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Readers Oppose Hiring Preferences for Spouses of Military Personnel

More Discrimination?

Ex-vet
U.S.Citizen
Wed Feb 6, 2008 12:15 PM

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Civil Service did away with the "double dipper" law for officers about 5 - 6 yrs ago, now this discrimination? I have known "officers" who have spent their 20-yr career doing 9-to-5,few TDYs,& never in a combat zone. I've seen them sent to hi-$$$ civilian schools for upwards of 5 yrs & homestead for yrs on a single PCS. And finally, to add insult to career employees who have not had all these perks, O-3/4/5/6 retirees now spin through revolving doors as GS-13/14/15. Now they want their wives to be given this? When I left the service as an O-3 (did not retire), I attempted to get into CS they only hired entry level GS-7 even though I had a MS, technical degree, and 10 yrs experience. But I WANTED to serve my country, both active duty and in CS. As mother told me, friends and family spent upwards of 5 years in Europe/Japan in WW2 with few perks from the U.S. Govt at home. To all active duty folks - YOU SIGNED on the dotted line. Quit your bitching - and don't expect any more perks.

Re: More Discrimination?

Program Specialist
VAMC
Wed Feb 6, 2008 3:21 PM
Ex Vet? Once a Vet, always a Vet. Thank you for your service before most of us. I truly appreciate your service and for protecting my right to whine

Hiring Preferences

Manager
SSA
Wed Feb 6, 2008 1:53 PM

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As a manager who hired a number of "Outstanding Scholars" over the years, I take issue with the comment that the Outstanding Scholar Program was a disaster. In my experience, just the opposite. The Outstanding Scholars I hired over the years have performed very well and have become the backbone of my operation. Many of them have steadily advanced to positions of greater responsibility because of superior performance. While it lasted, the Outstanding Scholars Program was the best mechanism an SSA manager had to hire exceptionally qualified candidates. These scholars have been able to carry more than their share to help make up for the required hiring of very weak "special category" employees.

Re: Hiring Preferences

Retired
SSA
Wed Feb 6, 2008 6:16 PM
It is gratifying to know that the "Outstanding Scholar" program was not a complete failure. I was referencing the examples I witnessed. I should have made that clear. Thank you for your observations.

Re: Hiring Preferences

Prof
Small College
Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:49 PM
The "so called" Outstanding Scholar Program was the prime vehicle used to deny preference to veterans for approximately 26 years. The "scholars" were neither "scholars' nor "outstanding". Many were from non-accredited colleges. Many of the "outstanding scholars" were unable to construct a simple sentence. A complex sentence was out of the question. It was affirmative action; nothing more nothing less. The "Outstanding Standing Scholar Program" and the "Bilingual Program" have been put out of their misery by the Federal Circuit, MSPB and OPM.

Re: Hiring Preferences

Manager
SSA
Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:32 AM
Small College Prof 's experience with (or opinion of) Outstanding Scholars Program hirees is the exact opposite of mine. In the real world, I hired 15 employees through the program and 14 of those individuals are some of the most capable in the agency - one washed out early. I also hired four veterans during the same period and three of the four are excellent employees. Careful screening of candidates is the key to making any recruitment process successful. Apparently, that didn't happen in Small College Prof's experience.

Re: Hiring Preferences

Prof
Small College
Sat Feb 23, 2008 8:54 AM
SSA Manager I rest my case. Four veterans and 14 so called "Outstanding Scholars". The programs were terminated because they illegally denied veteran's preference to veterans. It is refreshing to see a fed manager actually admit discriminating against veterans. I admire you!

Re: Hiring Preferences

Manager
SSA
Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:34 PM
My experience with the outstanding scholar program was exceptional. Unfortunately, all we hear now is hire "targeted groups and "diverse" workforce.

