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  • Veterans
    Updated On: Jul 13, 2021

    Veterans Suicide Hotline - 24 hours a day!

    1-800-273-8255 - press "1" after being connected.

    Guide to Veterans Rights 2021

     AFL-CIO Vets

    AMVETS page

    Defense Finance and Accounting Service

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    OPM Vets Guide

    USO

    Defense Prisoner of War MIssing Personnel

     

    VA Consumer Affairs: www.va.gov/customer/conaff.asp

    VA Benefits Online Application: www.vabenefits.vba.va.gov/vonapp

    VA Health Benefits and Services: www.va.gov/vbs/health/

    VA Burial and Memorial Benefits: www.cem.va.gov/

    VA Education Benefits and Services: www.gibill.va.gov/

    VA Home Loan Guaranties: www.homeloans.va.gov/

    VA Forms: www.va.gov/forms/

    Board of Veteran's Appeals: www.va.gov/vbs/bva

    Department of Defense: www.defenselink.mil/

     Vets Info

     Disabled Veteran Outreach Representative - Iowa Workforce Development. Ted Hall,430 East Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA. 50309. 515-281-9629.Fax 515-281-9645. Theodore.hall@iwd.iowa.gov or www.iowaworkforce.org.

    About the VA

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    Questions About Veterans Preference

    (Excerpt from the November/December 2002 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)

    The following are APWU responses to frequently asked questions about Veterans' Preference:

    Q: Can a preference eligible employee be excessed from a section or installation to an assignment at the same wage level?

    A: Yes.

    Q: Can a preference eligible employee be excessed from a section or installation to a lower-level assignment?

    A: No.

    Q: Can the preference eligible employee be skipped?

    A: No. Skipping the veteran would violate Article 12 and the craft seniority articles, and could not be done unless in accordance with an agreement made prior to November 2001. The excessing would have to stop.

    Q: After excessing or a reduction of employees is announced, what happens if a preference eligible employee volunteers to be reduced?

    A: Unless the preference eligible employee first was provided with an opportunity for a specific same-level job, the voluntary action would violate the RIF rules.

    Q: Can a preference eligible employee be excessed to unassigned status?

    A: Yes, but only within the same installation.

    Q: As an unassigned worker, can the preference eligible employee perform lower-level work?

    A: On occasion, yes. On a daily basis (temporarily), yes. There has been a Merit System Protection Board decision that permits putting an employee in a lower-level assignment on a temporary basis. We are now seeking a board decision on the definition of "temporary." We do not believe that this definition will include a situation in which a preference eligible employee remains unassigned for years, with no attempt to assign the employee to a same-level assignment.

    [back to top]

      

    • Military Deposit Election Form
    • Estimated Earnings During Military Service
    • Application to Make Service Credit Payment (CSRS)
    • Application to Make Service Credit Payment (FERS

       Military Deposit Worksheet

      AFL-CIO Launches Union Veterans Council

      by Seth Michaels, Jul 10, 2008

      The AFL-CIO today is launching the Union Veterans Council, bringing together veterans and members of military families to hold our leaders accountable on the issues that matter most.

      The launch of the Union Veterans Council will help mobilize the more than 2.1 million union members who are veterans to get involved in the 2008 elections and fight for the health and education benefits they deserve. These veterans will speak out to advocate policies like a fully funded Veterans Affairs (VA) and the recently passed 21st Century GI Bill.

      The Union Veterans Council kicks off today in Dayton, Ohio. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney will join Building and Construction Trades Department President Mark Ayres, a military veteran and chairman of the Union Veterans Council, in announcing the national effort.

      In addition to the Dayton event, union veterans are meeting at roundtable events in Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Denver and Charleston, W. Va. Union veterans will launch their own state-level veterans councils and discuss plans to elect pro-working family leaders who will support veterans. Union veterans will take the lead in comparing the records of the presidential nominees, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

      The AFL-CIO also is launching a TV ad today featuring Jim Wasser, a Vietnam-era veteran and retired Electrical Workers (IBEW) member. In the ad, Wasser speaks about McCain, whose military service is honorable but whose Senate voting record hasn't supported veterans and their families. The ad will run in communities around the country hard-hit by the nation's economic crisis.

