The FAR Councils have adopted a final rule [pdf] revising the categories of veterans protected by federal equal opportunity laws. The rule updates the FAR to reflect Department of Labor regulations addressing equal opportunity requirements for veterans. The FAR amendments identify four categories of veterans: disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, armed forces service medal veterans, and other protected veterans. The category of “Vietnam-era veteran” has been formally removed from the FAR. The revised FAR rule also formally adopts the VETS-100A form, which DOL regulations already require of federal contractors. The final rule makes only technical changes to the interim rule [pdf] published in September 2010. If you haven’t updated the veteran classifications in your policies and affirmative action plans, now is a good time to do so.
