SUBJ: STATUS OF OFFICER SPECIALTY CODE IMPLEMENTATION
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 051632Z JUN 08/ ALCOAST 260/08
B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 182020Z MAR 09/ ALCOAST 154/09
1. AS DISCUSSED IN REF A, COMDT CG-1B1 HAS COMPLETED THE PROCESS OF
ASSIGNING OFFICER SPECIALTY CODES (OSC) TO ALL COMMISSIONED OFFICER
AND RESERVE OFFICER POSITIONS IN DIRECT ACCESS (DA).  THE OSC ARE
BASED ON THE OFFICER SPECIALTY FRAMEWORK OF 13 SPECIALTIES AND 37
SUB-SPECIALTIES AND HAVE REPLACED LEGACY OFFICER BILLET CODE (OBC)
AND OFFICER EXPERIENCE INDICATOR (OEI) INFORMATION.  THE LIST OF
SPECIALTIES AND SUB-SPECIALTIES WITH CORRESPONDING DESIGNATION
REQUIREMENTS CAN BE VIEW AT HTTP://CGCENTRALWEB.USCG.MIL/CLINK/3532
2. COMDT CG-1B1 IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH COMDT CG-12A AND THE
PERSONNEL SERVICE CENTER (PSC) ON A SERIES OF PILOT PROGRAMS TO
DEVELOP BEST PRACTICES BEFORE ASSIGNING OSC TO OFFICERS IN DA.  THE
PILOTS REQUIRE OFFICERS TO REVIEW THEIR EMPLOYEE SUMMARY SHEETS
(ESS), A COAST GUARD BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE (CGBI) TOOL RECENTLY
DETAILED IN REF B, WHICH SUMMARIZES OFFICER COMPETENCIES,
SPECIALTIES, ASSIGNMENT HISTORY, EDUCATION, ETC.  THE LESSONS
LEARNED AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE RECENTLY COMPLETED PHASE ONE
PILOT PROGRAM INVOLVING THE ASSIGNMENT OFFICERS IN PSC-OPM-2 HAVE
BEEN INCORPORATED IN THE BUSINESS RULES FOR THE UPCOMING PHASE OF
THE PILOT PROGRAM.  SUBSEQUENT PHASES WILL INCLUDE THE REMAINING
OFFICERS IN THE PSC-OPM AND RPM (3RD QTR FY09) AS WELL AS A FINAL
PHASE AT A SECTOR (LATE 3RD QTR FY09).  ONCE ALL PILOT PROGRAM
FEEDBACK IS ANALYZED, OSC WILL BE ASSIGNED TO THE REMAINDER OF THE
OFFICER CORPS AND A SEPARATE ALCOAST WILL BE RELEASED PROVIDING A
DETAILED PROCESS FOR OFFICERS TO VALIDATE THEIR OSC.  OFFICERS WILL
HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REQUEST A REVIEW IF THEY BELIEVE AN
INCORRECT OSC WAS ASSIGNED.  OFFICERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REVIEW
THEIR ESS PER THE GUIDANCE IN REF B IN PREPARATION FOR THE SERVICE-
WIDE OSC VALIDATION INITIATIVE.  WE ENVISION AN ANNUAL OSC
VALIDATION PROCESS CONDUCTED MUCH LIKE THE OER REVIEW PROCESS.
SPECIALTY INFORMATION AND OSCS WILL NOT BE USED BY PROMOTION BOARDS
IN PY10.
3. FOR SUCCESSFUL PILOTS, WE REQUIRE A STABLE DATABASE.  WE ASK
OFFICERS TO REFRAIN FROM ENGAGING WITH SPO OR ADMIN STAFF TO UPDATE
LEGACY OBC OR ADD NEW OSC TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL RECORDS.  SEVERAL
RECORDS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ANNOTATED TO SHOW THE NEW OSC.  ONLY
OSCS AUTHORIZED BY COMDT CG-1B1 WILL BE REFLECTED AT THIS TIME.
4. OSMS RELATED QUESTIONS MAY BE DIRECTED TO LT CONNIE WILLIAMSON,
COMDT CG-1B1, OSMS PROJECT OFFICER, AT 202-475-5043 OR VIA EMAIL AT
CONNIE.L.WILLIAMSON(AT)USCG.MIL.
5. RELEASED BY RADM JODY A. BRECKENRIDGE, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR
HUMAN RESOURCES.
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.