Petersburg, Virginia - U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) continues to fulfill its commitment to veterans' employment in the Federal government through outreach programs.  Recently, recruiters and hiring specialists visited the Fort Lee Army post in Petersburg, Virginia as part of Phase II of the Veteran Invitational Program (VIP).

OPM Acting Director Dan G. Blair said, "VIP II presents service men and women the opportunity to continue serving their nation by joining the civil service."

The VIP II program includes seminars explaining veterans' preference and special hiring authorities. There are also workshops on resume writing and interviewing, and a hands-on presentation of the usajobs.gov website - the primary source for finding federal employment. Several in attendance at the Fort Lee event had recently returned home from serving in Iraq.

Carmen M. Rohena Pastrana, Transition Services Manager of the Army Career & Alumni Program (ACAP) said, "Fort Lee ACAP continues to pursue opportunities to enhance the services provided to soldiers, civilians, retirees and veterans. The OPM outreach effort is a great opportunity for the Fort Lee workforce to speak with OPM employment experts. This forum will be able to provide answers to many of the questions and concerns frequently raised. It also demonstrates the continued overall support that is given to those who are seeking new opportunities while still serving our country and how committed we are to providing such options."

During the VIP II visits, veterans are also able to meet one-on-one with OPM staff about the opportunities and benefits within the government, and the practical steps of obtaining a federal job.

OPM aggressively reached out to veterans through Phase I of the VIP which was launched in August 2003, where the agency developed informational brochures and posters to raise the level of awareness among separating soldiers from the U. S. Armed Services.  At the Fort Lee event, over 200 brochures, 500 wallet size information cards, 10 wall posters and 250 Veterans' Preference DVD were distributed.

The recent VIP II visit is a part of a comprehensive tour of military installations throughout the United States.  OPM's extensive program also included visits to: Bolling Air Force Base and Walter Reed Army Medical Hospital, Washington DC; Fort Sam Houston; Texas; and Bethesda Naval Hospital, Bethesda, Maryland. The complete list of visited installations is below.

• Eglin Air Force Base - Fort Walton Beach, FL
• MacDill Air force Base - Tampa, FL
• Naval Base of Coloranado Island - San Diego, CA
• Camp Pendleton - San Diego, CA
• Fort Polk - Leesville, LA
• Fort Sill - Fort Sill, OK
• Fort McPherson - Atlanta, GA
• Norfolk Navy Base - Norfolk, VA
• Forts Myer - Alexandria, VA
• Fort Belvoir - Alexandria, VA
• Fort Meade - Laurel, MD
• Cherry Point Marine Base - Cherry Point, NC
• Camp LeJeune - Jacksonville, NC
• Bolling Air force Base - Washington, DC
• Fort Sam Houston - Houston, TX
• Fort Lee - Petersburg, VA
• Fort Bliss - El Paso, TX