(WARNING - NOT VETERAN FRIENDLY EMPLOYER LIKE THEY CLAIM) Applied online in August 2016, got called in for a hiring session on December 15th 2016. Very specific instructions on where to be, what time, how to dress, and what to bring. Do not be late, they will turn you away, there was a big snow storm the day I went, and one of the guys bragged that they turned away 20 people that were late due to the weather. After a presentation they have you take a test, if you pass you get an interview. I waited about an hour and then got called in. The interview was easy, I was a 4.0 sailor in the Navy, had my entire record with me, with all my evals, awards, dd214, etc., had an answer for every question they asked, slam dunk, got an email back that night with a conditional offer. I then went in for a brief medical exam and drug test about 10 days later, no problem, and then I had to go up to a NS police station in Cleveland to sign some papers for a background check, again, no problem. So I do not hear anything for about two weeks then I receive an email from NS medical department asking me for letters and documents from the VA about my service connected disabilities (during the medical exam they gave a form to fill out that asked if you receive any VA or SS benefits, I did disclose my VA compensation - BAD IDEA). So anyways, the lady sending the email also sent an attached letter that asked for letters from my VA providers or outside doctors stating that I could perform the tasks of the job with no restrictions. Having a 1st class FAA medical exam & pilot's license, and also a Class A CDL & medical card, I have been down this road before with trying to get letters/ statements from VA doctors before, it is pretty much impossible, the VA normally does not allow doctors to sign statements that could put liability back on the VA for any reason. So, I responded to the NS lady and told her this, she replied, no problem and rewrote the letter for my past three years of medical records from the VA instead. No problem, I went to my local VA clinic, signed a release of information, and they faxed them all of my records and notes from the past 3 years on everything. So a few days later, the NS lady replies asking for more documents for my VA disabilities, I reply with "we sent you everything you requested, what else do you need?" We go back and forth for 2 weeks when she finally says they need my active-military medical records, (even though these go back almost 10 years ago vs. the 3 years that her letter stated). So, I have these records at home, I take the time to scan 120 pages on my home scanner and email them. I wait a few more weeks, she again asks me if I sent everything, I replied yes, then she ask me again for statements from the VA, so we are right back where we started 6 weeks ago.... I again explained to her that the VA will not provide these, and referred to the letter she wrote me stating 3 years of records would be ok (which I sent 10 years of records). I did not get a response, and I sent an email about a week later asking for an update on my case, no response. So, I get home today and have a letter in the mail from NS, it states that my conditional offer has been rescinded because I did not provide all requested documentation in a timely and complete manner, but I do not think that is the case. I think this company does not want to hire any veterans with a service-connected disability such as PTSD or if you have even had a short-term knee or back strain ten years ago, with no issues since. In my case, I cannot see how I can deemed physically and mentally qualified to hold a commercial pilot's license, and also pass a CDL DOT physical, but I am supposedly not qualified to be a conductor with Norfolk Southern. I am 5'11", 160 lbs, low blood pressure, ect., if I am not qualified for this job, who is?? I call B.S. So, from my experience, if you are a veteran with service-connected disabilities, get ready for a 2 to 3 month long rollercoaster ride, jumping through hoops and wasting your time running around sending in records that will not matter, they will not take you anyways. Their CEO is a lawyer, I am guessing that saying that "I did not send all the records in as requested" is a legal way to discriminate service-connected disabled veterans, even though myself and my local VA sent in everything they asked for, over 300 pages of records. My advice, don't waste your time.
