Washington, D.C. - U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recruiters and hiring specialists recently visited service men and women at Fort Polk, LA. The visit is part of Phase II of the Veteran Invitational Program (VIP), OPM's initiative to communicate veterans' preference rights on federal employment opportunities to service men and women.

"Veterans' preference is a core principle of the U.S. Civil Service," stated Acting Director Dan G. Blair. "America's service members need to be aware of what's available to them as they transition from the military to civilian life, and the VIP is a critical component of a successful and fruitful transition."

VIP II includes seminars which explain veterans' preference and appointing authorities, workshops on resume writing and interviewing skills, and hands-on guidance with OPM's USAJOBS website -- www.usajobs.gov -- the primary source for finding federal jobs.

"OPM employment experts' visit to Fort Polk to provide employment information to the men and women who wear the Nation's uniform evidences the President's strong commitment to veterans' preference in Federal hiring," stated Donald R. Mallet, Director of the Civilian Personnel Advisory Center. "The outreach and educational program presented was very well received by all who attended.  The message struck the proper balance between the nation's commitment to its veterans and its commitment to merit principles in the employment process."

OPM's recruiters have visited veterans' medical centers in Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Camp LeJeune, North Carolina; Fort Hood, Texas; Hampton, Virginia; Albany, New York; Kansas City; Minneapolis; Tampa and Jacksonville, Florida; Ft. Campbell, Kentucky; Camp Pendleton, California, and the San Diego Naval Base, and plan to visit Fort Sill, Oklahoma later this month.