R 312212Z JUL 09 ALCOAST 445/09 COMDTNOTE 1223 SUBJ: LATERAL SELECTION PROCESS FOR MARITIME ENFORCEMENT SPECIALIST (ME) RATING AND MARITIME LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY SPECIALIST (MLES) CWO SPECIALTY A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 232106Z JUN 08, ALL HANDS B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 201611Z AUG 08, ALL HANDS C. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 102013Z JUN 09, ALCOAST 348/09 D. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 162345Z JUL 09, ALCOAST 409/09 E. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 162346Z JUL 09, ALCOAST 410/09 F. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 162356Z JUL 09, ALCOAST 411/09 G. PERSONNEL SECURITY AND SUITABILITY PROGRAM, COMDTINST M5520.12 (SERIES) H. COAST GUARD POLICY ON THE POSSESSION OF FIREARMS AND/OR AMMUNITION BY COAST GUARD MILITARY PERSONNEL, COMDTINST 10100.1 (SERIES) I. COAST GUARD WEIGHT AND BODY FAT STANDARDS PROGRAM MANUAL, COMDTINST M1020.8 (SERIES) 1. PURPOSE. REF A ANNOUNCED THE COMDT DECISION TO ESTABLISH A COAST GUARD ENLISTED RATING INVOLVING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY (LE/S) DUTIES. REF B ANNOUNCED THE DECISION TO NAME THE NEW RATING MARITIME ENFORCEMENT SPECIALIST (ME). MARITIME LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY SPECIALIST (MLES) WAS CHOSEN AS THE NAME OF THE CWO SPECIALTY. REF C OUTLINED THE PROCESS FOR RESERVE PORT SECURITY SPECIALIST (PS) MEMBERS WHO DESIRE TO LATERAL TO ME. REF E OUTLINED THE ADVANCEMENT PROCESS FOR ME FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS. THIS MSG ANNOUNCES THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVE MEMBERS DESIRING TO LATERAL TO ME AND MLES. AS NOTED IN REF A, MEMBERS IN THE ME RATING AND MLES SPECIALTY WILL PERFORM A WIDE RANGE OF DUTIES ASSOCIATED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY. COAST GUARD PERSONNEL SERVICE CENTER (CGPSC), WORKING WITH PROGRAM MANAGERS, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONVENING PANELS TO SELECT QUALIFIED MEMBERS TO LATERAL TO ME AND MLES. 2. TIMELINES. THE FOLLOWING MAJOR MILESTONES ARE PROVIDED. DATES ARE TARGETS AND MAY BE ADJUSTED AS IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESSES. MILESTONE DATE ME EPQS PUBLISHED ON CG CENTRAL 01 NOV 08 PS LATERAL PROCESS PUBLISHED, REF C 10 JUN 09 ME ADVANCEMENT PROCESS PUBLISHED, REF E 16 JUL 09 ME/MLES BILLET MAPS PUBLISHED ON CG PORTAL 31 JUL 09 MLES CWO LATERAL APPLICATION DEADLINE 09 SEP 09 MLES PANEL CONVENES 16 SEP 09 MLES SELECTIONS ANNOUNCED 28 SEP 09 ME RATING LATERAL APPLICATION DEADLINE 02 OCT 09 CONDUCT ME LATERAL PANEL 13 OCT-02 NOV 09 ME SELECTIONS ANNOUNCED 10 NOV 09 ME RATING AND MLES SPECIALTY ESTABLISHED 01 JAN 10 3. GUIDANCE. SERVICE NEEDS AND MEMBER EXPERIENCE WILL BE CRITICAL ELEMENTS OF THE SELECTION PROCESS. PLEASE READ THIS MSG CLOSELY TO ENSURE APPLICATIONS ARE COMPLETED PROPERLY AND SUBMITTED BY THE REQUIRED DEADLINES. A CONDENSED VERSION OF THE ME BILLET IS POSTED ON CG PORTAL: HTTPS://CGPORTAL.USCG.MIL/LOTUS/MYQUICKR/ME/ME-BILLET-MAP MEMBERS CONSIDERING A LATERAL TO ME OR MLES SHOULD REVIEW THE BILLET MAPS TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF ASSIGNMENT OPPORTUNITIES. OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE ACROSS ALL UNIT TYPES: CUTTERS (WHEC, WMEC), STATIONS, SECTORS, DSF UNITS (MSST, MSRT, TACLETS), CG POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS INSTRUCTOR POSITIONS AT THE MLE ACADEMY. EPQS ARE POSTED ON THE CG LEARNING PORTAL. MEMBERS CONSIDERING A LATERAL TO ME SHOULD REVIEW THE EPQS TO GAIN A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE EXPECTED SCOPE OF WORK AND RESPONSIBILITIES. 