Veterans' Preference in the Federal Civil Service

A review was conducted to determine the impact of veterans' preference on the register placement of applicants and their opportunities for certification and selection to Federal entry-level positions. The preference accorded veterans in competing for Federal civil service jobs adversely affects all nonveterans. Specifically, the problems qualified women applicants may have in competing for Federal employment was assessed by examining whether women were being ranked lower or displaced from their positions on civil service registers because, as a group, they lacked veteran status. The adverse effects of veterans' preference were demonstrated by the: (1) displacement of women on civil service registers; (2) loss in ranking position of women on registers; (3) additional qualifications needed by nonveteran women to compete with veterans; and (4) lack of women on some civil service certificates. It was not possible to ascertain whether women were represented on civil service registers in proportion to their availability. Veterans' preference conflicts with the policy of providing equal employment opportunity to all job applicants, particularly women. It interferes with the principle of merit as the basis for selection to the Federal service.