Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has joined forces with Walter Reed Medical Center to conduct an employment outreach and education campaign for injured veterans. The agreement, established by a Memorandum of Understanding between the agencies, initiates a campaign to raise awareness among military personnel separating from the U.S. armed forces about public service opportunities in the federal civil service.

"The veterans and their families that make their way through Walter Reed have given unselfishly to the nation, and the partnership we have established helps pave the way for a successful post-military career," said Linda M. Springer, Director of OPM. "Working with Walter Reed is part of the framework of the Bush administration to expand employment opportunities for veterans, especially those who are returning wounded and are disabled, in the federal government."

Dan Blair, deputy director of OPM, last week addressed the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Employment Coalition for America's Veterans, where he highlighted the Bush administration's promise that veterans, especially disabled veterans, will always have an opportunity to continue working for America when they separate from military service. "In fiscal year 2004, 19 percent of all new federal employees, that's more than 32,000 new hires, were veterans," Blair noted. "Of those, nearly 7,000 are disabled veterans."

Through the agreement, OPM will promote Walter Reed veterans' hiring in a variety of ways, and has assigned a representative to work at the medical center who has the backing of OPM's veterans outreach staff.

"Veterans' preference is the law of the land; it is the right thing to do," said Springer.