European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 4, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes tuesday september 4,1990letterscg anniversary remembered i was under the impression that the stars and stripes was a publication for All military services overseas. On aug. 4, 1990, the . Coast guard celebrated its 200th anniversary and you missed the Opportunity to report on it. Although not a part of the department of defense the coast guard is a at All times an armed Force of the United states and is equal in such status to the army Navy air Force and Marine corps. This is spelled out in title 14, United states code. In peacetime the coast guard serves within the department of transportation due to its Law enforcement and regulatory authority. During a War or presidential decree it reports to the Navy department. The coast guard has been involved in All major wars since 1790. From 1790-1797 it was the Only armed naval Force of the United states. The Continental Navy was disbanded in 1785 and re established As the United states Navy in 1798. The coast guard was involved in the . Military presence in Europe during Wei conducting anti submarine patrol and escort duty and again in Wii Manning Landing Craft during amphibious landings including Normandy conducting Convoy escort duty and Greenland patrol. Today the coast guard maintains an office in London which coordinates Loran a Long Range navigation throughout Europe. Coast guard personnel Are assigned to Loran stations in Esta tit Spain Sellia Marina Italy Lampedusa Italy and Karabut run Turkey. There Are coast guard Liaison offices in Naples Italy Vai Hingen West Germany and Kef Lavik Iceland. There is a coast guard officer on faculty at the world maritime University in Sweden. In the United kingdom there is a Pilot on Exchange with the Royal Navy and one with the Royal air Force. I am on Exchange with the Usan at Raf Woodbridge. The coast guard is also Active in nato exercises with both surface and air assets. The coast guard enforces maritime Laws promotes maritime safety and is always ready to defend our nation and our National interests As we have for 200 years. The coast guard although Small is just As much a part of the . Armed forces As the other branches and deserves to be recognized by the stars and stripes during our 200th anniversary year. A it. Everett f. Rollins Iii Raf Woodbridge England seeking facts about Public Law 101-237, veterans preference a writer recently expressed his dismay about veterans preference rules which i Felt deserved some clarification or response from the appropriate civilian personnel directorate that can interpret Public Law 101237, veterans readjustment act via enacted december 1989. The writer correctly pointed out that his or her prior Active duty time of seven years 1983-1990 does not qualify As veterans five Point preference As far As the current Standard form 171 instructions Point out. This employment application form was revised in june 1988 and May have been currently rendered obsolete due to Public Law 101-237, i too share the previous writers views that our former Active duty military service time does not depict us As War heroes and feel the same sense of disappointment in our being categorized As honorable discharged former military misfits in the Federal civilian labor Pool. This is simply because our prior military service was not performed during periods of general hostilities or the Vietnam Era. However if you Are disabled then forget about All of the above you immediately qualify. It is probably no wonder that our Congress enacted Public Law 101-237 in order to end the confusion described above. I have found however that not one civilian personnel Agency knows How to interpret the intent of Public Law 101-237 which appears on the surface to allow individuals such As myself with 10 years of civilian service and others quite possibly the other writer having honorable military service records an Opportunity to achieve career status under the veterans readjustment act even though we cannot qualify for initial employment veterans preference Points. The writer however failed to indicate whether he or she received a via appointment leading to career status or accepted a limited overseas appointment with the excepted service whereby career status cannot be obtained. The writer should demand a via appointment from the local co or write to his or her congressman if the local co cannot interpret Public Law 101-237. Surely a congressman should know Why they enacted the Law in the first place. The writer of that original letter should be very concerned with his or her Type of appointment for they May not survive a reduction in Force from the coming military draw Down or at the very least Are facing an Uncertain Federal employment future. Regardless of the amount of years of faithful Federal service devoted to the Public As an excepted service employee As i now find myself faced with an employee without career status priority placement rights May Only bump other excepted service employees in the Usa eur geographic area of consideration with less time in service while career status employees can bump excepted service employees regardless of time in service qualifications or prior ratings. Would anyone care to comment on How this no Veteran misfit of Public Law 101-237 should be feeling right now if the possibility exists of me being told a thanks for 10 years of Federal service but we done to need you any More a were to happen a name withheld Stuttgart West Germany editors note a Carolyn White personnel staffing specialist office of the Deputy chief of staff personnel civilian personnel division he Usa eur replies thank you for the Opportunity to clarify the relationship Between the veterans readjustment appointment via and veterans preference. The via program is authorized under title 38, United states code us veterans benefits rather than title 5, us which governs civil service employment. Thus the definition of Veteran for via purposes and the definition of Veteran for veterans preference Are different. The primary difference Between the two definitions is that relative to via a Veteran includes someone with other than a dishonourable discharge while a Veteran for purposes of veterans preference includes Only veterans with a discharge under honorable conditions. As far As preference in Federal employment is concerned a a veterans Means a person who was separated with an honorable discharge or under honorable conditions from Active duty in the armed forces performed a in a War or a in a Campaign or expedition for which a Campaign badge has been authorized or a during the period beginning april 28, 1952, and ending july 1,1955, or a for More than 180 consecutive Days other than for training any part of which occurred during the period beginning feb. 1,1955, and ending oct. 14,1976. Every Veteran As defined above is entitled to five Point preference in employment except a retired member of the armed forces unless the individual is a disabled Veteran or retired below the rank of major or its equivalent. A disabled Veteran is a person who was separated under honorable conditions from Active duty in the armed forces performed at any time and who has established the present existence of a service connected disability or is receiving compensation disability retirement benefits or pension because of a Public statute administered by the veterans administration or a military department. As you can see from the definition Given above not All persons who serve in the armed forces Are considered a Veteran for the purpose of employment and eligibility for veterans preference. The writer is interested in interpretation of Public Law pm 101-237, Veteran readjustment appointment statutory authority. This Law was not enacted to end the confusion described by the writer. The original intent of the Law and eligibility for via focus on providing assistance to veterans who need the most help with employment. Pm 101-237 modified and extended to dec. 31, 1993, the previous statutory authority for via which expired on dec. 31,1989. The current Public Law made changes to the eligibility requirements time limit on eligibility maximum entry Grade level education restriction and Agency education training agreement requirements. Regarding the Issue of whether or not the individual being referenced by the writer received a via and the recommendation to demand such an appointment agencies Are not required to use the via the regulatory language says  however within Usa eur use of the via program is encouraged. The writer states that a regardless of the amount of years of faithful Federal service. As an excepted service employee. An employee without career status. May Only bump other excepted service employees. While career status employees can bump excepted service employees a when it is necessary to Cut Back efforts Are made to decrease the Adverse Impact on All employees to the maximum extent possible. However if it becomes necessary to release employees it is done based on several factors such As the competitive level tenure or Type of appointment Veteran subgroup length of service and performance rating of employees. In most cases this Means that employees on temporary appointments Are released prior to releasing employees on permanent appointments. Excepted service employees do not compete with competitive service employees in any Way. Competitive service employees generally thought of As those on a career or career conditional appointment cannot be assigned to a position in the excepted service. The competitive service consists of All civilian positions in the Federal government which Are not specifically excepted from the civil service Laws by or under statute. Excepted service consists of those civil service positions which Are not in the competitive service. Employees who have any questions on their appointment status should get in touch with their civilian personnel office