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I went to the employment office with my wife. I was in uniform. One of the questions were "Are you a spouce of a Vetran"? I said check the yes block. The lady asked me are you still active and I told her yes, she told me that I wasnt a vetran. I said I am a multiple Combat vetran and she told me by government definition, she has to check no because I am not a "Vetran." Thoughts?
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Posted >1 y ago
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From the Virginia Employment Commission Website:
"Priority of service means, with respect to any qualified Department of Labor employment and job-training programs, that Veterans 1 and Eligible Spouses 2 shall be given priority over non-Veterans for the receipt of employment, training, and placement services, notwithstanding any other provision of the law."
"1 Veteran: a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released there from under conditions other than dishonorable. Active service includes full-time duty in the National Guard or Reserve component, other than full-time duty for training purposes.
2 Eligible Spouse: the spouse of any of the following:
Any Veteran who died of a service connected disability;Any member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who, at the time of application for priority, is listed in one or more of the following categories and has been so listed for a total of more than 90 days:Missing in action;Captured in line of duty by a hostile force; orForcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power;Any Veteran who has a total disability resulting from a service-connected disability, as evaluated by the Department of Veterans Affairs;Any Veteran who died while a disability, as indicated above in section (3), was in existence."So, it looks to me like your wife is not eligible for spousal preference under Virginia law. Strange but true. Even if you WERE discharged and had "Veteran" status under Virginia law, it wouldn't help your spouse.
Priority of service means, with respect to any qualified Department of Labor employment and job-training programs, that Veterans 1 and Eligible Spouses 2 shall be given priority over non-Veterans for ...
Priority of service means, with respect to any qualified Department of Labor employment and job-training programs, that Veterans 1 and Eligible Spouses 2 shall be given priority over non-Veterans for ...
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1SG (Join to see)
Thank you sir. I appreciate that you took the time out of your day to research that for me. Have a great day!
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In General speaking and what I have seen here in the states she is correct. Yes you are a combat veteran I understand that. The term in which they are referring to is one who previously served with the military. Here are the merriam webster dictionary terms:
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a: an old soldier of long service b: a former member of the armed forces
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: a person of long experience usually in some occupation or skill (as politics or the arts)
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1SG (Join to see)
OK roger, Im tracking. However, each time we reenlisted we recieved a DD 214. That is a discharge document correct? I have a few as you probably do as well. It just upset me a little that is all. It would give my wife "Spousal Preferance" but since I havent been discharged she isnt good enough.
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SSG Anthony Schoepp
As a note to 'Spousal Preference,' I feel that this needs to be addressed at higher levels. I was married to my wife after arriving to my duty station so she was not on my original orders and we were informed that once I PCS'ed she could apply for spousal preference. Three years and a deployment later, I am still on the same post, with no ability to get an amendment and still not PCSing. They refused to acknowledge her as my spouse for preference. Basically she was punished because I stayed in the same unit and we had not been married before I joined. What we wound up doing was getting a letter drafted from my chain of command like an exception to policy saying she should be allowed spousal preference for jobs. May be something worth looking into.
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Commonly in the civilian sector it is defined as having completed 1 enlistment. Once you reenlisted, that 'discharge' certificate is what proof you can provide to satisfy their strange misunderstanding.
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1SG (Join to see)
Agreed, however 1 combat tour makes you a "Combat Vetran" as well. Silly confused civilians
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1SG (Join to see)
By the way, I just PCSd from Kaiserslautern. I have some friends that work there in Landstuhl.
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SSG (Join to see)
Definitely so, sure is great being near wholly misunderstood by the 99% we toe the line for. Well, at least they have the freedom to display their lack of understanding....Congrats on leaving this side of the pond! Since you likely know about it, we've got a 33 member team to Nijmegen this year.
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