Okay guys. I could use your help. I have decided that the VA isnt ever going to award me crap, and I need more money now not later. I have a degree or two working on my Masters still, and some law school, but as further explained in my other post had to stop to fix my supposed DUI, but that is no longer a problem. I may upon completion of my masters finish that to help myself and other vets, but would like to find a job now within the VA to learn its inner workings. I would like to work under the VBA, or be a VSO, or a rater etc. Something that I can at least try to help my fellow vets a little. I know the rater job is under the VBA, but you guys know what I mean. I keep looking on the site usajobs.opm.gov, but can't ever find anything posted. So any help you guys can give would be great. I am willing to relocate if needed. So fire your ideas and knowledge my way please.

REPLY:

Dude you file an SF-171 Form with the
Office Of Personnel Management serving
your area, wait for them to give you
a Job Rating, and then enter the
federal employment system. On the
SF-171 you designate the VA as your
agency of filing choice.

Go into the VA official website
at www.VA.gov and locate the
careers with VA menu and diddle
around with that.

VSO's are who they are. Go to
American Legion or whoever and
tell them you want to apply as
a Claims Rep. End of story.
They are not tied to VA.

Hi Shawn,

The VA is expanding to handle all the Iraq Freedom Vet's claim. Last I heard San Diego will be hiring a bunch of VSRs (Veterans Service Representative) and probably RVSRs (Rating Veterans Service Representative). Just check out USA jobs there should be listings. I advise you not mention this blog in your resume! Lol

John

REPLY #2 TO SHAWN:

Dude, just so you will get your facts
straight, when you work for the VA
agency you do NOT get to "help veterans".
From the day you are on the payroll,
and in each and every way, you represent
the VA Secretary and the system AGAINST
Veterans whether you like it or not.
You actually work for the Office of
General Counsel when it's all said and
done.

So give up your misguided theories
before you start signing all of those
application forms for a job. This
has always been the age-old problem
out here, people getting their information
screwed up and then finding themselves
in an employment-trap that they cannot
get out of.

Well the way I see it, it only take sone to make a diffrence. Look back through history and time. It just takes some with courage to stand up and fight for their rights and others. I'm not saying I'd break the laws because then I couldnt ever finish my life long dream of my law degree. My degree in Political Science though taught me a few things, and one of those is the ability to shke your hand smile and talk to you like your the greatest thing since sliced bread, but at the same time bee slamming you to your face, but it sounds nice. Look what I'm saying is this, everyone here gripes that people get into the VA and they have no degrees, or their stupid. Well I'm not stupid, and I have a couple of pieces of paper. I am very good at interpeting laws and finding their meaning. Also theres always a way to bend things thats not wrong although it may not be exactly right. Don't you get it if I just get the job, and do my job, and not let everyone become a number. They can't fire me when I get there. You are forgetting the main thing about me. I am a blind American, and I became that way because of the stupidty of the U.S.A.F, and that pisses my VOC rehab folks off. I mean the only way theey could fire me if they hired me is if I really done something illegal. As far AS THEY GO IF THEY TRY TO MAKE ME DO SOMETHING ILLEGAL, OR THAT I FILL IS WRONG I WON'T I WILL WALK AWAY. IVE DONE IT ONCE. I was teaching at a private school here in Alabama, and coaching football, I was the defensive coordinator. Well the school wanted me to put teaching second, and football first. Thats wrong and I love football, but football only helps like one percent of folks go to college or get jobs. I called my job guy, and told him what was up, and he said try and work it out. I did, but couldnt there was more too, but I walked away from more than the VA will pay me. I'm guessing the VA will have an at will work contract, meaning either party can get rid of the other at anytime. With no reason or warning etc. Look I'm not going in planning to quit, but I will do things my way, and by the law. I am very goal oriented, and a very hard worker, but I wont be a part of things that I feel are serveing an injustice. So like before I will go there if they offer me a job, and I will make a diffrence. I may not make much of one as far as any of you can tell, but I will be able to come home each day, and lay my head down and sleep fine, and look into the mirror, and feel that I am making aa diffrence again. I need a job that I feel has a meaning, but those are few and far between, but I think helping as many vets as I can would make me feel helpful again. I would like to be a VSO, and I thought they were hired through the agency, but I keep asking the VSO's I know and they wont tell me crap, and the one guy who helped that was a VSO got canned. Anyway I promise I will do all that I can to help the vets. I wont forget. I wont become comfortable, and I wont be led astray. I'm not one that changes at a whim. What I'm saying is we have to start somewhere to make a diffrence.

