SAN ANTONIO, TX - Beth Cobert, Acting Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), is in San Antonio today to discuss the successful implementation of the President’s Executive Order (EO) Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government. In preliminary data, for FY 2015, veterans accounted for 32.3 percent of all new Federal hires and represented 31 percent of the total Federal workforce. Here in San Antonio, veterans comprise 58 percent of the Federal workforce. Some additional highlights and statistics from the Veterans Employment Initiative can be found here.

The President’s Executive Order required the most comprehensive effort ever to improve employment opportunities for veterans in the Federal service. “We want to make sure that once our military members hang up their uniforms, that we do all we can to help give them an opportunity to continue to serve their country by joining the Federal civilian workforce.” said Acting Director Cobert.

Several events occurred today, including a roundtable discussion where Acting Director Cobert heard directly from veterans who have successfully transitioned into Federal Government, and those who are currently applying for Federal jobs. Cobert also attended a luncheon with San Antonio business and community leaders who have made it a priority to help veterans transitioning out of the military and into the civilian workforce.

“The U.S. military has spent a considerable amount of time, money and resources into training our nation’s service members, and we want to give our transitioning military members the opportunity to put those exceptional skills, talents, education and experience to good use within the civilian Federal workforce,” added Acting Director Cobert.

An employment workshop took place at St. Phillips College, where veterans were given the opportunity to dive into the Federal job application process and learn the most effective way to tailor their resumes for civilian jobs.

In addition to finding Federal employment for veterans, OPM is working with the President’s Council on Veterans Employment, which has established two specific priorities for 2016 - helping women veterans find careers in Federal Government, and working to retain the talented veterans already in Federal service. In San Antonio, OPM conducted sessions at the Texas Veterans Commission’s Veteran Employment Symposium designed to address challenges women veterans may face as they seek federal employment.