      In the ad, Wasser praises McCain's military service and discusses his concerns about McCain's political agenda.

      Every vet respects John McCain's war record. It's his record in the Senate that I have a problem with.

      Wasser says McCain supports continuing to spend billions in Iraq, yet he repeatedly voted against increased funding for veterans health care.

      People should let McCain know that his agenda is not what we need. Not now.

      Around the country, union veterans will be critical in electing a president and Congress that respect their service and look out for working families. The Union Veterans Council will make sure these veterans are educated and energized this fall.

      Military Estimates Earnings.

      If you would like to request estimate earnings during military service, here are some contact information:

      Army

      Attn: DFAS in JFJC-A, 8899 East 56th St. Indianapolis, IN 46249-0875. Phone 317-510-7298.

      Navy

      DFAS-Cleveland Center & FMCS, 1240 East 9th St. Cleveland, OH. 44199-2055. Phone 216-522-6545.

      Coast Guard

      Commanding Officer (S/R), Settlement and Records, Military P/P Center, 444 SE Quincy St., Topeka, KS. 66683.

      Airforce

      DFAS-DE-FJY, 6760 East Irvington Place, Denver, CO. 80279-7408. Phone 303-676-7408.

      Marines

      DFAS-Kansas City Center FBL, 1500 E 95th Center, Kansas City, MO. 64197-0001. Phone 816-926-7652.

      APWU Human Relations - Vets

      OPM Vets page

      Merit System Protetion Board (MSPB)

      National Vet Center 

      Iowa Vet Centers

      Cedar Rapids

      1642 42nd St. NE

      Cedar Rapids, IA. 52402

      Des Moines

      2600 Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy

      Des Moines, IA 50310

      515.284.4929

      515.277.4949 (fax)

      Quad Cities

      1529 46th Ave

      Moline, IL. 61265

      Sioux City

      1551 Indian Hills Drive

      Sioux City, IA 51104

      Buying Back Military Time
      Q: I served in the military and now work at the Postal Service. I heard that I can "buy back my military time" and have it counted towards my postal retirement. How can I do that, and should I do that?
      A:  In accordance with Public Law 97-253, employees covered under the Federal Employee's Retirement System (FERS) will receive credit for their Post-56 military service if a deposit is made under FERS. For FERS employees, the deposit is 3% of basic military pay. An interest-free grace period will extend for three years after the date of the career appointment. At the end of the three year grace period, interest will accrue on the unpaid balance. All military service must be honorable in order to complete a buy back.

      How to "buy back" your military time:

      1. Call the USPS HR Shared Service Center at 1-877-477-3273, Option 5. Tell the representative that you wish to buy back your military time.
      2. The USPS will send you a packet which includes a form for obtaining your estimated earnings during military service. Follow the instructions in the packet for obtaining your estimated earnings and also your DD 214 (Report of Separation). An official copy of your DD 214 must accompany your request for estimated earnings. The DD 214 must be a "Member 4" copy or one which contains character of service and time lost information. If you are unable to locate a copy of your DD 214, you will need to order an Undeleted copy at http://vetrecs.archives.gov or complete and mail the SF180 form enclosed in the packet. More info: How to obtain your DD 214.
      3. After obtaining your estimated earnings from the U.S. Military, send the completed forms back to the Postal Service's HR Shared Service Center. Use the return mailing label included in the packet.
      4. If you wish to make payment for your military service, you will need to complete Section 12, Election of Payment, on PS Form 2805, Military Deposit Worksheet and SF 3108, Application to Make Service Credit Payment (instructions and forms included in packet). You may make a lump sum payment by check or money order, installment payments ($50.00 minimum) also by check or money order, or payroll deductions (in $5.00 increments).
      5. When the deposit has been paid in full, your retirement computation date will be adjusted to include your military service.

      Should you buy back your military time?