REPLY:

Forget it Dude. Your are dreaming.
Bigger people than you have tried.
What you are floating is the same
ole we've heard before across the
generations.

Once you are on the payroll, it's
just not your call anymore so get
used to it.

Okay look, Let me put it to you this way. Look I can tell you none bigger has tried. Im giving up getting paid for sitting at home on my ass, and going to school for free. I will be turning down jobs in the private sector making double what the VA has said they pay for the jobs Im looking at. The VA wants me to take their job because then they won't have to pay me the pension, and my appeal has been dragging for seven years now. I could be selfish, and sit here on my butt, and draw right at 4000 a month with a pension because I'm blind, but sitting here how does that help any of you, or any of the ones fighting now. My answer it dosent, but maybe my one voice of reason can start a change. Maybe if one person got in and started trying then others would come forward. You all are right no one man can do anything, but it has to start somewhere. Someone has to take the lead. The diffrence in me and the others is I'm smart enough to know I dont know everything, and that its best to surround yourself with those that can help you to achieve your overall objective. Think of me as a very smart CEO. The reason I say that is because the best are the ones who can admit they dont know everything, and when you look around them they have surrounded themselves with great minds in each field. The same goes for great leaders, and great man. If look around them their are always a wonderful supporting cast. No one person can do this, but it takes one person to start a change a specially when we the people have let the system get this messed up. We all sit here and gripe, but what action do we take. I mean if we the stewards of this govt. and nation had done our job to begin with then the system would have never became this foul. This is the proble with the American society today they dont worry until someone tells them to. I mean we have let the media and the government tell us all is well, and bought into it, and non of us ever thought we would be in this spot now because we bought their propaganda. We let them do away with the labor unions, and the checks and balances. People scream I want less govt., but they need to help the Katarina people etc. Thats asking for what you just said they shouldnt do. Then the unions and thats my pet project. Okay if the unions were still around do you guys realize the economy would be doing great, but the govt., and thier friend big business convienced the American public they were evil, so we the people charged with protecting this great nation said yeah they take my dues etc., and they take my voice and I can talk for me. Opps you know the problem its like Gi Janes problem the average person is to scared of the aftermath of their actions to speak up. Then the problem goes unchecked and continues to grow and snowball until you have the monster we have to fight today. The good ole boy system. Thats the basics of it from start to finish. I left a bunch out, but thats the meat. The simple problem is Americans by trying to make their own decisions gave up their biggest assest against the system a unified voice. That voice was large and it spoke for the group not just one, and we all know punishing the group as a whole is a lot harder than one person. One is weak a group is strong. We are all vets whats the saying divide and conquer the oldest trick in the book. Why do you think they want so many agenices with their hands in the pot because it cause internal conflict which means we argue among ourselves, and let the real enemy laugh while taking our money all the way to the bank. The biggest problem is its growing from one agency to all the others last week one of the cities in good ole bama was trying to avoid having to use the employment agency to hire folks, so they could hand pick who they wanted for the job. Do you seee its up to us the vets. We've fought once for our country and the rights we love for everyone else, and this is the same fight again. It may be a simple battle that others might see as our fight for personal gain, but its not its a fight for our rights, and the rights of all the citizens of this great nation.

Dude with all due respect, you are delusional.
Your first mistake in this is failed
and incorrect "assumption" that somehow
Veterans are not represented is because
"nobody has tried" before you. Get a clue,
I say.