4. ELIGIBILITY. THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA APPLY: A. ANY ENLISTED MEMBER E4-E9 MAY APPLY FOR A LATERAL TO THE ME RATING. ANY CWO MEMBER IN ANY WARRANT SPECIALTY MAY APPLY FOR A LATERAL TO MLES SPECIALTY. B. SECURITY CLEARANCES. MEMBERS OF THE ME RATING AND MLES CWO SPECIALITY WILL BE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A SECRET CLEARANCE ELIGIBILITY. A SECRET CLEARANCE REQUIRES COMPLETION AND FAVORABLE ADJUDICATION OF A NATIONAL AGENCY CHECK WITH LOCAL RECORD AND CREDIT CHECK (NACLC). REF E PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT SECURITY CLEARANCES. PERSONNEL APPLYING FOR A SECURITY CLEARANCE NEED TO BE A UNITED STATES CITIZEN. MEMBERS CONSIDERING A LATERAL TRANSFER REQUEST TO ME OR MLES WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO OBTAIN A SECRET CLEARANCE ARE ENCOURAGED TO INITIATE REQUESTS EARLY TO ENSURE THERE IS SUFFICIENT TIME TO COMPLETE ALL NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMISSION OF A PERSONNEL SECURITY INVESTIGATION PACKAGE PRIOR TO SUBMISSION OF LATERAL PACKAGES. FOR THESE PERSONNEL, THE COMMAND MUST CLEARLY STATE THE DATE PACKAGE WAS RECEIVED AT THE COAST GUARD SECURITY CENTER (SECCEN) ON THE COMMAND ENDORSEMENT. AN APPLICANT MUST INITIATE THE NACLC PROCESS BY CONTACTING THEIR COMMAND SECURITY OFFICER (CSO). 1) YOUR CSO WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH ACCESS TO THE ELECTRONIC SF-86 FORM (EQIP). SUBMIT AN SF-86 USING EQIP, IAW REF G. YOU CANNOT GAIN ACCESS TO EQIP TO COMPLETE THE SF-86 WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL FROM YOUR CSO. 2) COMPLETE FD-258 FINGERPRINT CARD - 3 ORIGINALS ARE REQUIRED (SCHEDULE WITH CSO). 3) SUBMIT DHS FORM 11000-9, CONSUMER REPORTS DISCLOSURE AND AUTHORIZATION FORM. 4) YOUR CSO WILL COMPLETE THE ELECTRONIC FORM CG-5588, PERSONNEL SECURITY ACTION. C. ALL APPLICANTS FOR ME/MLES MUST BE ELIGIBLE TO POSSESS A FIREARM (LAUTENBERG AMENDMENT). ANY PERSON WHO HANDLES FIREARMS SHOULD BE SCREENED FOR SUITABILITY. IT IS A FELONY FOR ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF A MISDEMEANOR CRIME OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO SHIP, TRANSPORT, POSSESS, OR RECEIVE FIREARMS OR AMMUNITION. EACH PERSON APPLYING FOR A LATERAL TO ME OR MLES MUST HAVE ON FILE AT THEIR UNIT A SIGNED DD FORM 2760 DECLARING THEY HAVE NO CONVICTIONS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. ANY RESTRAINING ORDERS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN EFFECT WILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY MEMBERS COMMAND IN THEIR ENDORSEMENT. FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE REF H. D. ALL APPLICANTS MUST HAVE NORMAL COLOR VISION. E. ALL APPLICANTS MUST BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH COMMANDANT WEIGHT AND BODY FAT STANDARDS IAW REF I. F. ALL APPLICANTS