      The choice of course is up to you, depending on the amount of deposit and time added to retirement. The general consensus is that if you retired from the military then you shouldn't buy back your military time and combine your military retirement and postal retirement. If you did not retire from the military (for example you served one or two enlistments like many people do) then the general consensus is that you should buy back your military time and have that time added to your postal retirement.

      Example

      PostalMag.com owner Tom Wakefield recently bought back his military time. Tom served in the military from August 1985 to January 1990 for a period of about 4 years and 5 months. (He extended his 4-year enlistment  by 5 months for an additional overseas tour.) Tom's basic military earnings for those 4 years and 5 months was $45,153.21. Based on these earnings, Tom's amount due for buying back his time was $1,354.60. However, Tom wasn't very smart and waited until 2008 to buy back his time, and $1,844.03 interest had accrued, making the total amount $3,198.63. Nevertheless, Tom decided that this amount was worth having 4 years and 5 months added to his postal retirement, and he sent a check for $3,198.63 to HR. Tom is very satisfied with his buy back. Instead of having 18 years of service in the Postal Service, having joined the USPS on June 2, 1990, Tom now has 22 years and 5 months counted towards his postal retirement, as of June 2, 2008.

      FAQ's on Military Leave

      FAQ regarding Military Leave

      I have an employee who has returned from active duty, but the orders state that the release date is not for several months. Is the employee eligible to use the five days of Administrative Leave (Code 079-67)?

      No, the employee can only request the Administrative Leave on a PS Form 3971 after the release date. The employee has a period of up to one year from the release date to use the granted leave.

      Why is Code 079 used for the 5-day Administrative Leave when the Hours Codes state that the code is for Veteran’s Funeral Leave?

      For administrative purposes, this code has been chosen. When inputting time for the Administrative Leave, please use Code 079 and a Reason Code of 67 to indicate this is the Military Administrative Leave.

      I input an employee for 40 hours of Military Leave and used Code 067, but the employee received 40 hours of LWOP. Why?

      If an employee has NEVER used Military Leave before, the local TACS office needs to be notified to advance the leave before it is taken.

      The employee has used all available Military Leave. Now can I deny the leave requests?

      No, the employee may still be eligible for Military LWOP, Code 044.

      Are Part-Time employees eligible for Military Leave?

      Part-time employees earn one hour of military leave for every 26 hours in a pay status during the previous year, provided the employee was in a pay status a minimum of 1,040 hours and the employee’s pay for military leave does not exceed 80 hours.

      How do I find out how much Military Leave an employee has available?

      This information is available in TACS in the Employee Maintenance Module under Leave Information, or you may contact your local TACS Office at the number listed below.

      Who is eligible for Military Leave?

      Career postal employees who belong to the following components of the armed forces, are eligible for paid military leave: The Army or Air National Guard, The Army or Air Force Reserve, The Naval or Marine Corps Reserve, or The Coast Guard Reserve.

      Casuals, Transitional Employees, Contract Workers, and Non-Career Rural Carriers are not eligible for paid military leave, but are permitted to be absent for military leave.

      What documentation is required for Military Leave?

      Request for or Notification of Absence, Form 3971, is required for absences to attend military activities

      Military Leave Control, Form 3973, is the official record of the amount of Military Leave used – these forms are retained for three years after the end of the pay period in which the leave was taken

      Military orders or properly endorsed documentation showing the duty was actually performed is required upon the employee’s return (ELM 517.34).

      For answers to any other questions regarding Military Leave, please call the TACS Office from 6am until 6pm at 515-278-7606.

      Cost-of-Living Increases Kick In for Disabled Vets

      Millions of veterans and eligible family members will get slightly larger disability compensation, pension and survivors’ benefits checks this month as part of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) annual cost-of-living increases. Beneficiaries will receive a 2.3 percent increase in disability compensation and survivors’ benefits, starting with their January 2008 checks. Under the veterans’ disability compensation program, the tax-free payments generally will range from $117 to $2,527 per month depending on the extent of disability. The most severely injured vets will receive special monthly payments of up to $7,232, VA said. Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake said the increase assures that payments to disabled vets will “keep pace with today’s cost of living.” To see more, go to: www.va.gov.

