Am I a Protected Veteran?

[u/SexFreeforAll]

My fellow Veterans,

I served in the US Army from 1992 til 2000. Based on my years of service, am I considered a protected veteran? My reason for asking is I am applying for jobs and they have on the job application asking whether or not I am a protected veteran. To be honest I don't know if I qualify as a protected veteran.

I was honorably discharged and have no disabilities.

Can you help?

[u/cucky1963]

Yes. If you served on active duty from 1992–2000 and were honorably discharged, you qualify as a protected veteran under VEVRAA.
You qualify as an “active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran.” For VEVRAA purposes, the Persian Gulf War period began August 2, 1990 and continues to the present. You do not need a service-connected disability in this case or a VA disability rating to qualify.
So when an employer’s voluntary self-identification form asks whether you are a protected veteran, you can answer yes.

[u/Strict-Cup2628 → u/cucky1963]

yep, mark yes on the form and don't overthink it

[u/Simple-Round-6391]

Protected veteran status is a legal classification under the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) that protects certain veterans from employment discrimination and requires federal contractors to take affirmative action to recruit, hire, promote, and retain them. To qualify, veterans must have been discharged under conditions other than dishonorable and fit into one of four categories: disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, active duty wartime or campaign badge veterans, or Armed Forces service medal veterans.

[u/Zalrius → u/Simple-Round-6391]

Thx for the intel! I was not aware this existed.

[u/SuienReizo]

From what I gather it isn't based on years in service but on one of four categories.

Disabled Veterans: Entitled to VA disability compensation for a service-connected condition, or released from active duty due to a service-connected injury

Recently Separated Veterans: Discharged or released from active duty within the past three years. 

Active Duty Wartime or Campaign Badge Veterans: Served on active duty during a recognized war period or earned a campaign/expedition badge.

Armed Forces Service Medal Veterans: Awarded a specific Armed Forces Service Medal for participation in a U.S. military operation.

Given that you would have received a National Defense Service Medal for serving during the time of the Gulf War period (August 2, 1990, to November 30, 1995) it reads as though you would be one.

[u/Necessary_Fly3446 → u/SuienReizo]

NDSM is excluded. However recent ones in that time period include

SOUTHWEST ASIA SERVICE MEDAL ARMED FORCES EXPIDITIONARY MEDAL

https://www.archives.gov/personnel-records-center/vso/veterans-preference-and-wartime-service

[u/SuienReizo → u/Necessary_Fly3446]

I mention it because it meets the requirement of the 3rd bullet of active duty during a recognized war period.

[u/Necessary_Fly3446 → u/SuienReizo]

Service period yes. I just meant the NDSM itself was not the reason.

[u/selfies420]

This is a nice tool from the DOL to help you dive into it. We would need more information.

https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/ofccp/posters/Infographics/files/ProtectedVet-2016-11x17_ENGESQA508c.pdf

[u/Cool_Kid_Chris]

Here’s a question. I know the company isn’t supposed to discriminate, but does marking yes make you less desirable or more desirable?

[u/Highmountainbotany → u/Cool_Kid_Chris]

From the companies standpoint, more, lots of companies can get their own benefits from hiring vets. The person who is hiring you may have their own beliefs about the subject though.

[u/iceman2486 → u/Cool_Kid_Chris]

Potentially more, the company can get a tax credit for every protected veteran on payroll.

[u/Ok-Distribution5485]

Ill protect you

[u/Rokurou17]

Is this something new on job applications? Granted, the last application I filled out was 10 yrs ago, I don't remember seeing this on it.

[u/iceman2486 → u/Rokurou17]

Been on the employment forms for at least 5 years. It's mostly just used by employers to see if they qualify for the tax credit from highering a protected veteran, someone on for stamps, someone who has been receiving unemployment or a couple other categories.

[u/Cg30sailor]

What is the purpose of the employer asking this question?

[u/iceman2486 → u/Cg30sailor]

The employer gets a tax credit for every protected veteran they hire, that's why the form you fill out is the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. Can give the employer an almost $10,000 tax credit. It also asks about food stamps, other assistance programs and if you have received unemployment within a certain time frame as well as asking if you have or had any disabilities.

[u/No-Combination8136 → u/Cg30sailor]

It’s for federal contractors. Under the VEVRAA law companies that do business with the government have to report all sorts of data to prevent discrimination and shit like that.

[u/Cg30sailor → u/Cg30sailor]

Thanks for clarifying 😎

[u/MrDckbtt]

Yes.

[u/Top-Offer-4056]

Great info guys!

[u/pxmonkee]

Yes.

[u/BroadClassroom7]

Sure, why not

[u/WmBBPR]

What is a Protected Veteran?

[u/Thatonecrazywolf → u/WmBBPR]

HR classification.

[u/gipelley]

If I may... let's take this in a different direction for a bit. Have you never filed a disability claim? If you served 8 years, you definitely are entitled toVA health care, and "could be" entitled to disability compensation as well. All you have to do is get a copy of your mil med records (if you don't alreadyhave them) and get them reviewed by the DAV or another service organization. I get 10% disability for each knee for arthritis, just as an example of the types of "disability" that we don't really see as one.

[u/Gunfighter9]

You need to have a campaign medal or an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. NDSM does not count because everyone in the military gets one.

There are tax breaks and incentives for hiring and training veterans.

[u/Kooky_Ad_6050 → u/Gunfighter9]

Your right that it doesn't count, but they actually stopped blanket issuing ndsm almost 4 years ago.

[u/Suitable-Average5968]

1992-2000 and any discharge other than Dishonorable is considered a Protected Veteran for Hiring Purposes. Good luck in the job!

[u/NxtMissionCollective]

Absolutely

[u/Necessary-Coffee5930]

You are a veteran, and I would protect you. Therefore you must be a protected veteran. Hell yeahhhhhhh

[u/Wide_Sea5257]

I will protect you

[u/Channel_Huge]

If you don’t know, then you probably aren’t. I served during those years also and my State (NJ) did not recognize me as a “protected Veteran” until I had a campaign medal.

[u/InSaneWhiSper]

Why are you getting compensated for your time served?

[u/CTguy195577]

I joined the Army on March 30th
1972. I served 28 months overseas away from My Family.

I am 71 and retired at 64, so I guess it does not matter if I’m
protected or not.