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Back issues of the SPO Newsletter are available in the Archives.

New Rules for Direct Access Passwords Will Enhance Security

Published Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2009 10:30:16 CDT

Direct Access passwords expire every 90 days. The system will alert you two days before the expiration date and it will prompt you to change your expired password when you login. System password requirements have been changed to enhance security and to comply with USCG and DHS information system regulations.

Keep these minimum requirements in mind when you create your new password, it must:

  • be at least nine (9) characters in length (You can use up to 32 characters)
  • include at least one (1) number
  • include at least one (1) non alphanumeric special character (e.g. $, %, &, #)

Direct Access passwords are case sensitive, so you can use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters in your password. Please note that the password cannot contain spaces.
Related Content.

October Weigh-Ins

Published Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:15:16 CDT

"I've got small wrists - but they're heavy!"

It's hard to believe we're talking about events for this coming fall already, but the kids are back in school, we've already started working on annual validation [of BAH, Dependency & Emergency Data], the Fiscal Year 2010 Special Duty Assignment Pay (SDAP) rates are out, and Master Chief Petty Officer Lloyd Pierce, Eighth Coast Guard District Command Master Chief, has a great post over on the Heartland Guardian (D8's blog) about the new weight standards. Give it a read, it's entertaining and informative!


Related Content.

Annual Validation of Form PPC-2020D, Designation of Beneficiaries and Record of Emergency Data (Q & A)

Published Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:35:16 CDT

Question: The old form had an Annual Validation section where the member could sign and date to certify the information was up to date. How do we record annual validation on the new version?

Answer: Block 15 (remarks) can be used to document annual validation. Suggested entry (pen & ink) for block 15 is:

(date): reviewed, no changes. (member's signature)


Related Content.

Direct Access Outage - Scheduled Maintenance

Published Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:30:16 CDT

Direct Access (DA) will not be available from 2100, Saturday, 22 August to 0900, Sunday, 23 August (CDT) due to server maintenance. No changes to DA functionality are being implemented in connection with this outage.


Related Content.

New Fields Added to Career Intentions Worksheet

Published Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2009 15:00:16 CDT

Block 11 has been expanded to permit entry of SELRES Enlistment/Affiliation BonusesThe Career Intentions Worksheet, CG PPC-2045 (Rev. 08/2009), includes additional fields and options for members to use to make a smooth transition from active duty to the reserve component. Members can use the new fields to state their intentions to affiliate with the Coast Guard Reserve upon completion of their active duty commitment or upon demobilization. Members can now specify their desired reserve affiliation (SELRES(Drilling) or IRR) and, if they have no remaining service obligation, they can provide the information necessary for a Reserve Enlistment Contract. Space has been added to record eligibility for Reserve Enlistment and Affiliation bonuses.


Related Content.

Office Closure

Published Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:00:16 CDT
PPC Topeka offices will be minimum staffed on Tuesday, 04 August 2009, beginning at 1130 hrs (central time) to close of business day so staff members may attend command sponsored morale event. Normal business hours will resume on Wednesday 05 August 2009.
Related Content.

When to Start Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA)

Published Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 09:30:16 CDT

Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) - Start Date Guidance: OHA is a cost reimbursement based allowance. The member does not have an entitlement until they enter into a rental/lease/purchase agreement and provide proof of private sector housing expenses. Do not start OHA if the member is awaiting either assignment to government quarters or is in the process of obtaining private sector quarters (e. g. Entitled to TLA).


Related Content.

GI Bill Video Overview

Published Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:15:16 CDT
The Department of Veterans Affairs has produced a really good 8-minute video overview of the new GI Bill: http://www1.va.gov/opa/feature/amervet/video/amvet2009-7-1.asx

Also be sure to visit the LANT & D5 ESO information site for a great series of questions and answers about the new benefit and transferability.


Related Content.

2009 SPO/Admin Workshop Registration Deadline is 7 August!

Published Date: Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:45:16 CDT

Registration is simple! To register, e-mail CPO Zandra Sneed at zandra.sneed@uscg.mil. The registration deadline is 7 August 2009. We are limited by our venue at the Kansas historical Museum to 200 people, so please don't delay - register now. When you register please include the top three subjects of interest you want to hear about at the workshop!

We are pleased to announce the dates for our annual PPC Topeka SPO/Admin Workshop to be held 22 through 24 September 2009, here in Topeka. The conference theme will be "Customer/Supplier/Partner" and reflects the role of SPOs with PPC and other stakeholders, working to deliver critical personnel services to the field.

We have scheduled a great agenda of relevant topics for SPOs and administrative yeomen based upon your feedback from last year's training workshop and the many changes currently taking place within the Coast Guard. It is important to note that this training workshop is considered "mission critical" for field personnel working in the personnel services arena for travel guidance purposes. We will have many subject-matter experts from Headquarters and other units providing the instruction, as well as our own PPC experts presenting a wealth of information.

Commander, Personnel Service Center Arlington will be our key note speaker. Rear Admiral Neptun will cover the latest developments in CG modernization, SPO transitions, and his vision of SPO service line management within the context of CG PSC Arlington's mission to deliver integrated personnel support for the Coast Guard's military workforce.