       

      House Passes Veterans Legislation

      The House last week passed a package of bills to benefit veterans, including a measure to develop and implement a comprehensive program designed to reduce the incidence of suicide among former servicemembers. H.R. 327, the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act, would establish a veterans’ suicide prevention program at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., said on Oct. 23.  H.R. 327 has already been approved in the Senate and is to be sent to President Bush for his signature, Filner said. The president is expected to sign it. “One of the most pressing issues facing our returning service men and women is mental health care, and I believe that H.R. 327 provides help to those in need,” said Filner, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. “If we send our men and women off to war, we must, as a nation, do all we can to address their health care needs when they return.” To see more, go to: http://veterans.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=150.

       
      Reservists eligible for back pay from Postal Service, MSPB rules
      March 29, 2007
      As many as 100,000 military reservists who worked at the U.S. Postal Service between 1980 and 2000 could be eligible for thousands of dollars in compensation because they were improperly charged for their military leave, under a new ruling.
      The Merit Systems Protection Board decision greatly expands the scope of a larger back pay issue that ultimately could cost the government half a billion dollars, said Matthew Tully (http://www.fedattorney.com), a New York attorney who is representing affected employees for free.
      Previous rulings have held that between 150,000 and 200,000 reserve or National Guard members who worked for executive branch agencies between 1980 and 2000 are eligible for back pay because of an erroneous leave policy. In a March 7 ruling, Miller v. U.S. Postal Service, MSPB said reservists who worked at the Postal Service also are covered because that agency used the same policy.
      Outside the Defense Department, the Postal Service is the largest single employer of Guard and reserve members, Tully said. He said complying with the decision could cost the Postal Service upwards of $200 million.

       
      “They’re probably going to have to jack up the price of stamps 3 or 4 cents just to pay for the outcome of this decision,” Tully said.
      The Postal Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
      The Postal Service could appeal the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, although that court in 2003 issued the landmark decision that employees were entitled to back pay because federal agencies improperly charged reservists who were on military leave for days they were not scheduled to work. Subsequent decisions by MSPB expanding the scope of the appeals court ruling have not been challenged.
      The policy, which was changed in 2000, had charged reservists for every calendar day they were on military leave, instead of charging them for the actual work days they missed. Reservists who used up their military leave because they were charged for weekends or other days they weren’t scheduled to work instead had to use their own vacation days or take leave without pay to complete their annual military training.
      The court decisions require agencies to restore annual leave to current employees or provide back pay to retired workers to make up for the lost compensation or leave that employees incurred because of the policy.
      Tully said the average back payment has totaled $3,500, although employees have received anywhere from $400 to $14,000 depending on how long they were in the reserves and their pay grade.

      Reservists who believe they are owed back pay must file their case with MSPB.

      Veterans' Resources

      The men and women of the armed forces have served each of us through military service to our country. The liberties we enjoy today have been won through their sacrifice. Many of our APWU brothers and sisters have served or are currently serving, and we have an obligation to support them.

      In an effort to provide additional assistance and to keep our members informed about issues that affect them, the Human Relations Department has created a Veterans' Assistance and Resource Committee. The committee has been tasked to provide updates, training resources, information, understanding and guidance. Inquiries should be directed through APWU local and state organizations to the Human Relations Department. (Please note that the committee does not have the authority to address contractual issues.)

      Leave Adjustments and Back
      Pay for Reservists and Guard

      Veterans and Agent Orange

      Links

      The organizations listed below provide a wealth of resources to veterans on a variety of concerns.

      The American Legion is a patriotic, mutual-help organization that provides community service and assistance to all veterans who served at a time when our nation was at war.

      Department of Veterans Affairs (known as the VA) provides information on veterans’ issues, particularly on benefits: compensation and pension, education, vocational rehabilitation, home loans, and more. The agency offers special programs for homeless, minority, and female veterans. Applications for benefits are available online.

