I get it now….

So…

I am in the process or becoming a VA volunteer. I wanted to help people who need help, and it seemed like a good way to do that.

But like…i had no idea that even just being an unpaid volunteer meant becoming a federal employee and getting a full DCSA/NBIS background check lol.

So far i have…

Filled out a 306 and a bunch of other paperwork.

Been photographed and fingerprinted (for the first time in my life).

Had multiple interviews.

Waited weeks for the right electronic paperwork to show up in my inbox.

Filled out a complete SF85 which was way more involved than any job application i have ever filled out.

And i still have left:

Physical exam w tb screen.

Drug test.

Probably more stuff.

This process has taken months lol.

Once I complete this I will be driving a van, making sure that veterans and/or service members get to the hospital for their appointments. I have a literal perfect 30 year driving record so they told me that’s where they wanted me to help.

All my life i have heard the jokes about the federal government and also the VA and how slow things moved, but I assumed it was mostly over exaggerated.

Now i get it.

My hats off to all of you federal employees, i am sure you probably had to jump through even more hoops than i did.