Similar to past years' events, PPC Topeka and other subject-matter experts will provide training and information on Direct Access, e-Travel and T-PAX, accessions, enlisted contracts, and reserve transactions. You will also learn about advancements, separations, PCS orders, as well as the most effective and efficient ways to interact with PPC to quickly address challenges.

Additional topics include the Coast Guard-wide data self validation, and other audit initiatives that affect PDR management, document retention, transactions, and other critical data maintained within Direct Access (D/A). You will also learn more about the SPO Metrics cube to query D/A data and report on the timeliness and accuracy of SPO data entry. We will update you on how you may gain the greatest benefit from using this tool to monitor your SPO, and help identify training and other needs. Get an advance look at this tool by clicking on the following link: (http://cgbi.osc.uscg.mil/) [Enter "SPO Metrics" in the Search field at the top, right-hand, corner of the page. Ed.]


Related Content.

PPC Advancements and Evaluations Newsletter, Summer 2009

Published Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:45:16 CDT

The Coast Guard Pay & Personnel Center Advancements Branch Newsletter, Summer 2009 issue, is now available.

This issue includes the following articles:
  • Servicewide Exam (SWE) Point Changes
  • Waiver Requests to Extend Eligibility Deadline for Completion of the CPO Academy
  • SWE Statistics
  • SWE Steps at PPC (ADV)
  • A Thank You to SWE Officers/ESOs
  • Schedule for Upcoming Enlisted Employee Reviews (EERs)
  • PPC (ADV) Staff & Contact Information
  • Supplemental and Striker Advancements:
    • Challenges with Processing Supplemental/Striker Advancement Messages
    • Submission of Supplemental/Striker Messages with Missing Information
    • New Help Tool for Strikers and Supplemental Ratings
    • Supplemental and Striker Message Reasons for Rejection
  • Advancements - Conventional Wisdom and Myths:
    • "CO'S will NOT give a "Not Recommended" to poor performers"
    • "It's hard to make Senior Chief these days"
    • "Dinosaurs are riding their longevity points to advance over good test takers"
    • "The high score on the exam always gets 80 points"
  • For Servicing Personnel Offices (SPOs):
    • Improper Advancement by SPOs
    • Accessions - Hiring Members Who are TEMDU Enroute to their First Duty Station
    • Authorized Retention Beyond 30 Years of Active Service (How to change to the member's Expected End Date, Expected Loss Date and Expected Active Duty Term Date)


Related Content.

SPO Metrics - Raising the bar

Published Date: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:45:16 CDT

E-Mail ALSPO G/09 message announces changes to the SPO accuracy measurements for the SPO Metrics data cube in Coast Guard Business Intelligence (CGBI).


Related Content.

Advancement Eligibility Requirements for the November '09 Active Duty Servicewide Exam

Published Date: Tue, 14 2009 15:45:15 CDT

This spreadsheet lists the requirements, which must be met in order to participate in the November 2009 Servicewide Exam (Active Duty SWE). Additional information, including exam waivers, can be found in ALCGENL message 103/09.

Note: This data is intended for information purposes only and is not official policy.

Eligibility Requirements for the November 2009 Active SWE:


Related Content.

Reenlistments/Extensions of Enlistments for Selective Reenlistment Bonus

Published Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:45:15 CDT

Effective 16 July through 30 September 2009, no contracts (reenlistment/extension) that have an associated Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) will be authorized. The Coast Guard will not process reenlistment/extension contracts for SRB payment during the period of 16 July through 30 September 2009. Contact your Servicing Personnel Office (SPO) for more information and options.


Related Content.

November Servicewide Exam Waivers and Supplemental Advancements

Published Date: Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:30:15 CDT

ALCOAST 387/09, provides information for supplemental advancements for active component members and waivers for the November 2009 SWE.

  • The November 2009 SWE will be waived for the following rates:
    BM1, BM2, FS2, and GM2
  • Effective immediately through 31 January 2010 for the rates listed above, a CO or OIC may submit requests recommending eligible members for placement on a supplemental advancement eligibility list when the member meets all applicable requirements.
  • The supplemental advancement lists for GM1 and DC2 will remain in effect until 16 June 2010. Personnel may continue to be placed on this supplemental list until 31 July 2009. Since placement on a supplemental list does not guarantee advancement, all eligible personnel desiring to advance to GM1 or DC2 should take the November 2009 SWE.

ALCOAST 387/09
COMDTNOTE 1430

SUBJ: EARLY ADVANCEMENT AUTHORIZATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL ADVANCEMENT PROCEDURES

A. PERSONNEL MANUAL, COMDTINST M1000.6 (SERIES)
B. ENLISTED PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION (E-PME) MANUAL, COMDTINST M1510.2 (SERIES)
C. COAST GUARD WEIGHT AND BODY FAT STANDARDS PROGRAM MANUAL, COMDTINST M1020.8 (SERIES)

1. THIS ALCOAST ANNOUNCES EARLY ADVANCEMENT AUTHORIZATION OFF THE MAY 2009 SERVICEWIDE EXAMINATION (SWE) ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY LIST AND WAIVERS OF THE NOVEMBER 2009 SWE.

2. COMPLETION OF LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT SCHOOL IS NOW REQUIRED TO BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY SWE FOR FIRST CLASS PETTY OFFICER (E6). ALL MEMBERS REQUESTING PLACEMENT ON A SUPPLEMENTAL ADVANCEMENT LIST TO E6 MUST HAVE COMPLETED LAMS AT THE TIME OF THEIR REQUEST.

