TSA Hires Veterans
TSA is committed to supporting the employment of veterans and provides a hiring preference to eligible veterans. Veterans’ preference is applied to eligible veterans who were discharged or released from military service under honorable conditions.
TSA will also consider applications from individuals who are about to be released from active duty military. Members of the uniformed service may accept a civilian position if they have performed active duty service and are on transition leave pending separation or release from active duty under honorable conditions.
To claim veterans’ preference on the application, you must provide appropriate documentation such as the copy of the DD-214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty showing item 24. Character of Service (Service-2 copy or Member-4 copy). If you have not yet received the DD-214 prior to final separation or transition from active military service, you may submit a “Statement of Service” letter from your military chain of command in lieu of the DD-214 to support veterans’ preference eligibility during the application process.
The non-competitive TSA Veteran Appointment Authority applies to management, administrative, and professional positions at TSA and is similar to the Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment. The eligibility requirements include: disabled veterans; veterans who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during a war declared by Congress, or in a campaign for which a campaign badge has been authorized; veterans who, while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces, participated in a military operation for which the Armed Forces Service Medal was awarded; or veterans separated from active service within 3 years. The appointment authority does not apply for the Transportation Security Executive Service, Transportation Security Officer or Federal Air Marshal positions.
Q: How is veterans’ preference applied at TSA?
A: For transportation security officer positions, TSA applies veterans’ preference as defined in P.L. 107-71 and to those individuals eligible under the provisions of Section 2108 of Title 5 United States Code (U.S.C.). To be eligible for veterans’ preference under P.L.107-71, you must be a member or former member of the U.S. Armed Forces, and entitled under statute to retired, retirement or retainer pay.
For all other TSA positions, TSA provides preference at the point of selection to those eligible for veterans’ preference as defined under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. §2108.
Q: If I am hired by TSA, an excepted-service agency, will I be able to move to other federal agencies that are in the competitive service?
A: Yes. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management and DHS/TSA have entered into an interchange agreement, which allows certain permanent TSA employees to apply and be selected for vacancies in competitive service agencies.