Since the time of the Civil War, Veterans of the Armed Forces have been given some degree of preference in appointments to government jobs. Recognizing that sacrifices are made by those serving in the Armed Forces, Congress enacted laws to prevent veterans seeking employment from being penalized because of the time spent in military service.

 
Oregon state government, along with cities, counties and local service districts, provide qualifying veterans and disabled veterans with preference in employment in accordance with ORS 408.225, 408.230, and 408.235; OAR 105-040-0010 and 105-040-0015.

Qualifying veterans and disabled veterans may obtain preference by submitting as verification of eligibility a copy of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214 or 215) or a letter from the US Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs indicating receipt of a non-service connected pension to your application. Disabled Veterans must also submit a copy of their Veteran's disability preference letter from the Dept. of Veteran Affairs, unless the information is included in the DD Form 214/215.

Preference is provided as follows:

839-006-0435
Veterans’ Preference in Public Employment
(1) It is the policy of the State of Oregon that a public employer grant a preference in hiring and promotion to veterans and disabled veterans under the provisions of ORS 408.230.
(2) The requirement to grant a preference in hiring and promotion to veterans and disabled veterans under the provisions of ORS 408.230 applies only to a public employer’s civil service positions.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 659A.805
Stats. Implemented: ORS 408.230, 408.235, 659A.885
Hist.: BLI 37-2008, f. 11-6-08, cert. ef. 11-10-08
 
839-006-0440
Definitions
(1) “Active duty” does not include attendance at a school under military orders, except schooling incident to an active enlistment or a regular tour of duty, or normal military training as a reserve officer or member of an organized reserve or a National Guard unit.
(2) “Armed Forces” means the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, including the reserve components thereof. (Title 38 USC Part I Chapter 1 Section 101). Reserve components mean:
(a) The Army Reserve;
(b) The Navy Reserve;
(c) The Marine Corps Reserve;
(d) The Air force Reserve;
(e) The Coast Guard Reserve;
(f) The Army National Guard of the United States; and
(g) The Air National Guard of the United States.
(3) “Civil service position” means a position that requires merit-based selection and promotion to be ascertained by competitive examination. Such positions need not be denominated “civil service” positions.
(4) “Combat zone” means an area designated by the President of the United States by executive order in which, on the dates designated by executive order, the Armed Forces of the United States are or have engaged in combat.
(5) “Disabled veteran” means a person entitled to disability compensation under the laws administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a person whose discharge or release from active duty was for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty or a person who was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat.
(6) “Military leave” means any period of time for which a person is absent from a permanent civil service position for the performance of active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(7) “Promotion” means any position with a higher maximum salary rate.
(8) “Public employer” means the state or any agency or political subdivision of the state and any person authorized to act on behalf of the state or any agency or political subdivision of the state with respect to control, management or supervision of any employee. “Public employer” includes:
(a) Employers in local governments;
(b) Employers of a public corporation created under a statute of this state and specifically designated as a public corporation; and
(c) Employers of any entity that is created by statute, ordinance or resolution that is not part of state government or local government.
(9) “Veteran” means a person who:
(a) Served on active duty with the Armed Forces of the United States:
(i) For a period of more than 178 consecutive days and was discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions;
(ii) For 178 days or less and was discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions because of a service-connected disability; or
(iii) For at least one day in a combat zone and was discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions; or
(b) Received a combat or campaign ribbon for service in the Armed Forces of the United States.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 659A.805
Stats. Implemented: ORS 408.225, 408.230, 408.235, 659A.885
Hist.: BLI 37-2008, f. 11-6-08, cert. ef. 11-10-08
 
839-006-0445
Eligibility for Employment Preference
(1) A veteran is eligible to use the preference provided for in OAR 839-006-0450 and 839-006-0455 for a civil service position for which application is made at any time after discharge or release from service in the Armed Forces of the United States.
(2) Except as provided in (1) of this rule there are no limitations to the number of times a person can claim the preference.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 659A.805
Stats. Implemented: ORS 408.230, 408.235
Hist.: BLI 37-2008, f. 11-6-08, cert. ef. 11-10-08; BLI 8-2010, f. & cert. ef. 2-24-10 
 
839-006-0450
Applying the Employment Preference 
At each stage of the application process a public employer will grant a preference to a veteran or disabled veteran who successfully completes an initial application screening or an application examination or a civil service test the public employer administers to establish eligibility for a vacant civil service position.
(1) For an initial application screening used to develop a list of persons for interviews, the public employer will add five preference points to a veteran’s score and ten preference points to a disabled veteran’s score.
(2) For an application examination, given after the initial application screening, that results in a score, the public employer will add five preference points to a veteran’s and ten preference points to a disabled veteran’s total combined examination score without allocating the points to any single feature or part of the examination.
(3) If a public employer uses an application examination that consists of an evaluation method of ranking an applicant that does not result in a score, the public employer will devise and apply methods by which the public employer gives special consideration in the public employer’s hiring decision to veterans and disabled veterans.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 659A.805
Stats. Implemented: ORS 408.230, 408.235, 659A.885
Hist.: BLI 37-2008, f. 11-6-08, cert. ef. 11-10-08
 
