[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
[March 8, 1991]
[Pages 228-229]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Memorandum on the Return of Desert Shield/Desert Storm Participants to 
Federal Civilian Employment
March 8, 1991

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

Subject: Return of Desert Shield/Desert Storm Participants to Federal 
Civilian Employment

    Now that our Armed Forces and their Coalition partners have achieved 
success in meeting our military objectives in the Gulf region, we can 
look forward to the return of the valiant men and women who participated 
in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
    Many of these participants are members of the Reserve Forces and the 
Air and Army National Guard who left their regular civilian employment 
to join in this national effort, with great disruption to their families 
and their normal pursuits. In recognition of the sacrifices they have 
made, it is essential that their civilian employers do everything 
possible to ease their return to civilian life.
    The Federal Government has always been a model for other employers 
in the protections and benefits provided for those who serve, and I am 
committed to ensuring that we continue to set an example for the Nation 
in this regard. Accordingly, I have determined that the following 
actions by executive departments and agencies are appropriate:


[[Page 229]]


    --Military reservists and members of the Air and Army National Guard 
        who are returning to their Federal civilian employment should be 
        restored to the same jobs they left, and the legal flexibility 
        of placement in equivalent jobs should be used only when 
        absolutely necessary.
    --Desert Shield/Desert Storm participants who are returning to their 
        Federal civilian employment should be afforded 5 days of excused 
        absence from their duties, without charge to leave.
    --Federal employees who have served in the Armed Forces during this 
        emergency and who qualify for retirement may do so without 
        returning to their civilian employment under 5 U.S.C. 8332(g).

    The Office of Personnel Management will be issuing guidance on these 
matters, and I urge the heads of executive departments and agencies to 
take all necessary action to provide for prompt implementation.
    As our regular troops return, we can expect many to be seeking 
civilian employment in the future. I am directing the Office of 
Personnel Management to take such actions as are appropriate, in 
cooperation with executive departments and agencies, to ensure that 
Federal civilian employment opportunities are made available to the 
greatest extent possible to these veterans, particularly those who have 
become disabled as a result of their military service. This will assist 
not only the veterans, but also the Federal Government, which will be 
able to benefit from their skills and abilities.
    Finally, we must all recognize the many contributions that have been 
made to our successful military operations by Federal civilian 
employees, both in the Department of Defense and elsewhere in the 
Government. I urge the heads of executive departments and agencies to 
recognize these accomplishments and to use fully the Federal employee 
incentive awards program for this purpose.

                                                             George Bush