Veterans Preference

Adam354 Junior Member New Orleans

+5 points, what does it really mean?

Raydon Happy Camper OKC

The point system is used as a part of the initial application you fill out on asap. i guess i would assume that qualifications are weighed in a point system to select the best applicants- if you have the +5 or +10 vet pref, it just gives you a leg up.

Rosstafari Daaaang. /X

From Operational Use of the Air Traffic Selection and Training Battery, May 2007:

During the development of AT-SAT, subtests were weighted to yield the maximum validity, according to their relationship to the job, as suggested by the job task analysis. An individual’s performance on each subtest is multiplied by the weight developed for that subtest, and a constant is subtracted to ensure that each subtest has a floor of zero. The net result is a “part score.” Part scores are then summed and combined with an additional, overall constant (composed of a summation of the inverse of the individual constants and a calibrating constant) to yield the overall AT-SAT score (which is truncated to have a maximum score of 100). Veteran’s preference points (either five or ten points) are subsequently added. This overall score is the only one that enters into the hiring decision when AT-SAT is used in an operational fashion.

Italics in original.

Vet pref gives you more points on the AT-SAT. That's it. Given that 85% is the crucial number (which becomes either 80% or 75%, depending on how many points you get), and that most people who put in any effort studying at all will make that, it's not much of an edge.

Queue Junior Member

We never really talk about all the questions on the initial application. Just Q or WQ, OTS or CTI or VRA, etc. But what about those initial questions? Like "What grade did you get in algebra" and "Did you do well in your English classes"? Other applications for government positions get an initial score, so I figure this does too. Anyone know if selectors get to see an initial application score in addition to an AT-SAT score and geo. preferences?

Because if they do, then I always figured that Vet. prefs would be added to that. I guess not, but adding to the AT-SAT score doesn't seem like that great of a perk.

duranme Trusted Contributor San Diego (SCT)

the vets preferance takes on a new meaning when it comes to applying under the vra (prior controller) announcements.


10pt vets get pushed to the top

SdN Junior Member

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but I thought it better than creating an entirely new one. Does this mean that outside of the AT-SAT, Vet Pref for OTS candidates is not used at all? If so I'm guessing is already factored into the AT-SAT score that is listed on ASAP.

Rosstafari, in one of your other threads, What the selection panels will see, the image you posted indicates that the Vet Pref may also be used when the panels are selecting candidates for further consideration. So, maybe Vet Pref is used for a different or an additional purpose other than the AT-SAT bonus?

SdN Junior Member

By looking at that image again you can see that there is a gray border between the WQ and the Q candidates with the WQ being at the top. Of the Q candidates the top three have TP (5-point veteran preference) and the following candidates have NV (I'm assuming this means no value or something similar). 10-point vet pref would be indicated by CP, CPS, or XP but I do not see any of those listed on your image. Perhaps Vet Pref does have at least one other use other than the AT-SAT bonus.

http://jobs.faa.gov/p_Vet_Pref_Info.htm

Rosstafari Daaaang. /X

It may. I don't know. It may also be coincidental that the image shows Vet's Pref candidates on top. Or TP may not mean Ten Points at all, and those people are non-vets. It is interesting that the selection panels would see vet's pref if it didn't matter beyond figuring the AT-SAT score.

I think we've got to settle for a question mark on that one.

SdN Junior Member

Here's some more info regarding Veteran's Preference from the Office of Personnel Management OPM. I was told by an Air Traffic Manager that these are the people who handle FAA hiring.

VetGuide

Preference in Competitive Examinations
Preference eligibles who are qualified for a position and achieved a passing score have 5 or 10 extra points added to their numerical ratings depending on which of the previously described categories of preference they meet. This means the highest possible rating is 110 (a disabled veteran who earns a score of 100 has 10 extra points added).

Names of eligible applicants are placed on lists, or registers of eligibles, in the order of their ratings. Competitor inventories are established from which selections will be made over a period of time and for case examining in which a register is used to fill a single position or a group of positions and is closed after the needed selection(s) is made.

For scientific and professional positions in grade General Schedule (GS) - 9 or higher, names of all qualified applicants are listed on competitor inventories in order of their ratings, augmented by veteran preference, if any.

For all other positions, the names of 10-point preference eligibles who have a compensable, service-connected disability of 10 percent or more (CP and CPS) are listed at the top of the register in the order of their ratings ahead of the names of all other eligibles. The names of other 10-point preference eligibles, 5-point preference eligibles, and other applicants are listed in order of their numerical ratings.

A preference eligible is listed ahead of a nonpreference eligible having the same final rating.

5 U.S.C. 3309, 3313 and 5 CFR 332.401 and 337.101

The way I understand the fourth paragraph is that those with CP or CPS preference are listed first, then those with XP, followed by TP and eventually non-preference candidates. Once again those acronyms are pulled from here Veterans? Preference.

purpletw Newcomer Las Vegas

The FAA site says they aren't accepting VRA. Or am I reading that incorrectly?

Air Traffic Control Specialist Position Openings