3. THE NOVEMBER 2009 SWE WILL BE WAIVED FOR THE FOLLOWING RATES:
BM1, BM2, FS2, GM2.

4. THE GM1 AND DC2 SUPPLEMENTAL ELIGIBILITY LIST WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL 16 JUNE 2010. PERSONNEL MAY CONTINUE TO BE PLACED ON THIS SUPPLEMENTAL LIST USING THE PROCEDURES OUTLINED IN THIS ALCOAST UNTIL 31 JULY 2009. SINCE PLACEMENT ON A SUPPLEMENTAL LIST DOES NOT GUARANTEE ADVANCEMENT, ALL ELIGIBLE PERSONNEL DESIRING TO ADVANCE TO GM1 OR DC2 SHOULD TAKE THE NOVEMBER 2009 SWE.

5. ALL MEMBERS AND UNIT COMMANDS ARE REMINDED OF THE GUIDELINES IN ART 5.C.10 OF REF A REGARDING RATINGS REQUIRING ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. IN ORDER TO MEET THE SECURITY CLEARANCE REQUIREMENT TO ADVANCE IN THESE RATINGS, A PERSONNEL SECURITY INVESTIGATION (PSI) IS REQUIRED EVERY 10 YEARS. THEREFORE, ALL MEMBERS IN CLASSIFIED RATINGS MUST HAVE A CURRENT PSI ON FILE IN DIRECT ACCESS OR MUST SUBMIT A NATIONAL AGENCY CHECK WITH LAW AND CREDIT (NACLC) PACKAGE TO INITIATE THIS INVESTIGATION PRIOR TO PLACEMENT ON A SUPPLEMENTAL ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY LIST. THIS REQUIREMENT IS IN EFFECT EVEN IF ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED MATERIAL IS NOT NEEDED IN THE MEMBERS CURRENT POSITION. COMMAND VERIFICATION OF SECURITY CLEARANCE ELIGIBILITY IS ALSO REQUIRED FOR SWE COMPETITION. QUESTIONS CONCERNING SUBMITTING NACLC PACKAGES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE LOCAL SECURITY MANAGER.

6. MEMBERS SEEKING ADVANCEMENT MUST SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE APPROPRIATE E-PME PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE NEXT HIGHER PAY GRADE PRIOR TO PLACEMENT ON A SUPPLEMENTAL ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY LIST. IN ADDITION, THOSE MEMBERS SEEKING ADVANCEMENT TO E-6 OR E-8 MUST PASS THE APPROPRIATE ADVANCEMENT QUALIFICATION EXAM (AQE) PRIOR TO LIST PLACEMENT. (THERE IS NO E-PME AQE REQUIREMENT FOR ADVANCEMENT TO E5). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING E-PME REQUIREMENTS MAY BE FOUND IN REF B AND ON THE INTERNET AT http://www.tracenpetaluma.com/e-pme/.

7. IN MOST CASES, PERFORMANCE QUALIFICATION GUIDES (PQG) HAVE REPLACED THE OLD CORRESPONDENCE COURSES. FOLLOWING THE PQG PREPARES EACH MEMBER TO TAKE THE WRITTEN EXAM AND DIRECTLY RELATES TO THE ENLISTED PERFORMANCE QUALIFICATIONS (EPQS) THAT MUST BE SIGNED OFF. THE CURRENT EPQS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT HTTPS://LEARNING.USCG.MIL. YOU WILL HAVE TO ENTER YOUR EMPLID AND LAST NAME AND ENROLL TO SEE THE EPQS. SINCE CHANGES CONSTANTLY TAKE PLACE TO THIS PROCESS, THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PROVIDED REGARDING THE SPECIFIC PQG (OR CORRESPONDENCE COURSE) REQUIREMENTS AND EPQS THAT MUST BE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED PRIOR TO PLACEMENT ON A SUPPLEMENTAL ADVANCEMENT LIST:

A. BM1, COMPLETE THE PQG W/EXAM, EPQS (REV.12-06), AND E-PME.
B. BM2, COMPLETE THE PQG W/EXAM, EPQS (REV 12-06), AND E-PME.
C. FS2, COMPLETE THE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE W/EOCT, EPQS (REV 4-06), AND E-PME.
D. GM2, COMPLETE THE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE W/EOCT, EPQS (REV 10-05), AND E-PME.

8. AS COURSES, PQGS, AND EPQS ARE UPDATED, MORE CURRENT REQUIREMENTS MAY BE RELEASED BY ALCOAST. FOR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS REGARDING THESE REQUIREMENTS, CONTACT THE APPROPRIATE RATING FORCE MASTER CHIEF (RFMC).