      Disabled American Veterans provides assistance to veterans who were disabled during time of war or armed conflict. DAV is dedicated to a single purpose: To build better lives for America’s disabled veterans and their families. Their Web site offers a legislative program and volunteer opportunities.

      Military.com connects U.S. Service Members, military families and veterans to all the benefits of service.

      The Military Order of the Purple Heart is a congressionally chartered veterans’ organization exclusively for veterans wounded in combat. It publishes “Issues Affecting Veterans Today” and offers help with VA claims and military records requests.

      The National Gulf War Resource Center is an international coalition providing information, support, and referrals for people concerned with the complexities of Persian Gulf War issues, especially Gulf War illnesses and service members held prisoner or missing in action.

      The Paralyzed Veterans of America is a congressionally chartered veterans’ service organization that has developed a unique expertise on a wide variety of issues involving the special needs of veterans who have experienced spinal cord injury or dysfunction.

      Sons and Daughters In Touch help locate, unite and provide support to family members of those who died or remain missing as a result of the Vietnam War, and support to those who have experienced similar loss.

      USO’s mission (United Service Organizations) is to provide morale-boosting, welfare, and recreational services to uniformed military personnel and their families.

      Veterans of Foreign Wars assist our veterans and provide community service through programs and special projects that include citizenship education, youth development, and military assistance. The VFW offers news and informational resources, and its National Legislative Service office closely monitors legislation affecting veterans.

      Vietnam Veterans of America is an organization dedicated to Vietnam-era veterans and their families. VVA provides a listing of service representatives by state as well as VVA Guides, which include: Agent Orange, VA Claims and Appeals, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, and VVA’s Guide to Veterans Preference. The organization also has a Government Relations page, which includes a Legislative Action Center and a locator page designed to help veterans find fellow service members.

      Support Our Troops

      Thousands of US Troops have been deployed around the world in the fight against terrorism. They serve in dangerous conditions, away from the comforts of home that we often take for granted. Due to heightened security, individuals cannot express their gratitude by letters or through packages to “Any Service Member.” [printable PDF.]

      To help support our troops, the APWU Human Relations Department has developed several programs in cooperation with the USO, the Fisher House Foundation, Malogne House, Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center. These APWU programs will only be possible through your generosity. Your participation in our Support Our Troops programs will serve as a reminder that you have not forgotten their sacrifice.

      Care Packages

      Care packages provide warm messages and familiarities from home. Packages will be sent (through the USO) to servicemen and women serving in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Recipients will include all military branches and be from anywhere in the US. We will also be forwarding care packages to APWU members or their loved ones who have been deployed overseas (when we have their military mailing address). Additionally we will be delivering your packages to severely injured service members who have returned stateside but require a long-term stay in a medical facility in order to undergo rehabilitation and physical.

      To be in compliance with the law and security measures it is important to follow the “Wish List” procedures. Care packages will be opened and inspected before they are forwarded. Please mark your package clearly if it is intended to be gender specific. Do not send packages directly to the organizations we have coordinated with; they will not be accepted.

      Personal Messages

      You can download and print the APWU Supports Our Troops postcard to accompany your care package. For security reasons, personal messages cannot be enclosed in an envelope or sealed in any way. Messages that contain negative remarks will not be forwarded.

      Gratitude Dinners

      Gratitude Dinners provide a much needed, much deserved night out for severely injured troops recovering at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, National Naval Medical Center, the Fisher House or the Malogne House. The dinners provide these courageous men and women with an opportunity to enjoy each other’s company away from the confines of the hospital, where some will remain for over a year.

      The dinners are hosted on Friday night at a steakhouse in Washington, DC. Usually about sixty troops are in attendance. If you would like to show your appreciation, make your donation payable to APWU Gratitude Dinners.

