Veteran is a Big Word and the Value of Hiring a Virginia National Guardsman COL Thom Morgan- J1, Director of Manpower and Personnel MAJ Jennifer Linke- Service Support Chief, Virginia National Guard 1
MAJ Jennifer Linke INTRODUCTION 15 years of service in both the VA National Guard and as a Soldier serving in the active component 5 years of Human Resources experience with veterans, Active Guard Reserve Soldiers and Airmen, and Federal Non-Dual Status Technicians I currently work with the Ivet Program, Hero 2 Hired, and ESGR to connect employers with qualified employees. I have helped numerous employees connect with civilian employers. 2
LEARNING OBJECTIVES As a result of this session, you will understand The criteria for the federal definition of Veteran The various validation documents for records of service The definition and usefulness of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Who the Virginia National Guard is The benefits of hiring a Guardsman The various employment initiatives of the Virginia National Guard 3
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO KNOW? As a prospective employer of a Guardsman, you need to understand the differences between a Guardsman and a Veteran, and be able to validate a possible Veteran status Knowing the prior or current military status of a new hire is important as there are potential tax benefits Knowing the status of your prospective and current employees helps you determine some of the government programs they are eligible for As a government contractor, you are required to report the number of Veterans in your workforce 4
UNDERSTANDING VETERAN CRITERIA Federal Law (Title 38 United States Code (USC), Veterans Benefits) defines a veteran as a person who served for a period of 180 days (for purposes other than training) honorably in the active military, naval, or air service. (Includes discharges marked general and under honorable conditions.) Veterans Administration (VA) uses the definitions in Title 38 USC. National Guard: eligible for VA benefits when activated for federal service during war or domestic emergency Reservists become eligible for VA benefits when on active duty depending on length of service and a discharge of other than dishonorable. 5
CRITERIA APPLIED Active Component Service Members: Obtain veteran status for full-time duty in the Armed Forces, other than active duty for training Transition from active duty upon fulfillment of contractual obligations, separation, and/or retirement at 20(+) years Most have no remaining service obligation but can join the National Guard or Reserve Retirement benefits available immediately National Guard and Reserve Service Members: Obtain veteran status when federally mobilized for war or domestic emergency for the required 180 days of duty Transition upon demobilization from active duty back to the Guard and Reserve until fulfillment of contractual obligations, separation, and/or retirement at 20(+) years Retirement at age 60 minus applicable deployment calculations 6
Active Duty Documentation to validate Veteran status Department of Defense DD Form 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, Issued upon a Military Service Member s retirement, separation, or discharge from active-duty military. Contains the following information: Military Rank and Grade Primary Specialty/Military Occupation Record of Service to Include Foreign and Sea Service Awards and Citations Military Education and Training Character of Service 7
National Guard Documentation to Validate Veteran status National Guard Bureau NGB Form 22/22A National Guard Report of Separation and Record of Service, Issued upon a Guard Member s retirement, separation, or discharge from the National Guard. Contains the following information: Military Rank and Grade Primary Specialty/Military Occupation Record of Service to Include Foreign and Sea Service Awards and Citations Military Education and Training Character of Service 8
MILITARY DISCHARGE CATEGORIES Honorable-To receive an honorable discharge, a service member must have received a rating from good to excellent for their service. General- General discharges are given to service members whose performance is satisfactory but is marked by a considerable departure in duty performance and conduct expected of military members. Other Than Honorable (OTH)- An OTH is the most severe form of administrative discharge. This type of discharge represents a serious departure from the conduct and performance expected of all military members. Bad Conduct (BCD)- A Bad Conduct Discharge (BCD) can only be given by a court-martial (either Special or General) as punishment to an enlisted service-member. Dishonorable- A dishonorable discharge (DD) can only be handed down to an enlisted member by a general court-martial. Dishonorable discharges are handed down for what the military considers the most reprehensible conduct. 9
