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From: David Baker
Date: 26 Dec 2000
Time: 03:55:39
It is time to face some very hard facts, and try to remedy one of the most pervasive evils in federal civil service. In 1964, Congress passed a bill to restrict the entry of retired military officers and sergeants into federal civil service (F.C.S.) employment. The bill, entitled "The Dual Compensation Act of 1964" was enacted to address complaints stemming from the entry of retired military servicemen into F.C.S. positions with twenty-or-more years military service counting as seniority, and higher tenured "veteran preference" status, which created an intractable threat to tenured, non-retiree employees. Military retirees receive just compensation for their service, including a pension, medical care, free transportation on military aircraft, commissary privileges, and other benefits. Congress considered these benefits in conjunction with the fact that military life, outside of combat, was in many ways comparable to civilian employment. The authors of the "Dual Compensation Act" were fair and justified in establishing restrictions to retirees, which did not prevent their applying for F.C.S. positions, but merely recognizing that each retiree voluntarily signed at least 4 enlistment contracts during their career, and that each reenlistment included bonuses of cash, preferred assignments, promotions, and military tenure. In considering the career soldier's (And I use that term loosely; several retirees never saw combat. Indeed, several of them retired from their first and only duty station) compensations for their service, the Veteran Preference was removed from their hiring and tenure status, and their date-of-hire was the date of employment, with adjustments for service in combat zones. The Veteran Preference was soon to be reinstated for hiring-only under the Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment Appointment Program: A two year non-competitive F.C.S. appointment for Vietnam Era veterans to "readjust" to civilian life. This was misused for retirees because they voluntarily reenlisted during the era, intending to make the military a career choice. They were not drafted. The program was designed to train those Vietnam era veterans who were forced into military service prior to college, or other technical training. (Part of the VRA criteria included a maximum entry grade. It was surprising how many DOD offices reduced their operating grades to that maximum...). During the recent BRAC round of closures, several retired military sergeants received exceptional preference, including their being allowed to remain in an agency after higher tenured personnel were forced to leave. This special treatment is especially prevalent in DOD, where military officers command F.C.S. personnel, several of whom are personal friends and acquaintances with their commanders, with some acquaintances stretching many years. In addition to this aspect, several personnel offices at DOD bases are staffed by the wives or offspring of retired military personnel. President Clinton repealed the "Dual Compensation Act" in 1994, and the result is predictable. Select ANY F.C.S. agency, and you will find the bulk of employees are retired military. In addition to F.C.S. jobs, the president's efforts to "privatize" workloads at military depots has created yet another lucrative income for retirees, some who benefitted from the above mentioned preferential treatment, and were allowed to remain in their F.C.S. positions until they were eligible for F.C.S. retirement, THEN BEING HIRED BY THE "CONTRACTOR" WHO TOOK OVER THE WORKLOAD...A RETIRED MILITARY CONTRACTOR!!! Each of these people are receiving 4 federal incomes, which does not count their wives, who are also F.C.S. or contractor employees. This is grossly unfair to those higher tenured personnel who were forced to retire, or transfer due to BRAC closures. Indeed, the system needs sweeping reform. Hopefully, this may be part of the new administration's agenda.