Veteran employment

You are VRA eligible if you:

• Earned a campaign badge for service during a war or in a campaign or expedition, or
• Are a disabled veteran, or
• Earned an Armed Forces Service Medal for participation in a military operation, or
• Are a recently separated veteran (within the last three years) and separated under honorable conditions (this means an honorable or general discharge)

You are eligible if you:

• Retired from active military service with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more; or
• Have a rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs showing a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more.

As a military spouse, you are eligible under this authority if your active-duty military spouse:

• Received a mandatory permanent change of station move within the last two years; or
• Has a 100% disability rating; or
• Died while on active duty.

Have questions or want to submit paperwork? Send an email to MilitarySpouse@uspto.gov.

To be eligible, you must:

• Show proof of your disability. Documentation may be from any licensed medical professional (e.g., a physician or other medical professional certified by a state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory to practice medicine), a licensed vocational rehabilitation specialist (i.e., state or private), or any federal or state agency, or agency of the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory that issues or provides disability benefits.
• This authority may be used at the discretion of the agency. Candidates can be appointed at any grade level and for any job (time-limited or permanent) for which they qualify. After two years of satisfactory service, the agency may convert you, without competition, to the competitive service.
• There is no limit to the number of times you can apply under this authority.

More information can be found on the Feds Hire Vets special hiring authorities for veterans page or OPM’s Veterans Services VET GUIDE.

Program eligibility

• U. S. citizen on active duty in the military placed on medical hold
• Approval from medical authority and command to participate

Program elements

• Three-to–12 month initial appointments
• You will be placed in a business area based on your skills, expertise and interest
• Part time 20 hours per week, average. Your daily schedule will be planned around your treatment schedule
• USPTO manager interviews and makes selection
• You may receive training to improve your existing skills or learn new skills
• You are paid by your respective military branch of the service

While there is no guarantee of employment following the completion of an OWF assignment, service members released from medical hold status are considered potential candidates for full-time employment with USPTO, pending separation from the military.

For more information on our veteran programs, please email us.

SkillBridge, developed by the Department of Defense, gives service members the opportunity to gain valuable civilian work experience through specific training, internships, and real-world job experiences during their final 180 days of service. This unique program can help bridge the transition from active duty to civilian careers.       

Program eligibility

• Member of the U.S. armed forces separating from active duty and entering/re-entering the civilian workforce (all military ranks)
• Must be expecting honorable or general discharge (under honorable conditions) within 180 days of program start date
• Obtain approval from your unit commander
• Must be in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area
• Agree that participation in SkillBridge can be terminated at any time if required by the service branch

Program elements

• 121-150 day (four- to five-month) internship appointments
• You will be placed in a business area based on your skills, expertise, and interest
• USPTO managers will interview and make selection(s)
• You may receive training to improve your existing skills or learn new skills
• You are paid by your respective military service branch

While there is no guarantee of employment following the completion of a SkillBridge internship, you may be considered a potential candidate for full-time employment with the USPTO, pending separation from the military. 

For more information and to submit the USPTO's SkillBridge interest form, please email SkillBridge.Opportunity@uspto.gov.

• Professional training,
• Networking, and
• Hands-on experience

At no cost to program fellows!

Learn more about the Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Fellowship.