9. ONCE A RATE ON THE MAY 2008 SWE ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY LIST FOR E7 AND ABOVE OR A RATE ON THE NOVEMBER 2008 SWE ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY LIST FOR E6 AND BELOW IS CLEARED, PSC-EPM IS AUTH TO ADVANCE PERSONNEL TO FILL VACANCIES USING THE MAY 2009 SWE ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY LIST FOR THAT RATE. IN THOSE CASES, MEMBERS APPEARING ON THE MAY 2009 SWE ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY LIST WHO WOULD NORMALLY MEET THE TIG AND SEA DUTY REQUIREMENTS BY 01 JANUARY 2010 (E7 AND ABOVE) OR 01 JULY 2010 (E6 AND BELOW), WILL BE GRANTED A WAIVER OF THOSE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADVANCING EARLIER. THIS WAIVER APPLIES ONLY TO THOSE PERSONNEL APPEARING ON THE SWE ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY LIST. IT DOES NOT APPLY TO PREREQUISITES FOR SUPPLEMENTAL LIST PLACEMENT.

10. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY THROUGH 31 JANUARY 2010 FOR THE RATES LISTED IN PARA 3, A CO OR OIC MAY SUBMIT REQUESTS RECOMMENDING ELIGIBLE MEMBERS FOR PLACEMENT ON A SUPPLEMENTAL ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY LIST WHEN THE MEMBER MEETS ALL APPLICABLE REQUIREMENTS IDENTIFIED IN ART 5.C.4.B.1 OF REF A AND THE SUPPORTING INFORMATION IS VIEWABLE IN DIRECT ACCESS. EACH MEMBERS STANDING ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY LIST IS BASED SOLELY ON THE DATE-TIME-GROUP (DTG) OF THE REQUEST MSG. COMMANDS SHOULD SEND A MSG AS SOON AS THE MEMBER MEETS ALL ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND SHOULD CONTACT PPC(ADV) IF AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT MSG IS NOT RECEIVED WITHIN FIVE WORKING DAYS. PPC(ADV) WILL ONLY USE DTG REFLECTING THE ACTUAL TIME OF RELEASE OF THE MSG. BACKDATING THE DTG IS NOT PERMITTED. COMMANDS REQUESTING PLACEMENT OF MORE THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL (REGARDLESS OF RATING) ON THE SAME DAY MUST SUBMIT A SEPARATE MSG WITH A DIFFERENT DTG FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL. UPON RECEIPT OF A NOTIFICATION MSG, PPC(ADV) WILL PLACE THE MEMBERS NAME IN THE NEXT POSITION ON THE SUPPLEMENTAL ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY LIST FOR THAT RATE PROVIDED ALL PREREQUISITES HAVE BEEN MET. IF A REVIEW OF THE INFORMATION IN DIRECT ACCESS INDICATES MISSING PREREQUISITES, A REPLY MSG WILL BE PROVIDED WITH ACTION REQUIRED. ONCE ACTION IS COMPLETED, COMMANDS MUST SUBMIT ANOTHER SUPPLEMENTAL ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY LIST RECOMMENDATION VIA MSG.

11. NOTE: NON-RECEIPT OF REQUIRED ENLISTED EMPLOYEE REVIEWS (EER) WITHIN CURRENT PAY GRADE CONTINUES TO BE THE PRIMARY MISSING PREREQUISITE. COMMANDS MUST PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO STATUS OF EERS WHEN SUBMITTING A PLACEMENT MSG. THE MOST RECENT REQUIRED EER MUST APPEAR IN THE EMPLOYEE REVIEW SUMMARY SECTION TO BE CONSIDERED FINAL. COMMANDS MAY VERIFY SUCCESSFUL DIRECT ACCESS UPLOAD AS FOLLOWS, HOME: DEVELOP WORKFORCE: PLAN CAREERS: INQUIRE: EMPLOYEE REVIEW SUMMARY. IN THE MEMBERS EMPLOYEE REVIEW SUMMARY PAGE, SELECTING THE REFRESH SUMMARY BUTTON WILL REVEAL THE LATEST EER SUBMITTED. CONFIRMATION OF THE EMPLOYEE REVIEW SUMMARY UPDATE MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE SUBMISSION OF MESSAGE REQUEST.

12. A CO OR OIC MUST SUBMIT THE RECOMMENDATION VIA MSG TO COGARD PPC TOPEKA KS//ADV// INFO COMCOGARD PSC ARLINGTON VA//EPM-1/EPM-2// [Note: Corrected PLAD, it originally read "PERSCOM". Ed.] FOR PLACEMENT ON A SPECIFIC SUPPLEMENTAL ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY LIST IN THE FOLLOWING FORMAT.

SUBJ: ACTIVE DUTY SUPPLEMENTAL ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY REQUEST
1. LIST FOR WHICH RECOMMENDATION IS SUBMITTED (E.G., BM2)
2. MEMBER RATE, NAME, AND EMPLOYEE ID
3. DATE OF RANK IN CURRENT PAY GRADE
4. COMPLETION DATES FOR:
A. RATING EPQ
B. E-PME PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
C. RATING EOCT OR PQG EXAM
D. E-PME AQE (E6 ONLY)
E. ADDITIONAL ADVANCEMENT (COMPETENCY) REQUIREMENTS
5. DATE OF CURRENT PSI ON FILE OR SUBMISSION DATE OF NACLC PACKAGE (ET, GM AND PA ONLY)
6. EFFECTIVE DATE OF MEMBERS LAST EER IN CURRENT RATE/PAY GRADE ALONG WITH A STATEMENT INDICATING WHETHER THE MEMBER MEETS THE STANDARDS, AND RETAINS THE COMMAND RECOMMENDATION FOR ADVANCEMENT.
7. A STATEMENT THAT ALL RELEVANT DIRECT ACCESS DATA FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY LIST HAS BEEN VERIFIED AND IS VIEWABLE IN DIRECT ACCESS.
8. UNIT POC, CONTACT EMAIL, AND PHONE NUMBER
9. RELEASED BY (NAME OF CO OR OIC)

