flapperhead

I work for a VA. Your active time will count towards federal employment as far as retirement goes- and that's OLNY if you buy those years back. There's a handbook HR will give you and certainly you can ask questions. Its something you have to pursue. Its not automatic. As to seniority and pay- definitely not seniority. Pay gets tricky but you should prepare yourself to come in on the lower end of the pay band.

This. So much this.

agreed. unfortunately. This. I work at the VA in SLC and there is a union there because it's federal.