Nobody is going to "follow you" when
you are hired, trust me. I am a former
VA employee from the Central Office
in Washington and here lies the problem
in this arena. Some of you think you
know it all and are too quick to argue
with those of us who have Been There,
Done That.

Shed yourself of your delusions, Dude
because you are royally misreading this
situation. If you wanna work for the
VA then go for it, but don't do it
under some False Pretense that you
are doing it in the name of Veterans.
The system won't let you go there.

Do it because you need money, because
you need to help yourself, and because
you can do any job no matter how lousy,
and still make a living for yourself.

But leave the name and honor of Veterans
out of it because we are older than
you are, and know the ropes and we
absolutely Do know when we see a
misguided delusion when we see one.

So go for your job and best wishes.
In all ways you will be representing
the system and not us.

Okay, so the only way I can be fighting for the name of the vets is to do what sit on here and gripe. I mean I have worked my way into this system. I have done my time in service, and done my time getting shafted, and I have the education to help make a diffrence. I know their has been many before me. I know I owe them the small rights I have. I think you miss understand me. I owe everything I have to vets like you, and the fights you have fought. I am only trying to help our cause move forward. I am in a local theater group in North Alabama where all the state reps, and congressman go etc. Thats how I have become friends with state reps, and etc. I have friends from law school. My uncle is a judge, and now is our time. Now we have the American public behind us for once they arent associating us vets with the bureacracy of the US govt. I know this and hold it dear and true. I can't tell you one vet who is there fighting for the political side of the war. We all fought for the one common thing us vets have, our own reasons, usually family and the idea of our kids can grow up in the society we all know and love. I'm guessing most of you are like me, we had no problems until we became vets. I mean I was fine in service I was a golden boy until I had that wreck. I made every rank early, and had an academy slot, but then fate got into my way, but I have no complaints excpet the VA. I mean if things hadnt worked out this way I wouldnt have my two most precious gifts of my little boy, and girl.I will change the system if its from the inside or the outside I will be cog in the wheel of change. My degree I got for my overall objective of law school, but also because I liked politics, and wanted to help my fellow vet. I have since my accident, and the shafting I recieved have become a person that wants to help in any small way that I can to better the system for my loved ones. I admit I'm doing it so the ones I know can directly benefit, but I'm doing it in a way so the group as a whole will benefit. Everyone of us have our own selfish reasons, and that no one can question, but here again I say I wont take a job that goes against my principles and values. I wont help the rich get richer at the poors expense. I am that guy. As Arron Tippin says you have to stand for something or you'll fall for anything. I have a long line of military lineage in my family, and I repect each and every vet. I know without their sacrafice I wouldnt have what little I do now. So disillusioned no, but big dreams yes. I just want to leave my stamp, my foot print, my way of helping make it easier for the next vet. All you guys have had that, or you wouldnt be here now would you. I'm trying to learn from you guys, so I can help to further the cause. I know this much as I said great leaders always surround themselves by great minds in every field, and they also learn from others mistakes. With that I see you guys have more you havent shared. Look I want to help our plight if thats by lobbying done. Working from the inside done. I'm telling you I am a man of my convictions. Thats why I have turned down jobs, and walked away from others. I just want to do what I can to further our issues.

REPLY:

Dude you can get a regular day job
like everybody else and then either
join a VSO or Stakeholders group like
this one and become a part time Activist.
In order to be either good or effective
at it you will, in all ways, have to
travel to Washington during the year
to work Capitol Hill, and no, there is
no support money for that. More often
than not, it comes out of you and nobody
else like the rest of us.

Dude, what the hell do you think we
are all doing right here now ??

You are going to do what you want
because you are a big Know It All
and have it stuck in your head that
entire generations of us have never
tried to do anything at all from
internal at the VA. Get over yourself
I say. But all I am saying here now
is that you are In For A Rude Awakening
because from the day you step onto
the VA agency payroll, you are sworn
to represent the VA Secretary and
the Office of General Counsel and
NOT "veterans". They have had the
same employment trap in place for my
entire lifetime and nothing has
changed.