13. AS A REMINDER, PERSONNEL RECOMMENDED FOR SUPPLEMENTAL ADVANCEMENT MUST HAVE A MINIMUM OF 12 MONTHS GOOD CONDUCT ELIGIBILITY PRIOR TO LIST PLACEMENT. MEMBERS WHO EXCEED THEIR MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE WEIGHT AND BODY FAT STANDARDS MAY BE PLACED ON A SUPPLEMENTAL ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY LIST, BUT THEY MAY NOT BE ADVANCED UNTIL THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH WEIGHT STANDARDS IAW REF C.

14. UPDATED VERSIONS OF SUPPLEMENTAL ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY LISTS WILL BE POSTED MONTHLY ON THE PPC INTRANET LINK AT: http://cgweb.ppc.uscg.mil/adv/suppstriker/default.asp

15. FOR SUPPLEMENTAL ADVANCEMENT LIST PLACEMENT QUESTIONS CONTACT YNC RONY HARDEN, PPC(ADV), 785-339-3410. FOR GENERAL ENLISTED POLICY QUESTIONS CONTACT YNCS CRYSTAL A. SPARKS, COMDT (CG-1221), 202-475-5373.

16. RADM RONALD T. HEWITT, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR HUMAN RESOURCES, SENDS.

17. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
Related Content.

Direct Access Outage - Scheduled Maintenance

Published Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:00:15 CDT

Direct Access (DA) will not be available from 1930 to 2330 on Wednesday, 01 July 2009 (CDT) (020030Z JUL 09 to 020530Z JUL 09) due to hardware maintenance. No changes to DA functionality are being implemented in connection with this outage.


Related Content.

HR Data Self Validation - SPO Procedures for "False Negatives"

Published Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:30:15 CDT
memo, we do not need any memo

E-Mail ALSPO message C/09 included a requirement to issue a memo to the member, with a copy to CGPSC for the IPDR, to document the research and that the data element is correct when a member recorded a "False Negative" on the HR Data Self Validation form.

Documenting "False Negatives" with a memo is not required. SPOs shall follow the procedure in E-Mail ALSPO C/09 to access the Verify Validation Page in Direct Access and select "Verify" to indicate they found the data element to be correct. After all items have been corrected or verified, CGPSC will place a copy of the Verify Validation Page in the member's IPDR.


Related Content.

E-Mail ALSPO E/09; SPO Procedures for HR Self Validation IPDR Documents

Published Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:30:15 CDT

This E-Mail ALSPO message provides SPO procedures for providing supporting documentation to the TAD Self-Validation team at the Personnel Service Center (PSC), Arlington, VA.


Related Content.

Reminder: BAH for Single Recruit, OCS, or Academy Gradates In-Transit

Published Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:00:15 CDT
Newly Commissioned ensigns look on as a Coast Guard HU-25 Guardian jet and HH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter fly over Cadet Memorial Field at the Coast Guard Academy

With the graduates of the Coast Guard Academy Class of 2009 reporting in to their first permanent duty stations this summer, PPC (mas) would like to remind you that single graduates from basic training, OCS and the Academy, with no prior service, are entitled to BAH-Transit Rate while in transit to their first permanent duty station (PDS). The Reporting SPO must input the BAH-Transit Rate start (effective date of PCS departure) and the BAH-Transit Rate stop (effective the day prior to PCS reporting) along with the reporting endorsement and transactions to record BAH entitlement at the member's or officer's first PDS. If the member or officer acquires a dependent or dependents while en route PCS, the reporting SPO shall:

  1. Stop BAH-Transit Rate the day prior to the date the change in dependency is effective and
  2. Start BAH-With/Dependents using the zip code for the location of the member's dependent(s) effective the day the dependency change was effective.
  3. Submit the transaction to start BAH or OHA at the rate for new PDS and government quarters assignment status effective the date the member or officer reports to their first PDS.

See PAYMAN, 3.5.d & Fig 3-19 (Rule 7) and the PPC SPO Manual, Part II, Chapter 10-1, Basic Allowance for Housing, Page 7, BAH During PCS, for more information.


Related Content.

Use the Current Version of the Travel Voucher Form (DD-1351/2)

Published Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:20:15 CDT

Please Use the Current Version of the Travel Voucher Form (DD-1351/2)

Multiple versions of the DD-1351-2 are being used, even dating back 4 versions or more. Please note that the current version of the DD-1351-2 is March 2008 which requires both the AO's printed name and signature. All previous versions are considered to be obsolete and should not be used. The current form can be found in the list of Forms/Worksheets on our web site or at http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/eforms/dd1351-2.pdf.


Related Content.

Multiple Advances Against the Same TONO

Published Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:05:15 CDT

The travel software system is not set up to do supplemental advance requests against the same exact travel dates. Please follow the below guidance when submitting SF-1038 (request for advance) in paper format or through the T PAX system.

