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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDecent Paying Federal Jobs That Disabled Vets And Vets Used To Do Contracted Out.
At one time the federal government hired vets and disabled vet in decent paying federal jobs. These were jobs that workers could do without having advanced education or degrees. And they were necessary in the services area of the federal government. And many disabled vets used to do these jobs and regular vets also filled these positions. These jobs were vital to the care and maintenance of our federal facilities.
With the advent of Reagan and particularly under Bush most of these jobs have been contracted out and the pay reduced to minimum wage with no benefits. That cleaner, janitor, custodian, maintenance worker, carpenter, plumber, security officer, etc are now contractors who qualify for food stamps as long as they pee in a cup.
A lot of vets filled mid level and even high level jobs with the federal government. They worked in all areas and agencies of the federal government. Even many of these jobs are contracted and many more will be.
THE REAL TRUTH is that private employers do NOT want vets disabled or otherwise. That is because they carry too much baggage. And they are risk for higher costs. Besides they were in the military that had full benefits. And these vets might want or need benefits.
I am a vet and I remember being told that vets were not preferred employees and that was back in 1968. And when I did get a job with the state government vets were resented because they got extra civil service points. It was like we were lepers.
And when I was released from service in 1969 the only jobs a lot of disabled vet could get were state or federal jobs and thousands were hired and made good long term employees.
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AnalystInParadise
(1,832 posts)I am a mildly disabled vet (retired) that works for a Defense Contractor doing the job of an Army Captain on an Army base. I make more than the Federal GS that was there before me. Our entire building as well as most of the buildings here on Huachuca are staffed by people like me. Veterans who took these contract position because they pay better than the Federal positions that existed beforehand. You make it seem like contracting is evil, I can point you to hundreds of thousands of veterans around the country working in contracted positions that are happier now then they were as Federal employees. In many cases contractors make more, job security is less, but with the proliferation of contracts, if you don't like your current job, go find another one.
I have a coworker that got out in 2002 right after 9/11 and he has jumped contract 9 times in 12 years, each time getting a larger pay raise and more responsibility. He is now in charge of a huge team and he still works for a GS-13, but the 13 is an old codger that doesn't know much, so basically my friend is running a multi-million dollar program as a contractor. I am very happy for this job and would only go for a Federal job if there was nothing else available, the GS positions don't pay well enough.
