What Quick Hire Means for You

September 09, 2009 14:00

By Janet Farley

By now you’ve probably heard the good news.

Effective September 11, 2009 the long and often painful process of landing a federal job will be easier for certain military spouses everywhere. You may have read about it on CincHouse at Quick Hire Starts in September.

For all the nitty-gritty details you ever wanted to know (or not), visit Noncompetitive Appointment of Certain Military Spouses to read the final ruling word for word within the Federal Register itself.

If, on the other hand, you’re looking for the “Cliff Notes” version, read on. Here are the basic details just for you.


What is it?
It is a noncompetitive hiring authority designed to help certain military spouses land positions faster within the competitive service into temporary, term and permanent positions.

According to the final ruling, the intended effect here is to help military spouses into Federal civil service as part of an effort to recruit and retain skilled and experienced members of the armed forces and to recognize and honor the service of members injured, disabled or killed while on active duty.

Who are “certain military spouses” anyway?

Spouses of service members serving on active duty for 180 days or more, provided the spouse relocates to the member’s new permanent duty station.

Spouses of retired service members (who retired under Chapter 61, Title 10, USC), with a disability rating for 100% at the time of retirement.

Spouses of former service members who retired or were released and have a 100% disability rating from the VA.

Un-remarried widows or widowers of armed forces members killed while serving on active duty.


How is eligibility based?
Eligibility is based on PCS, disability or death of a service member.

Based on PCS:

You have to be a military spouse and relocate with your service members to the new duty station by way of PCS orders. Your eligibility is limited to the geographic area indicated on your sponsor’s set of orders. (This includes the duty station and surrounding area within reasonable daily commuting distance).

To prove that you are eligible to use this authority, you must provide a copy of your service member’s PCS orders showing that you are authorized to accompany him or her. You will also need to offer up proof that you are married in the first place.

You are eligible for noncompetitive appointment for a maximum of two year from the date of the service member’s PCS orders.

Based on Disability of a Service Member:

In this case, you must be a spouse of a service member who retired under Chapter 61 of Title 10 of the United States Code, with a 100% disability rating at the time of retirement. Spouses of retired or released service members who have a 100% disability rating from the VA or applicable branch of service also qualify. There are no geographic restrictions for eligible spouses here.

To prove you are eligible to use this authority, you must provide documentation the service member was released or discharged from active duty due to a service-connected disability and that the disability rating is 100%. You will also need to prove that you are married.

You are eligible for noncompetitive appointment for a maximum of two years from the date of the documentation verifying that the service member is 100% disabled.

Based on Death of a Service Member:

One is eligible to use the authority when his or her service member was killed while on active duty. The surviving spouse must be the unmarried to use the authority. Again, here there are no geographic restrictions for eligible spouses.

To use this authority, surviving spouses will need proof of the service member’s death while on active duty and proof of the marriage.

You are eligible for noncompetitive appointment for a maximum of two years from the date of documentation verifying the service member was killed while on active duty.

Other “need to knows”:

Eligible spouses must apply to a job announcement and they must be qualified for the job itself.
The authority can only be used once per PCS move.

There is no grade-level limitation for using this authority.

Use of this authority is discretionary by Federal agencies.

Spouses who have relocated prior to September 11, 2009 (implementation of this authority) have two years form the date of PCS order to use it.
Information for this article adapted from a presentation entitled “Noncompetitive Appointment of Certain Military Spouses: Working for America” created by the United States Office of Personnel Management.

Janet Farley, Ed.M Freelance writer specializing in Careers & Workplace Issues Author, The Military Spouse's Complete Guide to Career Success (Impact Publications, Jan 2008) and The Military-to-Civilian Career Transition Guide (Jist Inc). Visit my website at www.janetfarley.com