MUST HAVE COMPLETED EITHER THE BOARDING OFFICER AND BOAT CREW PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST OR THE DEPLOYABLE SPECIALIZED FORCES TIER II PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST AFTER 01 JAN 09. MEMBERS WITH A DOCUMENTED AND TEMPORARY MEDICAL CONDITION THAT PRECLUDES THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO PASS THE PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST MAY REQUEST A WAIVER. WAIVER REQUESTS SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE ME RATING FORCE MASTER CHIEF. 5. DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS. BELOW ARE FOUR ADDITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE DESIRED OF APPLICANTS, BUT ARE NOT REQUIRED. THESE REPRESENT FACTORS THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED BY THE LATERAL SELECTION PANEL IN THEIR DELIBERATIONS AS TO WHICH CANDIDATES WILL BE ACCEPTED INTO THE RATING. A. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY EXPERIENCE. MEMBERS E-6 OR ABOVE APPLYING FOR LATERAL POSITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DEMONSTRATE PREVIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT OR SECURITY WORK EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO PAST ASSIGNMENTS OR APPLICABLE COMPETENCY CODES (E.G., BOARDING TEAM MEMBER). E-4 OR E-5 MEMBERS WITH DEMONSTRATED PREVIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT OR SECURITY EXPERIENCE WILL BE GIVEN WEIGHTED CONSIDERATION FOR A LATERAL TO THE ME RATING. B. WEAPONS QUALIFICATIONS. HAVE HELD FULL WEAPONS QUALIFICATIONS AT SOME POINT IN THEIR CAREER, TO INCLUDE JUDGMENTAL PISTOL COURSE, BASIC AND PRACTICAL PISTOL, BASIC AND COMBAT RIFLE, AND SHOTGUN. AS AN E-4 EPQ, THOSE APPLICANTS LACKING FULL WEAPONS QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE EXPECTED TO COMPLETE THEM FOLLOWING SELECTION AS AN ME. SPECIFIC TIME REQUIREMENTS FOR EPQ COMPLETION CAN BE FOUND IN REF E. C. CURRENTLY HOLD A VALID STATE-ISSUED DRIVERS LICENSE. D. MEMBERS APPLYING TO LATERAL TO THE ME RATING WITH OBLIGATED SERVICE THROUGH 01 JAN 12 WILL BE GIVEN WEIGHTED CONSIDERATION OVER THOSE APPLICANTS WITH LESS OBLIGATED SERVICE. LENGTH OF OBLIGATED SERVICE WILL NOT BE A CONSIDERATION FOR RESERVE MEMBERS OF THE LEGACY PS RATING AND PSS SPECIALITY WHO CHOOSE TO LATERAL TO THE ME RATING DUE TO THE DISESTABLISHMENT OF THE PS RATING AND PSS SPECIALITY. 6. LATERAL APPLICATIONS. MEMBERS REQUESTING TO LATERAL SHALL SUBMIT A LATERAL REQUEST PACKAGE TO CG PSC. THE LATERAL PACKAGE SHALL CONSIST OF AN APPLICATION FORM WITH COMMAND CERTIFICATION AND ENDORSEMENT AND A 1-2 PAGE RESUME LISTING: SUMMARY OF MILITARY CAREER, ASSIGNED COMPETENCIES, COAST GUARD TRAINING, OTHER TRAINING, AND OTHER LE/SECURITY EXPERIENCE OR SKILLS. THE APPLICATION AND AN EXAMPLE OF A RESUME CAN BE FOUND ON CG PORTAL: HTTPS://CGPORTAL.USCG.MIL/LOTUS/MYQUICKR/ME/WELCOME RESERVISTS APPLYING TO ME SHALL USE THE ME LATERAL APPLICATION, PORT SECURITY SPECIALIST (PS) MEMBERS APPLYING TO A RATE OTHER THAN ME SHALL USE THE RESERVE APPLICATION FOR LATERAL REQUEST DESIGNED FOR PS MEMBERS NOT LATERALLING TO ME. BOTH APPLICATIONS AND AN EXAMPLE OF A RESUME CAN BE ACCESSED VIA THE COAST GUARD RESERVE WEBSITE UNDER MEMBER RESOURCES. RESERVISTS CAN ACCESS THE APPLICATIONS VIA AN