> GS 7 and walk through the steps as normal for that role, jump to a higher GS via a job change/similar.

If that’s the case, then they should approximately never get applicants who could also get private sector jobs.

I wonder if they are targeting vets who got a small amount of programming under their belt while serving… or something like that.

Not even being a 7/9/11 for an in demand technical area (esp. if in the DC area) strikes me as extremely short-sighted.