The organizations listed below provide a wealth of resources to veterans on a variety of concerns.
The men and women of the armed forces have served each of us through military service to our country. The liberties we enjoy today have been won through their sacrifice. Many of our APWU brothers and sisters have served or are currently serving, and we have an obligation to support them.
In an effort to provide additional assistance and to keep our members informed about issues that affect them, a Veterans, Guard and Reservist Information Specialist (VGRIS) has been tasked to assist in providing information about protections, benefits and program services, and pending changes that may affect them. APWU local and state organizations are encouraged to create a VGRIS position to assist APWU Veterans and/or their family members on what protections, benefits and program services are available to them. Inquiries should be directed to veterans@apwu.org.
VETERANS' PREFERENCE INFORMATION
Veterans who are disabled, who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during certain specified time periods or in military campaigns are entitled to preference over others in hiring for virtually all federal government jobs. The Postal Service grants veterans' preference to eligible applicants for Postal Service employment. See Handbook EL-312, 48, Veterans' Preference, for specific procedural guidelines.
MILITARY LEAVE FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
The U.S Office of Personnel management has updated its military leave guidance for federal agencies:
KNOW YOUR MILITARY LEAVE RIGHTS BEFORE DEPLOYMENT
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) protects service members' reemployment rights when returning from a period of service in the uniformed services, including those called up from the reserves or National Guard, and prohibits employer discrimination based on military service or obligation. The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) administers USERRA.
USPS ELM 517
VETERANS AND AGENT ORANGE
HEALTH BENEFITS AND LIFE INSURANCE COVERAGE DURING MILITARY SERVICE
- This USPS instruction to postal managers outlines health benefits and life insurance coverage for Postal Service employees absent on leave without pay (LWOP) to perform active duty military service.
CREDIT FOR MILITARY SERVICE - BUYING BACK MILITARY TIME
As a general rule, military service in the Armed Forces of the United States is creditable for retirement purposes if it was active service terminated under honorable conditions, and performed prior to your separation from civilian service for retirement.
Far too many postal employees who have served in the military wait until immediately before retirement to buy back their service time, without realizing how long the process can take.
Obtaining all the necessary paperwork to buy back time may take several weeks; therefore, we recommend that you begin the process as soon as possible.
Why should you consider buying back your military time? Making military service payments could increase the amount of your annuity and could add credit to your eligibility for retirement. Making these payments will guarantee that you will not suffer a future reduction of your OPM annuity if you qualified for Social Security benefits. If your active military duty ended prior to Dec. 31, 1956, and you are in the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) program, you will receive full credit without needing to make a deposit for either your retirement eligibility or annuity calculations. These rules change, however, for CSRS and FERS employees who served in the military after Jan. 1, 1957. Information for these employees can be found in Chapters 21, 22, and 23 of the CSRS and FERS Handbook for Personnel and Payroll Offices, which can be found online at www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/handbook/hod.htm.
You can begin calculating what effect buying back your military time will have on your retirement eligibility by verifying the date your military service ended. To do so, you must obtain a copy of your discharge papers (Form DD 214) by submitting a written request to:
National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, MO 63138
The NPRC may also be reached at:
Telephone: 314-801-0800
Fax: 314-801-9195
Upon your submission of Form DD 214, the finance center for your particular service branch will send you your estimated military earnings computation. The USPS Human Resources Shared Services Center can then use this information to determine the amount of your deposit, if applicable. If you choose to buy back your military time, the deposit must be paid prior to the date you retire from the USPS. Don’t forget to retain your proof of payment.
HAVE A LOVED ONE CURRENTLY SERVING IN THE MILITARY?
The APWU continuously coordinates efforts to show support for union members and their loved ones who are serving in the military. We plan to send them care packages and acknowledge their sacrifice by posting their name, address, and photo on our Web site. To do so, we need their military mailing addresses. Please provide the requested information on the attached form, and send a photo (if available) to post as well. Please print neatly, and keep us advised of any changes in address or status.
Please return the form to veterans@apwu.org.
