President Obama signs Executive Order
The order creates an interagency Council on Veterans Employment to advise the President and Administration on how to set the bar for hiring and employing veterans.
One of the best ways for the Federal Government to honor the service of the brave men and women in our armed forces is to make sure they have ample opportunities for civilian employment in the Federal Government. Veterans are valued, experienced, and trained. In doing so, we are not only demonstrating appreciation for their service and sacrifice; we are making it possible for the Nation to continue to benefit from their talents, dedication, and training. Hiring veterans makes good business sense.
Recognizing this, President Obama launched the Veterans Employment Initiative in November of 2009, when he issued Executive Order 13518. The Order created the Council on Veterans Employment to advise and assist the President on improving employment opportunities for veterans in the Federal Government. The Council is co-chaired by the Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs. The Director of OPM serves as Vice Chair and Chief Operating Officer. Twenty-four agencies are represented on the Council.
One key action required by the Executive order was the development of a Strategic Plan for Governmentwide Veterans Recruitment and Employment. The Strategic Plan maps a comprehensive assault on barriers to veteran employment in the areas of leadership commitment, skills development, marketing employment opportunities for veterans, and the creation of a single-source information gateway for disseminating Federal veteran employment information.
Another key action required by the Executive order was the establishment of a Veterans Employment Program Office (VEPO) within each of the 24 agencies represented on the Council. The mission of each of these offices is to support the Veterans Employment Initiative and provide employment assistance to veterans at the agency level. VEPO provides a full range of support to transitioning service members, other veterans – including disabled veterans – and their family members who seek information on employment in the Federal Government.