Second Muster

No exact number? A careful estimate is fine ("about 30%"), as long as you can explain it in an interview.

Highlighted words were changed. Read it once more before you paste it: the swap is a starting point, and your own wording will be sharper.

What hiring managers look for

• Lead with a strong verb: led, managed, trained, reduced, built.
• Give numbers: team size, dollar value of equipment, percent improvement, hours saved.
• Drop rank and unit names; say "team of 12" and "organization of 600" instead.
• Mention your security clearance near the top if it's still active. Many employers pay more for it.
• Tailor each resume to the job posting. Mirror the posting's key terms.

How federal veteran hiring works

• Veterans' preference puts eligible veterans ahead of other applicants: generally 5 points, or 10 points with a service-connected disability. Upload your DD-214 (Member 4 copy). For 10-point preference, also upload an SF-15 and your VA disability letter.
• VRA (Veterans Recruitment Appointment) lets an agency hire an eligible veteran directly, without a competitive process, up to GS-11 or equivalent.
• 30% or more disabled veteran authority lets an agency hire a veteran with a 30%+ service-connected rating directly.
• VEOA lets eligible veterans apply to jobs normally open only to current federal employees.
• Keep your federal resume to 2 pages. USAJOBS no longer considers longer resumes. Tailor it to the job announcement's qualifications.

Add an application

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Disability compensation

• Still serving? File 180 to 90 days before separation through Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) to get a decision faster, often soon after you get out.
• Already out and not ready to file? Submit an Intent to File first. You then have 1 year to finish your claim, and if it's approved, back pay can start from the Intent to File date.
• Collect your service treatment records, private medical records and buddy statements before you file.

Toxic exposure (PACT Act)

The PACT Act expanded VA health care and benefits for veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, Gulf War hazards, radiation and other toxins. Many conditions are now presumed to be caused by service, so you don't have to prove the link. Enrolled veterans can ask for a free toxic exposure screening at any VA facility.

Common state benefits include property tax exemptions, free or reduced college tuition, reduced hunting and fishing licenses, veteran license plates and driver's license designations, state veterans homes and cemeteries, and state job preference. Your county veterans service officer can help you apply for free.

The biggest savings come from federal benefits most veterans don't know they have. Retail discounts change often, so confirm the details at checkout.

Proving you're a veteran

• In stores: a Veteran ID Card, VA Health ID Card, or a driver's license with a veteran designation. You shouldn't need to carry your DD-214.
• Online: most retailers verify through ID.me, SheerID or GovX ID. All three are free for veterans, and verifying once often unlocks discounts at many stores.
• Always ask "Do you offer a military discount?" Many local businesses do but don't advertise it.
• Veterans Day (November 11): many restaurants and stores offer free meals or extra discounts. Offers change every year, so check the week before.

Most VA care happens at community-based outpatient clinics (over 1,100 nationwide), so there's likely one closer than the medical centers listed here. The VA locator shows every clinic with current hours and phone numbers. Always check it before you go: facility names and services change.

Getting care

• Not enrolled yet? Apply for VA health care online at VA.gov or by phone at 877-222-8387.
• Too far from a VA facility or long wait? Ask your VA care team about Community Care, which pays for care from a local provider.
• Urgent but not an emergency? Enrolled veterans can use in-network urgent care clinics. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest ER.
• General VA questions: call MyVA411 at 800-698-2411, 24/7.

Second Muster saves your job tracker, timeline checklist and settings only on this phone or computer. Nothing is sent to us. Download a backup file to keep it safe, or to move it to a new device.

Veterans who are homeless or about to lose housing, and people calling for them, get connected to their local VA for emergency housing, rent help and legal support. VA homeless programs ↗

Planning to share your GI Bill with a spouse or child? The transfer must be approved while you are still serving.

A muster is a roll call: everyone accounted for. Getting out of the military is a second muster. You still need to know where you're headed and who has your back. Second Muster puts the tools for that in one free place.

• Free for good. No ads, no account, no paywall. Donations cover the costs.
• Your info stays on your device. Nothing you type is sent to us or sold. See the privacy page.
• Checked against official sources. Job codes are matched to the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET Military Crosswalk. Benefit links go straight to VA.gov and other official sites. Every link was last checked on .
• Built with veterans. Changes come from people who use it. Tell us what's wrong or missing.