You can try and hold out for a job
at either at the House or Senate
Veterans Affairs Committee, but be warned,
other employees have just started new
jobs there and are not likely to leave
for a few years from now.

These are your slim choices or you
can just move on and get a day job
like everybody else. You have sold
yourself a delusion which is simply
not real, so "public support" means
nothing out here if your facts
are wrong to start with. The public
will back anything as long it sounds
great. If it's not real, and not
possible, then that is a Whole other
matter.

You need to spend more time reading
Title 38 law and find out just how
much the agency itself rotates around
the world of the VA Secretary. You
have this "notion" going on that you
are going to come in and set your
own agenda, and people are going to
join forces with you and all of this
other nonsense.

The labor union will control you,
and the system is always on the
lookout for your kind. Here is
your future: no promotions, no pay
raises, and a desk in the basement
near leaky pipes and away from the
other employees until you eventually
resign. Then, nothing but "complaint"
problems from the other employees,
all of which are trumped up of course,
followed by a Labor Union who will
then hassle you until you resign.
End of story.

So get used to it because that is
where you are headed with your
delusions about working at the VA.

Hi Sue,

I agree with you about how the VA treats their employees. They are on the look out for anyone who wants to make changes. When I first started with the VA, Mark would ask if anyone had any suggestions on how to improve the system. This was used primarily to flush out the creative thinker and those who might actually have something to offer. At meetings management would always ask if anyone has anything to add or any questions. At first I would actually participate until I realized that they were asking rhetorically. They don't give a rat's ass about employees opinion and or suggestions. They only want to find out who the free thinkers are and then squelch them.

Working for several federal agencies, I can say that the VA (at least in San Diego) don't care about making any improvements unless you are chosen to make improvements. I'm used to having my employer's (Federal or Private) embrace my ability to utilize the computer to simplify and improve the work flow. Having returned to USCIS and my former office, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that they are still making use of the various utilities I created and asked me if I could whip up something to help with reports and adjudication.


John Tucker

REPLY TO JOHN TUCKER:

Thank you, John. They all needed to
hear this directly from the source
because I am the "same ole" here
at this website and they like to
hear from other people as well.
You are describing exactly what I
left behind at Central Office in
Washington back in the 70's. I
have said 1 million times here to
the audience, "at the VA, it's all
about THEM!" so you have summed
it up perfectly.

You made a real contribution here
to the audience by coming forward
with this statement. Thank you.

I think your intentions are noble. There are many good people at the VA. There are many caring people who help veterans on a daily basis in a variety of roles. With any organization, there is always room for improvement.

The best way to find a VA job is to look on www.usajobs.gov and search for the VHA or VBA. Most are VHA jobs and will require some background in medicine or health care. There are many VBA jobs as well located in regional offices. These jobs range from GS-5 file clerks to GS-11 VSRs. Veterans will always receive a priority in hiring. Don't forget you also have the National Cemetaries, the BVA/AMC, and the VA administrative departments, but those represent much fewer jobs.

The fact is, some people have been treated so poorly by the VA that nothing short of an immediate grant of 200% service connected disability, 53 years of retroactive payment, and the execution of the entire VA workforce will change their mind. Unless good people get in the system and change the reality of the VA, new veterans will have a similarly negative opinion of the VA.

You are better off taking the www.nvo.org online course for service officers. Go to http://www.nvo.org/nso_become.html for more info. NVO is, or at least was, very aggressive in its stance against the VA. I plan to take the course myself this summer. I have already helped 4 veterans get thier claims up into the 100% range and I plan to help even more once we move back to the east coast.

I agree working FOR the VA is pissing in the wind.

White vets need not apply for VA nor any other jobs with the U.S. Gvernment. We all owe the po slaves everything! The Equal Employment Opportunity COmmission in D.C. will let you know that. THe blacks and Mexicans rule!

Compliments of the Obama Administration