INTERNET ACCESS SITE LISTED BELOW AS WELL AS THE CG PORTAL SITE LISTED ABOVE AT: HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/RESERVE/MEMBER (UNDERSCORE) RESOURCES.ASP THE DUE DATE FOR SUBMITTING A LATERAL REQUEST PACKAGE FOR ME TO PSC IS NLT COB 02 OCT 09. A. ACTIVE DUTY ENLISTED MEMBERS SHALL FAX THEIR LATERAL PACKAGE TO (202)493-1249 OR SCAN AND EMAIL TO DERRICK.L.RHONE (AT) USCG.MIL. B. ACTIVE DUTY CWO MEMBERS SHALL SCAN AND EMAIL THEIR LATERAL PACKAGE TO JAMES.M.DIGNAN (AT) USCG.MIL. C. RESERVE ENLISTED MEMBERS SHALL SCAN AND EMAIL THEIR LATERAL PACKAGE TO ARL-DG-CGPSC IRR (AT) USCG.MIL. D. RESERVE CWO MEMBERS SHALL SCAN AND EMAIL THEIR LATERAL PACKAGE TO DANIEL.R.MEEK (AT) USCG.MIL. 7. COMMAND CERTIFICATION. COMMANDS SHALL CERTIFY THE FOLLOWING: A. ALL INFORMATION ON THE APPLICATION IS ACCURATE. B. MEMBER IS WITHIN COAST GUARD WEIGHT AND BODY FAT STANDARDS. C. MEMBER HAS NO CONVICTIONS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. D. MEMBER WAS MARKED SATISFACTORY IN CONDUCT ON MOST RECENT ENLISTED EMPLOYEE REVIEW (EER). 8. COMMAND ENDORSEMENT. COMMAND ENDORSEMENTS SHALL BE MADE BY THE MEMBERS COMMANDING OFFICER OR OFFICER IN CHARGE, OR EXECUTIVE OFFICER OR EXECUTIVE PETTY OFFICER. COMMANDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WRITE AN ENDORSEMENT THAT EXPLAINS A MEMBERS POTENTIAL TO BE A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR ME. ENDORSEMENTS ARE LIMITED TO 500 CHARACTERS. 9. ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE AND AMPLIFYING INFORMATION. A. THE LATERAL PROCESS WILL NOT AFFECT THE NORMAL TRANSFER PROCESS. MEMBERS SELECTED FOR LATERAL SHOULD NOT EXPECT TO ROTATE FROM CURRENT ASSIGNMENTS UNTIL TOUR COMPLETE. MEMBERS NOT SELECTED TO BECOME ME BUT IN A BILLET THAT HAS BEEN REPROGRAMMED TO ME WILL CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT ASSIGNED DUTIES UNTIL TRANSFERRED OUT OF THAT BILLET. B. ENLISTED MEMBERS SELECTED TO LATERAL TO ME WHO ARE IN RECEIPT OF SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUSES (SRB) WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY BACK ANY UNEARNED PORTION OF THE SRB AS LONG AS THEY CONTINUE TO FULFILL ALL OTHER TERMS OF THEIR ENLISTMENTS IAW THE SRB PROGRAM, REF E, ARTICLE 3.C. C. FOR THOSE SELECTED TO LATERAL, TIME IN RATE FROM CURRENT RATING WILL CARRY OVER AND BE USED IN THE ME RATING FOR FUTURE ADVANCEMENTS. D. EACH COMMAND SHALL ENSURE THAT APPLICANTS MOST RECENT OER OR EER IS SUBMITTED IAW ART 10.A OR 10.B OF REF D. EACH APPLICANT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THEIR CG PSC PERSONNEL DATA RECORD (PDR) IS UP TO DATE. THE PANEL WILL REVIEW THE CG PSC PDRS OF ALL APPLICANTS. E. APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REVIEW THEIR CGPSC PDRS FOR COMPLETENESS BY EITHER VISITING CG PSC-PSD-MR, OR WRITING TO REQUEST A COPY. CG PSC-PSD-MR POC FOR PDR ISSUES IS MS. VALERIA SMITH AT 202-493-1680. DOCUMENTS APPROPRIATE FOR FILING IN THE CG PSC PDR SHOULD BE MAILED ASAP TO THE CGPSC PDR SECTION (CG PSC-PSD- MR) ATTN: CWO MLES LATERAL PANEL OR ATTN: ENLISTED ME LATERAL PANEL TO PERMIT TIMELY PROCESSING PRIOR TO THE PANELS. 10. RADM R. T. HEWITT, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR HUMAN RESOURCES, SENDS. 11. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.