THE ASVAB: DEFINITION AND USE ASVAB means: Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery The ASVAB Test is used by all branches of the Military as an entrance examination. The test consists of 10 subjects or areas of concentration. Once completed the test is computer graded and broken down into line scores that make up composite areas. The line scores are used to qualify an applicant for the specific Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) or Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) for assignment. All component areas are not utilized by all branches of service 10
ASVAB SUBTESTS/ COMPOSITE AREAS Sub Test GS General Science AR Arithmetic Reasoning WK Work Knowledge PC - Paragraph Comprehension NO Numerical Operations CS Coding Speed AS Auto and Shop Information MK Math Knowledge MC Mechanical Comprehension EI Electronics Information Composite GT General Technician GM General Maintenance EL Electronic Repair CL - Clerical MM Mechanical Maintenance SC Surveillance/Communications CO - Combat FA Field Artillery OF Operators and Food Handlers ST Skilled Technical *Note the Work Knowledge (WK) and Paragraph Comprehension (PC) are added together to create Verbal Comprehension (VC) 11
COMPOSITE SUB TESTS General Technician VC and AR General Maintenance MK & EL & AS & GS Electronic Repair AR & MK & EI & GS Clerical NO &CS & VC Mechanical Maintenance NO & AS & MC & EI Surveillance/Communications NO & CS & AS & VC Combat CS & AR & MC & AS Field Artillery AR & CS & MC & MK Operators and Food Handlers NO & AS & MC & VC Skilled Technical VC & MK & MC & GS 12
WHO IS THE VA NATIONAL GUARD? The Guard is comprised of men and women in your own communities from all walks of life and in all career stages. Guard members possess varied specialized skill sets in both civilian and military professions. Members of the Virginia National Guard may coach in your neighborhood or work at a local hospital. Guardsmen serve in both the Army and Air National Guard, and support domestic missions at home and federal missions abroad in order to save lives, protect people and property, ensure safety and relieve suffering. 13
VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORIES 14
VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD OVERVIEW Strength as of 28 February 2014: Approximately 7,559 Army National Guard Approximately 1,196 Air National Guard Approximately 517 Virginia Defense Force Approximately 379 State employees Approximately 9,651 Total DMA members (1,533 fulltime Federal employees) Mobilizations since September 11, 2001: Federal Active Duty: over 16,000 Virginia Guard Soldiers and Airmen State Active Duty: over 7,500 Virginia Guard Soldiers, Airmen and Virginia Defense Force personnel 15
WHY HIRE A GUARDSMAN? Additional skill sets: Proven Ability to Multitask Continued Leadership training Access to health and dental insurance Physical fitness and health conscious Annual drug testing Apprentice Partnership Initiative (API) Values Driven: Loyalty,Selfless Service, Strong Commitment to Excellence, Integrity 16
VETERAN ONLY VOW Act VRAP Turbo Tap VR&E Tax Credits The Virginia Department of Military Affairs Virginia National Guard Employment Program SPOUSES Virginia Values Veterans (V3): training for companies desiring to hire and retain Vets Veteran Staffing Network Seeking to Hire Military Uncertain About Hiring Military Will Not Hire Vets and/or Serving National Guard and Reserve Employment Initiative Program (EIP): partnership with Virginia Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Chapters 17
IN SUMMARY All military service does not qualify for veteran eligibility Validate military service using a DD 214/ NGB 22 The ASVAB is an aptitude skills test that can benefit employers in recruiting Veterans Outstanding and reliable employees can be found amongst the local citizens who serve in the Virginia National Guard defending the Commonwealth and Nation Employers of Guard members experience numerous benefits Highly qualified employees can be found through the Virginia National Guard Employment Program 18
QUESTIONS? COL Thom Morgan thomas.l.morgan4.mil@mail.mil Office: 804 236-7776 MAJ Jennifer Linke jennifer.l.linke.mil@mail.mil 804 236-7826 19