Submitting an advance request for a 13 doc type TONO:

Order dates are the dates in which the blanket TONO are issued for. For example, if for the first quarter of the FY the order dates would be from 10/1 12/31/YY (1 October - 31 December).

  • Advance travel dates would be specific to the dates of travel for that advance. Example would be the member will need three advances to cover each month.
    1. The first advance would have the travel dates of 10/1-10/31/YY,
    2. the second advance would have the travel dates of 11/1-11/30/YY, and
    3. the third advance would have the travel dates of 12/1-12/31/YY.
  • It is extremely important to remember when you submit requests for travel advances in this manner, that the member should also file travel claims at a minimum of every 30 days. This is due to the fact that FINCEN is set up to collect unliquidated advances within 30 days past the end travel date of each advance request by issuing a debt letter.

Note: If you submit the first advance with the travel dates covering the entire TONO period of 10/1-12/31/YY, no additional advances will be permitted against this same TONO.

Submitting an advance request for an 11 doc type TONO:

Order dates are the dates in which the normal/evac TONO are issued for. Typically only one advance is processed when an 11 doc type TONO is used no matter the duration of travel. However, if when deemed necessary by the command 11 doc types can be processed in two different ways.

  1. If the 11 doc type TONO is short term (30 days or less) only one advance will be processed for this TONO.
  2. If the 11 doc type TONO is for "long term" TDY (31 days or longer) then the advances need to be processed the same way as if the TONO was a 13 doc type. Example would be the member will need three advances to cover each month.
    1. The first advance would have the travel dates of 10/1-10/31/YY,
    2. the second advance would have the travel dates of 11/1-11/30/YY,
    3. and the third advance would have the travel dates of 12/1-12/31/YY.
  • It is extremely important to remember when you submit requests for travel advances in this manner, that the member should only file ONE (1) travel claim against this TONO at the end of the travel period. Once a claim is filed, no additional advance can be processed for payment.

Note: If you submit the first advance with the travel dates of 10/1-12/31/YY, no additional advances will be permitted against this same TONO.
Related Content.

Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve MGIB-SR (CH-1606) Eligibility Entries in DA

Published Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:05:15 CDT

Direct Access procedures for entering and updating MGIB-SR Eligibility have been revised to provide additional detail for date fields and status code selection.


Related Content.

Advancement Eligibility List from the May 09 Servicewide Exam

Published Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:45:15 CDT

The Advancement Eligibility list from the May 09 Servicewide Exam has been posted to CGCENTRAL (My Workspace > Career Management > Enlisted > Advancement >)- http://cgcentralweb.uscg.mil/cLink/3893 (Not accessible outside of the CG data network).

Individuals can also view their Profile Letters in Direct-Access.


Related Content.

2009 SPO/Admin Workshop Agenda and Schedule Announced

Published Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:45:15 CDT

The Pay & Personnel Center's Customer Advisory Council has scheduled a great agenda of relevant topics for SPOs and administrative yeomen based upon your feedback from last year's training workshop and the many changes currently taking place within the Coast Guard.


Related Content.

Servicing Personnel Office Newsletter, Issue 02/2009

Published Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:15:15 CDT
The SPO Newsletter, issue 02/2009, for April - June 2009 is now available. This issue includes the following articles:


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Disestablishment of MLC (LANT & PAC) SPOs

Published Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:15:15 CDT

The SPO at MLCPAC (Dept ID 000425/OPFAC 33-75160) was disestablished effective 19 June 2009. The SPO at ISC Alameda is now the SPO for MLCPAC. Please ensure PDRs for members transferring to MLCPAC are sent to ISC Alameda.

The SPO at MLCLANT (Dept ID 000504/OPFAC 32-75130) will be disestablished effective 29 June 2009. The SPO at ISC Portsmouth will be the SPO for MLCLANT. Please ensure PDRs for members transferring to MLCLANT and CG FDCC ATLANTIC are sent to ISC Portsmouth.


Related Content.

Post Deployment Mobilization Respite Absence (PDMRA), E-Mail ALSPO D/09

Published Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:15:15 CDT

E-Mail ALSPO message D/09 establishes procedure for calculating and reporting Post Deployment Mobilization Respite Absence (PDMRA) at the time of demobilization of an eligible member.

Respite absence is a program to compensate members, both active and Reserve who are deployed or mobilized beyond the rotation frequency thresholds of 1 to 5 [years] for reserve component members and 1 to 2 [years] for active duty component members.


Related Content.

Advancement Eligibility Requirements for the October '09 Reserve Servicewide Exam

Published Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:15:15 CDT

This spreadsheet lists the requirements, which must be met by 1 July 2009, in order to participate in the October 2009 Reserve Servicewide Exam (Reserve SWE). Additional information, including exam waivers, can be found in ALCGRSV message 014/09.

Note: This data is intended for information purposes only and is not official policy.

Eligibility Requirements for the October 2009 Reserve SWE:


Related Content.

Electronic Leave & Earnings Statement (LES)

Published Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:30:15 CDT

Manually printed and mailed LESs and other statements require high cost special paper, result in high mailing costs, require additional labor for distribution at units, and convey information largely available through Direct Access (DA). Customers often receive the information late compared to the posting of the electronic information, or even receipt of their paycheck.

Within DA there is currently a self service page titled "View Paycheck". All LES data is available right now on this page EXCEPT for leave balance.

