Veterans' Resources

Book about Veteran Benefits on a desk.

Welcome to the Veterans' Resources Page! Here you can find useful information for
protecting the hiring, employment, and reemployment rights of veterans in your bargaining unit.

OPM Veterans Guidebook

Veterans Health Care Programs

What is USERRA?

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) is the Federal law that establishes rights and responsibilities for members of the National Guard and Reserve and their civilian employers. USERRA affects employment, reemployment, employment benefits and retention in employment, when employees serve or have served in the uniformed services.

USERRA for Service Members

The law applies to all public and private employers in the U.S. regardless of size. Providing that the service member meets all criteria, USERRA requires employersto provide the following:

  • The employer had advance notice of the employee's service
  • The employee returns to work in accordance with USERRA guidelines
  • The service member has not been separated from service with a disqualifying discharge or under other than honorable conditions

USERRA for Employers

In general, if the employee is absent from a position of civilian employment by reason of service in the uniformed services, he or she is eligible for reemployment under USERRA by meeting the following criteria:

  • Allow employees to perform military service
  • Prompt reinstatement back into job following military service
  • Gain seniority, including pension benefits
  • Reinstatement of health insurance
  • Training or retraining of job skills, including accommodations for disabled
  • Protection against discrimination

ESGR Resources

NFFE is a proud supporter of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office dedicated to protecting the employment rights of national guard and reserve personnel nationwide. As proponents of the guard, reserve, and active duty military, NFFE and ESGR have partnered up to raise awareness about these brave men and women's rights and ensure that no one has to risk their job in order to serve their country.

Printable Handouts


USERRA Fact Sheet

Helpful Tips for Employers

Helpful Tips for Service Members

Employer Resources Guide

Sample Letters and Forms

Consent to Release

Sample Notification Letter

Sample Reemployment Letter

Sample Letter from Commander to Employer

Sample Letter from Commander to Employer (reemployment)