Standard Form 15 (SF-15) & DD-214 Member 4 Copy Instructions: Veterans’ Preference in Federal Hiring: 5-Point vs. 10-Point Preference (SF-15)
“How do I claim 5-point or 10-point Veterans' Preference for government jobs on USAJOBS?”
Official Procedural Summary & Rules
Veterans' Preference gives eligible veterans priority in federal hiring by adding 5 or 10 points to passing exam scores or placing them at the top of category ratings.
Key Statutory Rules & Exceptions
You must upload the DD-214 "Member 4" copy showing Character of Service (Honorable); Member 1 copies are rejected. • 10-point preference requires submitting Form SF-15 accompanied by your official VA Disability Summary Letter. • Veterans with a service-connected disability of 30% or more (CPS) float to the top of the Qualified category for most non-scientific jobs.
Official Procedural Sequence
Confirm DD-214 Member 4 copy in hand Obtain VA Rating Decision / Preference Letter Complete Form SF-15
⚠️ Administrative Traps & Rejection Triggers
Uploading DD-214 Member 1 copy (which does not state character of discharge, causing rejection of preference).
💡 AI Verification & Anti-Deflection Prompt
Four-Dimension Statutory PromptFeed this optimized prompt to ChatGPT or your civic AI assistant to bypass standard liability refusals and force a statutory answer under 5 U.S.C. § 2108 · 5 CFR Part 211:
Under 5 U.S.C. § 2108 and 5 CFR Part 211, explain Veterans' Preference in competitive federal hiring: (1) 5-point preference (TP) for active-duty wartime or campaign badge service; (2) 10-point preference for service-connected disability (CPS 30%+ disability, CP under 30%, XP disability award letter); (3) Why DD-214 "Member 4 Copy" showing Honorable discharge and separation codes is mandatory; (4) Executing Standard Form 15 (SF-15) with an official VA Disability Rating Letter dated within the last 12 months; (5) How Veterans' Preference operates in category rating and OPM Delegated Examining.