FORT BELVOIR, Virginia –
If you have been a Defense Department employee for any amount of time, you’re probably familiar with the DoD Priority Placement Program.
The program provides qualified DoD employees an opportunity to be placed in vacant DoD positions.
“The key for employees is communicating through management their interest for consideration of positons and how priority placement can help them,” said Darcy Hall, DLA Energy Manpower & Workforce Analysis director.
Energy has several employees overseas without return rights who will register in priority placement when their tour is coming to an end, Hall said.
The automated mandatory placement program is governed by the Defense Civilian Personnel Advisory Service, managed by Civilian Transition Administrator, Staffing and Civilian Transition Programs Division.
There are several eligible priority categories that employees can register through.
This includes employees being separated or demoted by a reduction in force; employees being separated as a result of declining positions outside the commuting area under transfer of function or management-directed reassignment; employees serving under grade retention; military spouses and various types of family members and certain separating military reserve and National Guard technicians, said Lora Crowder, a human resources specialist in DLA Human Resources.
Administrative officials for the program establish priority consideration for each category of affected individuals based on guidance provided in the DoD PPP Handbook.
For example, employees who are affected by RIF or those who are furloughed for more than 30 consecutive days are provided the highest priority, known as Priority 1, Crowder said. Priority 1 registrants don’t need to apply for positions because they are mandatorily matched with vacancies throughout DoD. Employees are assigned to Priority 2 and 3 categories on a case by case basis.
For DLA Energy employees returning from overseas assignments, a Priority 2 may be given if all of the criteria within the DoD Priority Placement Handbook are met.
In most situations, employees are required to register for their current occupational series and up to four other types of jobs, but only if the servicing human resources office confirms the employee is well qualified.
The program is automated through the Automated Stopper and Referral System. Human Resources specialists are required to load all personnel actions into the referral system. The system determines if there is a match. Depending on assigned priority, employee resumes are then referred to the hiring official for consideration.
Management must select Priority 1 and 2 candidates who are well qualified for a vacancy. However, there are situations in which Priority 3 candidates are not mandatory selections.
Overseas employment of family members does not fall under the DoD Priority Placement Program. Employment opportunities for family members of military members and civilian employees stationed in foreign areas are governed under DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 1232.
“The DoD instruction for employment of family member is different in that a family member can apply for a position they qualify for and in some cases be provided employment preference for mandatory selection,” Crowder said.
The guidance on employment of overseas family members states overseas commanders shall maximize to the greatest extent possible employment opportunities available to family members stationed in foreign areas.
For more information about the Priority Placement Program, visit the
Office of Personnel Management, or the
DoD Priority Placement Program Handbook.
DLA Energy employees with questions about the Priority Placement Program can contact their
servicing DLA Human Resources office.