federal job. “Department of Defense turned their backs on their former employees, by initiating a provision within the NDAA that dilutes veterans preference,” Dale Barnett, the American Legion national commander, wrote in a letter to the group’s 2 million members. Barnett wrote the legislation was “conjured” by the DOD and based on the myth that the weighted hiring is a handout. “The institution of veterans preference is the nation acknowledging that a servicemember’s years of service count for something,” he wrote. “It may not be relevant work experience or tenure, but it accounts for something that tips the weight in our favor when we share the same education and work experience as our civilian counterpart.” The preference in federal hiring was designed to reintegrate veterans who have taken time out to serve their country and might be at a competitive hiring disadvantage compared to civilians who did not. “Preference is necessary because years of military service don’t always equate in the civilian sector,” VFW National Commander John Biedrzycki said in a released statement. Veteran status is supposed to come into play only when equally qualified candidates are trying for the same job. The change still has to jump legislative hurdles before becoming law. The Senate passed it in the massive NDAA earlier this month but the House did not include any similar measure in its version of the bill passed in May. Now, lawmakers are gearing up for negotiations on a final defense policy bill. Initial talks are underway but formal work might not begin before Congress’ long summer recess.

^ Once a soldier always a soldier and once a veteran always a veteran. It would be stupid and a sign of disrespect to every solider to pass this change in veteran hiring preference. Lawmakers have no problem creating wars and sending soldiers to do their "dirty work" and protect their country with many dying or getting wounding in the process yet when the soldiers come home the lawmakers usually turn their backs on them. Every American and every politician/lawmaker needs to do MORE not less to help soldiers, veterans and their families. It's the least we can do for those that risk everything for us. I really hope this new change doesn't not pass and become law. If it does then we are spitting in the faces of every man and woman that fights/fought for our country. ^

http://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/veteran-groups-blast-senate-plan-to-scale-back-preferential-hiring-1.415455