A Veteran's Guide to Transition

Book excerpt: This book is written by a veteran for other veterans, to assist in the transition from Active Duty. It specifically addresses the timeline, requirements and challenges one must overcome in order to gain a position in the federal civil service, or "GS" Government Service. This book will help you to establish your own timeline and drumbeat for navigating the process. This timeline should begin prior to your separation and continue throughout your 180 day active duty waiting period (for positions within DoD) until you're hired and on-boarded. This book is dedicated to walking you through this process, step-by-step and chapter-by-chapter.Along the way, this book provides insights and information which will allow veterans to maximize their potential opportunities for employment. It tells you exactly how and when to request additional benefits (such as leave and pay) that may be available, (some only available for veterans). Upon joining the GS ranks (federal civil service), you will want to set yourself to maximize your returns under the new benefit plans which apply to the civil service; specifically, the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). This book will insure that you have the right information when on-boarding so that you make informed decisions and (hopefully) establish your initial payroll deductions to maximize the 5% TSP matching available to you - something not previously available to you while on active duty!Throughout this book, the reader is provided with links to source documents and current information from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), USAJobs.com, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) or other bodies; giving necessary information should current policy/procedures change, especially during COVID. Finally, this book provides an Action Checklist for the reader to follow and not miss a critical step, or inadvertently leave anything on the table.If you're even thinking of applying for jobs in the federal civil service - this book is a must-read!!