President Obama signed the VOW — Veterans Opportunity to Work — to Hire Heroes Act in November 2011.
All agencies should accept and process applications from active duty service members as long as they possess a certification of an honorable discharge within 120 days.
According to Berry, any service members start their civilian job search prior to discharge from active duty.
If the certification has expired, an agency must request other documentation that demonstrates the service member is a preference eligible, the memo says.