Re: Hiring Preferences

Prof
Small College
Sat Feb 23, 2008 8:02 PM
I trust veterans are a "targeted group" in your organization. If you can read this thank a teacher; that you have the freedom to read it thank a veteran.

choice

Statistician
DOC
Wed Feb 6, 2008 2:05 PM

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In response to the following argument for spousal preference: spouses can't get seniority anywhere due to the nature of moving. Life is very tough, though a choice."

That's true, life is a choice -- and a tough choice does not provide for entitlement. However, it does provide that one should live with their choice, so to speak.

Re: choice

worker bee 2
dod
Thu Feb 7, 2008 9:10 AM
Are you saying that someone who marries a military person has a "choice" of whether to move with him
or not? Are you kidding? There is no choice in duty station changes - you have to do it. That is, if you want to maintain the family unit. The spouse provides alot
of support to the member with these moves. So, yes,
he/she should have a way to find a decent job.

preference for military spouses

HR specialist
retired
Wed Feb 6, 2008 2:09 PM

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Military spouses often come across as unqualified, or poorly qualified, for the jobs they get because they're rarely around long enough to learn their duties well. The high turnover is counterproductive to an efficient workforce, which is probably the number one objective reason not to give preference based on marital status. I also have to wonder what the Merit Systems Protection Board would do with a complaint from a job applicant who was passed over because he/she wasn't married to an active duty veteran...

Spouse hiring preference

Program Specialist
VAMC
Wed Feb 6, 2008 3:13 PM

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My wife spent 20 years following me around. She worked every scab job she could find to supplement our income. An average military spouse can not have a career as he/she is following the military spouse around, taking care of the home, deployments, housework, cooking, and usually working. When the member retires from the military the spouse should be able to have the option to work for the Feds in the job he/she is qualified for. I might point out that in my exposure to the Federal job force, I have seen unqualified persons promoted or hired just because they know the hiring authority. Oops, did I really say that?

Re: Spouse hiring preference

Fed Worker & Union Guy
DOD
Wed Feb 6, 2008 4:24 PM
Mr Career military:
If this spousal preference exisited, as you are saying, then you would see many compromises & corruptions. The spouses of officers & senior enlisted people would be getting those jobs. Do you really believe that the wife/husband of an E-3 or E-4 would ever get hired the proper way. If you do, then you are dreaming!!

Re: Spouse hiring preference

Thorn in the Side
DOD
Fri Feb 8, 2008 10:19 AM
Program Specialist - They already have the "option" to work for the feds. The feds should have the option not to hire them.

Vet spouses hiring preference

Dentist
VA
Wed Feb 6, 2008 7:46 PM

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While reading some of your audience comments a word came to mind: selfishness. The reason most of us have a job in the federal government is because of the military personnel and family and all their sacrifices. So, let's get be grateful to them and extend them an "extra"appreciation.... even if it means a candidate is slightly less qualified. Do it for your country!

Re: Vet spouses hiring preference

Former Injury Comp Clerk
DoD
Thu Feb 7, 2008 8:41 PM
Dentist,

Correction: many people have fed jobs (especially in DoD) because of military personnel, period. As I commented in the original article, much is made of the sacrifices that spouses supposedly make, but spouses do not make the sacrifices that a soldier does. Spouses have not had to live it, and a veteran has. Military families already benefit from free health care and housing. No more "thank you" is needed than that.

Consider how much you yourself spend on rent/mortgage and healthcare, and you see how overwhelmingly generous the military system already is.

To reiterate, when every disabled veteran has secured a fed job for which he is qualified, then and only then should the hiring entity move on family members. Civil service, commisaries and AAFES are absolutely crammed with military spouses as it is.

Hiring preferences for Military spouses

Analyst
Social Security
Thu Feb 7, 2008 6:22 AM

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I think the hiring preference for militry spouses should be a vital and important policy that should be seriously considered. Unfortunately, the government has a policy now but is often not followed. In fact, some management but that policy and are angry about it, so it actually hurts a military wife. I know, because it happended to me at the Norfolk Hearing Office.

Total Comments: 53
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