Protected Veteran

It’s a legal status, not an armor rating

“Protected Veteran” is a protective status afforded to qualified veterans (i.e., you don’t get it if you’re a shitbag who court-martialed out). Companies must comply with this status when hiring protected veterans (and report on their compliance, too). Job applicants must be invited to voluntarily self-identify as a protected veteran before a job is offered. Have you earned a National Defense Service Medal? Then you’re more than likely good to go.

Protected veteran qualification – you’re doing it wrong.

Protected Veteran Status

Am I a Protected Veteran? What advantage does that provide?

Protected Veteran status is conferred by the VEVRAA law (also referred to as Section 4212) and enforced by the Dept. of Labor. It provides a 5 point hiring preference to qualifying veterans towards a federal job, and a 10 point preference if you are a qualifying disabled veteran.  In the latter case, qualifying disabled veterans must have at least a 30% disability rating. Scan through this checklist to begin evaluating your status. Try not to one of those fuckwitted fake combat vets who’re so proud of their disability though, okay? You’re entitled to protected veteran status and a lot of other things, don’t be one be one of Those Guys.

Protected, yes. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 4212? No.

What does VEVRAA stand for?

VEVRAA Section 4212

VEVRAA stands for Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act, and it compels compliance with the authority of the Federal government. Despite the name, it is not limited solely to personnel who served in the Vietnam War. As the Americans with Disabilities Act explains, the law was originally passed in 1974 to…

“…provide assistance to returning Vietnam veterans and to protect them from employment discrimination. VEVRAA is one of two key federal laws prohibiting discrimination against returning veterans. The other law, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), was passed in 1994 and amended in 2005. Virtually all U.S. employers must comply with USERRA. Employers who are federal contractors or subcontractors must comply with VEVRAA. Though VEVRAA and USERRA are not limited to veterans’ disability issues, these two laws do provide protections for veterans with disabilities.”

Protected veteran status – you still haven’t achieved it (though that emblem on the front could be turned into Air Assault wings if you have a good marker.)

What is a Protected Veteran?

Protected veteran meaning

• Categories include:

• Disabled Veteran

• Other Protected Veteran

• Recently Separated Veteran

• Armed Forces Service Medal Veteran

Looks good, but you’re not there yet.

Service guarantees citizenship! (That doesn’t exactly fit what we’re talking here, but service does kinda guarantee protected veteran status.)

We’ll go to REFT’s blog to answer in more detail.

“The title of VEVRAA kind of gives part of the answer away. Protection is given to Vietnam era veterans, serving on active duty for more than 180 days between Aug 5, 1964 and May 7, 1975. The protection also covers disabled veterans receiving compensation from the VA, those who have at least 30% or more disability, or 10-20 percent if it causes a serious employment handicap, and those who were discharged as a result of their service-connected disability. Recently separated veterans are also protected, for three years after leaving the service. You also qualify as a protected veteran if you served on active duty during a war—Indian wars, Spanish-American War, WWI, WWII, the Korean conflict, etc.— campaign or expedition and received a campaign badge or received an Armed Forces Service Medal. In all cases, the veteran must be discharged under anything other than dishonorable to be considered a protected veteran.”

There is a lot more to it, but happily, it’s been broken down Barney style for you in last month’s RE Factor Tactical article, What is a protected veteran.

Figure out your status, and do with it what you will.

We shall not judge.

Are you a protected veteran? In this case, we guess that’s a matter of perspective. (Unknown PC.) You can find out for sure in just a couple minutes online though.