839-006-0455
Employment Preference for Promotions
(1) A public employer will grant a preference to a person seeking promotion and who is employed by the public employer in a permanent civil service position only if the person:
(a) Was granted military leave by the public employer to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States;
(b) Returned from the military leave to the civil service position;
(c) Qualified as a veteran or disabled veteran, as defined in OAR 839-006-0440(5) and (2), by reason of the person’s service during the military leave or otherwise;
(d) Successfully completed a test or examination for the promotional position; and
(e) Meets the minimum qualifications and any special qualifications for the promotional position.
(3) If a person meets the criteria for a promotional preference under subsection (1) of this rule, the public employer will add five preference points to a veteran’s score and ten preference points to a disabled veteran’s score.
(4) For the purposes of a promotional preference under subsection (1) of the rule, if a public employer uses an application examination that consists of an evaluation method of ranking an applicant that does not result in a score, the public employer will devise and apply methods by which the public employer gives special consideration in the public employer’s hiring decision to veterans and disabled veterans.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 659A.805
Stats. Implemented: ORS 408.225, 408.230, 408.235, 659A.885
Hist.: BLI 37-2008, f. 11-6-08, cert. ef. 11-10-08
 
839-006-0460
Appointment to a Position
(1) A public employer will appoint an otherwise qualified veteran or disabled veteran to a vacant civil service position if the results of a veteran’s or disabled veteran’s application examination, when combined with the veteran’s or disabled veteran’s preference, are equal to or higher than the results of an application examination for an applicant who is not a veteran or disabled veteran.
(2) Preferences of the type described in OAR 839-006-0450 and 839-006-0455
are not a requirement that a public employer appoint a veteran or disabled veteran to a civil service position.
(4) A public employer may base a decision not to appoint the veteran or disabled veteran solely on the veteran’s or disabled veteran’s merits or qualifications with respect to the vacant civil service position.
(5) If a public employer does not appoint a veteran or disabled veteran to a vacant civil service position, upon written request of the veteran or disabled veteran, the public employer, will provide the public employer’s reasons for the decision not to appoint the veteran or disabled veteran to the position.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 659A.805
Stats. Implemented: ORS 408.230, 408.235, 659A.885
Hist.: BLI 37-2008, f. 11-6-08, cert. ef. 11-10-08
 
839-006-0465
Certification
(1) A public employer may require an applicant to provide certification that the person is an eligible veteran or disabled veteran under OAR 839-006-0440(5) and (9).
(2) An applicant for a position with a public employer claiming veteran's or disabled veteran’s preference points may submit as certification of eligibility under OAR 839-006-0440(5) and (9) a copy of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (a federal DD Form 214 or 215) with the application for employment.
(3) Disabled veterans may also submit a copy of their veteran's disability preference letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, unless the information is included in the federal DD Form 214/215.
(4) If a person’s record appears to show service qualifying for the preference the public employer may provisionally designate an applicant as an eligible veteran or disabled veteran. However, before the person can be appointed, the person must submit proof of the entitlement to the preference.
Stat. Auth.: ORS 659A.805
Stats. Implemented: ORS 408.225, 408.230, 408.235, 659A.885
Hist.: BLI 37-2008, f. 11-6-08, cert. ef. 11-10-08
 
839-006-0470
Enforcement
The Civil Rights Division of the Bureau of Labor and Industries enforces the provisions of ORS 408.230. A person claiming a violation of ORS 408.230 may file a verified written complaint with the Civil Rights Division in accordance with ORS 659A.820.

Veterans must provide appropriate documentation at the time of application to qualify for these additional preference points. Veterans must submit as verification of eligibility a copy of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214 or 215) with the State of Oregon Application.

Your rights under Veterans’ Preference Points are contained in Oregon Administrative Rules 839-006-0435 through 839-006-0470 and Oregon Revised Statute 408.230.
 
In addition, disabled veterans must supply a public employment preference letter from the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs. To order the letter, call 1-800-827-1000 and request a public employment preference letter. Contact a Veteran Service Officer or a Disabled Veterans Local Employment Representative should you need assistance.

For record keeping, Veterans' should make copies of any and all documentation. Veterans' records contain private information and should be handled accordingly.
 
In accordance with ORS 408.225, 408.230, and 408.235; OAR 105-040-0010 and 105-040-0015.