(a) Non-competitive eligibility is a status attained by an individual such that the individual is eligible for appointment by a Federal agency in the Executive branch, into a civil service position in the federal competitive service, in accordance with 5 CFR 315.605.

(b) An individual who successfully completes at least a year-long term of service as a VISTA, and who has not been terminated for cause from the VISTA program at any time, retains non-competitive eligibility status for one year following the end of the term of service as a VISTA.

(c) In addition to the retention of the one year of non-competitive eligibility status as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, an individual's non-competitive eligibility status may extend for two more years to a total of three years if the individual is:

(1) In the military service;

(2) Studying at a recognized institution of higher learning; or

(3) In another activity which, in the view of the federal agency referenced in paragraph (a) of this section, warrants extension.