      Operation Teddy Care

      There’s probably nothing harder for a small child than being separated from a parent and there’s nothing as comforting as a soft cuddly teddy bear. Children of US Troops make a significant sacrifice that often is never acknowledged. Let them know you understand and you care. Donate a new stuffed animal or toy. They will be distributed at military family centers prior to a deployment or to children visiting their parent at a military medical facility along with an APWU certificate of appreciation for being brave and helpful while their parent is serving in the line of duty for the United States of America. It’s a great way to introduce children to unions.

      Families Too

      In our visits to medical facilities we have met a lot of family members, mostly young wives, but there are also husbands, moms, dads, brothers and sisters. All there to stand vigil and to provide support while their loved one endures their struggles of recovery. We witnessed the toll that the long days and long nights take on the families. Family members hope never to be in these circumstances, yet find they are grateful for life. You can see the strain on their faces and hear it in their voices. Their sacrifices are also great. When we say we support our troops that means we support their families too. APWU Human Relations Department would like to sponsor special events at the medical facilities to give family members a brief moment to reenergize: books, luncheons, manicures, relaxation workshops, afternoon teas. Whatever we can do to help get them through and let them know we care.

      If you have questions, please call the APWU Human Relations Department at 202-842-4271. All care package items, stuffed animals, toys and books must be new. All monetary donations should be made payable to APWU (Supports Our Troops) — indicate in the memo which program you are contributing to. Donations received that do not identify a specific program will be expended at the discretion of the Human Relations Director. All donors will be acknowledged to recipient(s) when receiving the gift or when attending an event. Contact information will be disclosed, when provided unless the donor indicates otherwise. All donated items, monetary contributions, information and photos should be sent to:

      APWU Human Relations Department
      1300 L Street, NW
      Washington, DC 20005

      U.S. Postal Service
      The U.S. Postal Service is among the largest employers of veterans  in the Nation, second only to the Department of Defense. During FY 2007, the Postal Service employed 684,564 individuals. This was a decrease of 11,326 employees from the 695,890 employed during FY 2006 (Table 13).

      There were 170,851 veterans employed in the Postal Service during FY 2007. This is a decrease of 8,497 veterans from the 179,348 employed during FY 2006. The 59,114 disabled veterans represented 8.6 percent of the Postal Service’s career workforce as compared to 8.8 percent (61,482) during FY 2006.

      The representation of disabled veterans in the Postal Service showed a decline of 2,368 disabled veterans (Table 13). Additionally, the Postal Service’s representation of 30 percent or more disabled veterans declined by 332 from 16,823 in FY 2006 to 16,491 in FY 2007.

      In FY 2007, there were 25,681 total promotions made within the Postal Service. Veterans received 6,017, or 23.4 percent, of the total promotions. Disabled veterans received 2,351, or 9.2 percent, of the total employee promotions during FY 2007. As a subset, veterans with a 30 percent or more disability rating employed in the Postal Service received 734, or 2.9 percent, of the total promotions during FY 2007.

      Employment of Veterans in the U.S. Postal Service

      FY 2003 – FY 2007

      Employee Category

      FY 2003

      FY 2004

      FY 2005

      FY 2006

      FY 2007

      Total Workforce

      729,646

      706,414

      704,203

      695,890

      684,564

      Total Veterans

      210,887

      196,173

      187,144

      179,348

      170,851

      % of Total

      28.9%

      27.8%

      26.6%

      25.8%

      25.0%

      Disabled Veterans

      70,053

      65,956

      63,456

      61,482

      59,114

      % of Total

      9.6%

      9.3%

      9.0%

      8.8%

      8.6%

      % of Veterans

      33.2%

      33.6%

      33.9%

      34.3%

      34.6%

      30%+ Disabled Veterans

      17,839

      17,110

      16,859

      16,823

      16,491

      % of Total

      2.4%

      2.4%

      2.4%

      2.4%

      2.4%

      % of Veterans

      8.5%

      8.7%

      9.0%

      9.4%

      9.7%

      % of Disabled Veterans

      25.5%

      25.9%

      26.5%

      27.4%

      27.9%

      Source: United States Postal Service via Office Of Personnel Management's Report on Veterans in Federal Government

      November 23, 2008
       





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