History of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training (OASVET)

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training (OASVET) was established by Secretary's Order No. 5-81 in December 1981. The Assistant Secretary position was created by P.L. 96-466 in October 1980, to replace the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment position created by P.L. 94-502 in October 1976. The bipartisan Congressional intent was to establish leadership of the Department's programs for services to veterans at the policy-making level, and thereby help to ensure that Congressional mandates for "an effective (1) job and job training counseling service program, (2) employment placement service program, and (3) job training placement service program for eligible veterans" are carried out by the Department of Labor.