scope:

This Instruction:

1. Applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the Military Departments, the Joint Staff, the Unified and Specified Commands, the Inspector General of the Department of Defense (IG, DoD), the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), and the Defense Agencies (hereafter referred to collectively as "DoD Components")

2. Provides worldwide employment preference for spouses of active duty military members of the U.S. Armed Forces applying and referred for certain appropriated fund positions in the excepted and competitive services in the DoD Components at grade level GS- or GM-15 and below, or equivalent wage system positions.

3. Provides worldwide employment preference in the nonappropriated fund (NAF) personnel system for spouses of military members for NAF positions in all employment categories at grade level UA-8 and below and equivalent positions, and for positions paid at hourly rates.

4. Provides spouse employment preference reciprocally across DoD Component lines for positions in the same commuting area as that of the new duty station of the military sponsor.

5. Does not apply to the National Security Agency (NSA), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), or to those other organizations in the DoD Components that have as a primary function intelligence, counterintelligence, or national security.

6. Does not apply to the employment of educators with the DoD Dependents Schools System. Spouse applicants for educator positions with this system shall be given preference in accordance with DoD Directive 1400.13 (reference (e)).

7. Does not apply to fill actions involving full performance level competitive service positions covered by mandatory mobility agreements.

8. Does not apply to fill actions when such actions would detract from ongoing equal opportunity programs; i.e., when programs for achievement of minority and gender equality, programs for persons with disabilities, or programs for affirmative employment of veterans, including disabled veterans, would be adversely affected.

9. Does not apply in situations involving statutory or regulatory entitlements; e.g., placement entitlements stemming from reemployment rights, grade retention rights, and rights conferred by court decisions.

10. Does not apply when preference, if afforded, would violate statutes or regulations on veterans' preference or nepotism.

11. Does not apply when preference, if afforded, would result in displacement of a current employee of the activity.

12. Does not apply when preference, if afforded, would prevent placement of a highly qualified overseas returnee registrant of the DoD Priority Placement Program or a registrant at program priority levels one or two.

13. Does not apply following placement of the spouse of a military member into any continuing DoD position at the new duty location; i.e., following entry on duty in a position expected to continue for at least 1 year in either the appropriated or NAF work force, whether or not preference was applied.

14. Does not apply to a permanent change of station move that is in conjunction with the retirement or separation of the military member.