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I have had really fortunate experiences with federal service employment after military service. I am currently a GS-12. I started in the fed serv upon seperation from the Army in 2000, as an E-6. I have a M.A (since 2001) and working on a MBA (both concentrated in Public Administration). I started as a GS-5 (SSA for 7 months) then a GS-7 (INS from 2002-2005, 3yr term appt), AND now currently just got back into fed service with US CIS and am a GS-12 (EOD 6/2009). I receive vet's pref of 10 points when I apply for federal jobs (since separation from military) and it has served me well! Rarley do I NOT make any selection or certification lists when applying for USAjobs vacancies. It is really good to know that I am afforded the employment opportunites based on: 1. my service to the country and 2. my continued academic aspirations (a Master's since 2001). I have focused on investing in Public Service professional jobs, post-secondary education and federal service work b/c it is something I really feel is a great contribution to our society. I hope those that don't see opportunites readily available to them do not get discouraged. It is very possible to obtain a generous salary, rewarding career, and have plenty of career opportunites await you with the federal government after honorable military service (for me it was in the U.S. Army for 10 years, 5 months and 11 days).

These ratings classifications are completely incorrect. I thought that I would qualify as a 9 with no formal education, just 5 years experience, I qualified as a GS-11.

I agree that it can be very difficult to "get into the system", once your leave Active Military Service. However, keep at it and you will get in. I was lucky. I left AD Military, E6, in Feb 2006, landed a GS 7 position, after approximately 18 months, got promoted to a GS 9, and now serve as a GS-2210-11. Be persistant, and do the best you can when you get your foot in the door, and you will move up.

thopjen77 - I have found that unless you are a high ranking officer, you can move easily into an SES position. However, if you are enlisted, good luck finding a nice spot to start at on the GS scale. Your best bet would be to just apply for everything you can and hopefully you will get plenty of interviews in the range you are looking for.

I am a veteran, military spouse, current federal employee and it's even hard for me to get interviews. I have applied to almost 50 jobs that I felt I was qualified for. Guess how many interviews I've been on.....2. This goes to show that it's getting tougher to get in, or even move around when you are in the system. It gets discouraging but I'm not giving up. The same should go for you. Get in where you can and take it from there. A friend once told me, "Do what you do, until you get where you're going."

Can you move up a step or two based on your foreign language skills?

JunJun- Is it possible that your facility is just out of funding for education this fiscal year? I know that has been the case in many places. New budgets roll over out in october, make sure to have an IDP on file with your manager and talk to your manager and education department after Oct 1. In the mean time there is a ton of available options for free online training. I know my VA facility uses LMS, but I understand that different facilities use different programs, but all of them have something available. Check in the same location that you do your yearly mandatory training.
As for being a disabled vet - jmurrow is exactly right, it is not held against you at all, in fact you get hiring preference but you still have to qualify for the job through you KSA's and resume.

Not a comment but a question, I am a nursing assist in the VA, GS-05 step 3, I am also a disable Veteran. Why is it that being a diable Vet is held against me for education and job advancement ? I was told that the VA no long supports education. I have the e-mails from my manager telling me so.

I have some college and want a government job but can't afford the pay cut. I can easily double a GS-11.