Veteran's Special Emphasis Program
The Veterans Emphasis Program (VEP) is focused on issues of employment, retention, promotion, training, career development and advancement opportunities affecting applicants and employees of NRCS who are veterans of the U.S. armed forces.
The VEP ensures that veterans receive equitable treatment in all aspects of employment and focuses on increasing the number of veterans employed in all professional, administrative, technical, clerical and other categories, series and grade levels. The VEP also provides a network of professional support for veterans and provides mentoring support in the workforce.
On January 24, 1973 Executive Order 11701, Employment of Veterans by Federal Agencies and Government Contractors and Subcontractors was issued. The Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 was amended and the Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment (VRA) was issued. The Veterans Education and Employment Program Amendments of 1991 requires expanded job opportunities for veteran and disabled veterans through the VRA.
Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11th every year as the fighting ceased between the Allied nations and Germany on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. In November 1919 President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11th as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. On May 13, 1938 an act was approved that made the 11th of November an annual legal holiday dedicated to world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as “Armistice Day”. In 1954 the 83rd Congress amended the Act of 1938 and changed the wording to “Veterans Day”.
Links of Interest:
Farmer Veteran Coalition of Vermont: The mission of the Farmer Veteran Coalition is to mobilize veterans to feed America. Vermont is proud to be among the first chapters that also include Kansas, Maine and Michigan. "It is our goal to reach out to any veteran who is interested in agriculture and provide the available resources that are needed to ensure their success, or to help established veteran farm operations in any way possible."