Information for Veterans

The City of Newport is a federal contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), as amended. Consistent with its obligations under VEVRAA, the City of Newport prohibits discrimination and takes affirmative steps to employ, advance in employment and otherwise treat qualified individuals without discrimination based on their status as a recently separated veteran, armed forces service medal veteran, disabled veteran or active duty campaign badge veteran. The City of Newport also complies with the Oregon Veterans' Preference in Public Employment law which provides qualifying veterans and disabled veterans with preference in employment.

In order to benefit from these laws, employees and applicants must be given the opportunity to self-identify as eligible veterans.

• If you are an employee who is a protected veteran for purposes of VEVRAA and wish to self-identify in order to benefit from the City’s affirmative action program in hiring for protected veterans, please complete the Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities Self-Identification Form at any time and return it to Human Resources as directed on the form.
• If you are an applicant for employment (including current employees) you will be offered the opportunity to self-identify as a veteran or disabled veteran eligible for preference in employment under the Oregon Veterans' Preference in Public Employment law. The invitation to self-identify is part of the required Employment Application. If you are a current employee and you are applying for an internal only job posting, please complete and submit the Applicant Veterans Preference Form along with the supporting documentation to Human Resources.

Oregon Veterans' Preference in Public Employment

The Oregon Veterans' Preference in Public Employment (ORS 408.230) legislation requires that public employers grant a preference in employment to eligible veteran or disabled veteran applicants who meet minimum qualifications and any special qualifications for the position to which they apply. The required preferences do not compel a public employer to appoint a veteran or disabled veteran. However, they do require that an eligible veteran or disabled veteran be appointed when the veteran’s or disabled veteran’s application assessment, combined with the veteran’s or disabled veteran’s preference, is equal to or higher than that of a non-veteran.

Public employers in Oregon are also subject to the Interviews of Veteran Applicants for Public Service Position Required (ORS 408.237) legislation. Under ORS 408.237, public employers must interview each eligible veteran who:

A. Meets the minimum and special qualifications for the merit based, competitive open position; and

B. Submits application materials that the employer determines show sufficient evidence that the veteran has the transferable skills required and requested by the employer for the position.

In the context of these laws, the following definitions and terms apply (ORS 408.225 to 408.237):

A 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 90 consecutive days beginning on or before January 31, 1955, and was discharged or released under honorable conditions;

ii. For a period of more than 178 consecutive days beginning after January 31, 1955, and was discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions;

iii. For 178 days or less and was discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions because of a service-connected disability;

iv. For 178 days or less and was discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions and has a disability rating from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; or

v. For at least one day in a combat zone and was discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions;

B. Received a combat or campaign ribbon of an expeditionary medal for service in the Armed Forces of the United States and was discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions; or

C. Is receiving a non-service-connected pension from the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs.

A Disabled Veteran means a person:

A. Who has a disability rating from the United States Department of Veterans' Affairs;

B. Whose discharge or release from active duty was for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, or

C. Who was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in combat.

A veteran is eligible to use the preference for a merit based, competitive open position for which application is made at any time after discharge or release from service in the Armed Forces of the United States.

Notice to Eligible Veterans and Disabled Veterans

To self-identify as a veteran or disabled veteran for purpose of preference in employment, please complete and return the Veteran’s Preference Form along with your completed application. Also please note the required supporting documentation to verify eligibility for the preference.

Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act

As a federal contractor, the City of Newport must adhere with the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), as amended. VEVRAA prohibits discrimination against protected veterans and requires that federal contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans.

Applicable definitions under VEVRAA are as follows:

RECENTLY SEPARATED VETERAN

Any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

ARMED FORCES SERVICE MEDAL VETERAN

Any veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12895 (61 FR 1209).

DISABLED VETERAN

(1) A veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or

(2) A person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

ACTIVE DUTY WARTIME OR CAMPAIGN BADGE VETERAN

A veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized, under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

Definitions from 41 Code of Federal Regulations Part 60-300

If you are an employee who is a protected veteran as defined above, applying for an internal position, and would like to self-identify, please print and complete the Veterans Preference Self-Identification Form and return it to the Human Resources along with your completed application.