5 U.S.C. § 3311
Preference eligibles; examinations; crediting experience
In examinations for the competitive service in which experience is an element of qualification, a preference eligible is entitled to credit—
(1)
for service in the armed forces when his employment in a similar vocation to that for which examined was interrupted by the service; and
(2)
for all experience material to the position for which examined, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether he received pay therefor.
( Pub. L. 89–554 , Sept. 6, 1966 , 80 Stat. 420 .)