The Pay & Personnel Center (PPC) will add fields reporting leave information as it appears on current LES.

Once "View Paycheck" is modified to include leave, DA would provide each member electronic access to all LES information including leave, almost exactly as it appears on the current hard copy LES. Members will be able view and/or print the page at will.

Although cost effective, elimination of the printed/mailed LES may not be completely desirable from a customer service perspective. Therefore, PPC has also explored creating a page that would provide customers a choice to continue to receive a printed and mailed hard copy of their LES in addition to the availability of the electronic information. Members would elect their preference as they see fit. Our expectation is this would significantly lower the number of printed and mailed statements. Initially we would set this page up only for LES information and then in future releases we could add other report products (W-2's; point statements, etc.) using the same logic.

This project is currently in development. We expect to begin testing in October 2009. If all goes well, we will discontinue mailing paper Leave and Earnings Statements in early 2010 except for those customers who have elected to receive a printed/mailed LES.


Related Content.

Registration Open for 2009 SPO/Admin Workshop

Published Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:30:15 CDT

Registration Opens for 2009 SPO/Admin Workshop

We are pleased to announce the dates for our annual PPC Topeka SPO/Admin Workshop to be held 22 through 24 September 2009, here in Topeka. The conference theme will be "Customer/Supplier/Partner" and reflects the role of SPOs with PPC and other stakeholders, working to deliver critical personnel services to the field.

We have scheduled a great agenda of relevant topics for SPOs and administrative yeomen based upon your feedback from last year's training workshop and the many changes currently taking place within the Coast Guard. It is important to note that this training workshop is considered "mission critical" for field personnel working in the personnel services arena for travel guidance purposes. We will have many subject-matter experts from Headquarters and other units providing the instruction, as well as our own PPC experts presenting a wealth of information.

Commander, Personnel Service Center Arlington will be our key note speaker. Rear Admiral Neptun will cover the latest developments in CG modernization, SPO transitions, and his vision of SPO service line management within the context of CG PSC Arlington's mission to deliver integrated personnel support for the Coast Guard's military workforce.

Similar to past years' events, PPC Topeka and other subject-matter experts will provide training and information on Direct Access, e-Travel and T-PAX, accessions, enlisted contracts, and reserve transactions. You will also learn about advancements, separations, PCS orders, as well as the most effective and efficient ways to interact with PPC to quickly address challenges.

Additional topics include the Coast Guard-wide data self validation, and other audit initiatives that affect PDR management, document retention, transactions, and other critical data maintained within Direct Access (D/A). You will also learn more about the SPO Metrics cube to query D/A data and report on the timeliness and accuracy of SPO data entry. We will update you on how you may gain the greatest benefit from using this tool to monitor your SPO, and help identify training and other needs. Get an advance look at this tool by clicking on the following link: (http://cgbi.osc.uscg.mil/) [Enter "SPO Metrics" in the Search field at the top, right-hand, corner of the page. Ed.]

Finally, the YN Rating Force Manager and YN Assignment Officers will be available to discuss rating-specific career information and issues of concern for yeomen at all levels. This is a great opportunity to speak to them directly and hear their thoughts in an open forum.

Workshop Registration:

Registration is simple! To register, e-mail CPO Zandra Sneed at zandra.sneed@uscg.mil. The registration deadline is 7 August 2009. We are limited by our venue at the Kansas historical Museum to 200 people, so please don't delay - register now. When you register please include the top three subjects of interest you want to hear about at the workshop!

I strongly encourage SPO chiefs and other leaders to attend this important workshop if at all possible. Put in your request for travel funds with your command (No PPC funding is available) and come out to learn the latest in your world of work so that you can take the information and improved skills back to your unit!

Thank you -- I look forward to seeing you in September in Topeka!

J. D. PHILLIPS, Captain, USCG
Commanding Officer
Pay & Personnel Center (PPC) Topeka

Sept Calendar

Related Content.

HR Self-Validation Detail Report now Available

Published Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:30:15 CDT

The HR Self-Validation Detail Report includes the following: the report tab 3

  • Status for each of the 12 validation fields for each employee.
  • List of members who have yet to complete the validation process.
  • List of members who have data issues (answered "False" on one or more items).

The report is refreshed daily.

This document (PDF) provides the procedure for running the report.


Related Content.

Critical Skills Training Bonus (CSTB) Ratings and Amounts

Published Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:00:15 CDT

The Critical Skills Training Bonus (CSTB) program authorizes incentive payments to non-rated members who affiliate with critical ratings by attending Class "A" school or enrolling in a striker program.

As announced in ALCOAST 352/09, here are the ratings and bonus amounts authorized effective 16 July 2009:

RatingAmountNotes
EM$6,000Complete EM "A" School or Strike
ET$4,000Complete ET "A" School
OS$6,000Complete OS "A" School AND agree to obligate a minimum of 04 years active duty upon graduation.

More information about the CSTB program and the agreement form can be found in Chapter 3.F (PDF file of Chapt 3.F only, 460KB) of the Coast Guard Personnel Manual.


Related Content.

New Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) Multiples

Published Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:30:15 CDT

Commandant (CG-1) announced the following SRB multiples which are effective on 16 July 2009:

ZONE-A SRB
Multiples:		Effective
16 July 2009
BM2, BM1 0.7

SRB "Kicker" Eligibility:
Boatswains Mates who possess
any of the Surfman Competency
Codes (CXNNLBS, CXNSJ, CXNSK,
CXNSM, OR CXNSU) will receive an
additional four (4.0) kicker added
to their SRB multiple

EM2, EM1 1.5
ET2, ET1 1.1

SRB "Kicker" Eligibility:
Electronics Technicians who possess
the MK92FCS Competency Code will
receive an additional three (3.0)
kicker added to their SRB multiple.

FS3 0.8
FS2, FS1 2.3
GM3 0.8
GM2, GM1 1.6

SRB "Kicker" Eligibility:
Gunners Mates who possess
the MK75 Competency
Code will receive an
additional one (1.0) kicker added
to their SRB multiple

IS3, IS2, IS1 0.8
IT3 0.8
IT2, IT1 1.8
OS2, OS1 0.7
ZONE-B SRB
Multiples:		Effective
16 July 2009
EM2, EM1 1.0
FS2, FS1 1.5
GM2 1.0
GM1 0.75

SRB "Kicker" Eligibility:
Gunners Mates who possess
the MK75 Competency
Code will receive an
additional one (1.0) kicker added
to their SRB multiple

IS2, IS1 0.5
IT2, IT1 0.5
OS1 0.5

Source: ALCOAST Message 353/09


Related Content.

Communicating with the CGPSC Self-Validation Team

Published Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:30:15 CDT

Communicating with the CGPSC Self-Validation Team

Over the next few weeks, the SPO's will be working with the TAD Self-Validation Team at the Personnel Service Center to identify members who have not completed the Direct Access self-validation with their reason why and, additionally, correct errors identified during the self-validation process. In response to ALCOAST 333/09, the TAD Self-Validation team has received multiple replies with minimal information from various units and members. In order to react more efficiently to these emails, the following must be included in every email concerning members that have NOT completed the self-validation: the DA Verify Validation Screen

  • Full name as it appears in Direct Access (i.e. CDR Jonathan Doe NOT CDR John Doe)
  • Employee Identification Number
  • Department Identification Number (i.e. 123456)
  • Reason Validation is incomplete (i.e. Member on Terminal Leave until Retirement on 01-JUL-09.)
  • If in the process of a PCS transfer, need the member's new DEPT ID and expected arrival date.

When a member identifies an error on the self-validation form, they are responsible for providing the SPO with documentation supporting the necessary change. Upon receiving the documentation, either verify or correct the information by making the appropriate changes in Direct Access or forwarding the document to the Pay & Personnel Center if you can not or are not authorized to make that correction. For further guidance on this process, refer to E-mail ALSPO C/09 (PDF).

If you did not forward the document to PPC for action (e.g. The discrepancy was correctable at the SPO level or the member reported a "False Negative"), send the document to the Validation Team after correcting or verifying information in Direct Access. Email: ARL-PF-CGPSC_Validations@uscg.mil. Be sure to save the document as a "PDF" file with the name including the member's EMPLID. If there is more than one document per person, include a letter designator for the sake of differentiation. (i.e. 1234567a.pdf, 1234567b.pdf) When you forward the documents to the Validation Team, do not combine different members' forms in one email. If necessary, send multiple emails to ensure the documents attached only reference one member; use their EMPLID as the e-mail subject line. The Self-Validation Team requires this data to complete the necessary quality assurance checks and ensure the documents are imported into the member's I-PDR.

ENS K. Dann, CGPSC, Self-Validation Team


Related Content.

SPO/Admin Workshop Date Change

Published Date: Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:00:15 CDT

The start date for the Annual PPC SPO/Admin Workshop (formerly the "Customer Advisory Council Meeting/SPO Conference") has changed from 21 September to 22 September. The end date remains 24 September.

Sept Calendar>


Related Content.

Goodbye Bob. We will miss you

Published Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:25:15 CDT
Bob at the 2008 PPC Coast Guard Day Picnic

PPC staff members were saddened to learn of the loss of one our shipmates over the weekend. Mr. Bob Tyler was killed in a motorcycle accident on Saturday, June 6 in the Alexandria, Virginia area. He and his wife Lynnae have been a part of our family for many years and just recently became part of the HQ family as both were employed there.

Before moving to Virginia in October of 2008 to begin working at Coast Guard Headquarters (CG-1012), Bob Tyler had been assigned to the Pay & Personnel Center, Procedures and Development (p&d) branch since February 2007, first as a Instructor/Developer and later as the Business Communications Specialist for the Procedures side. Bob was responsible for the content and development of the SPO Newsletter and other numerous PPC web instructions and notices. Prior to his assignment in (p&d) he worked in the Debt Collections Branch of the Military Accounts Support (mas) branch. Bob retired as a YN1 with more than twenty years of service in the US Air Force and Coast Guard.

There will be a local memorial service for Bob at the West Side Presbyterian Church, 1024 Kasold Dr., Lawrence, KS on Saturday, June 20th from 1-3 PM.


Related Content.

HR Data Self-Validation Update

Published Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 08:13:15 CDT

ALCOAST 333/09 extends the completion deadline to 30 June and provides procedures for notifying PSC Arlington when a member cannot complete the validation.

If a member, listed on your unit roster, cannot complete the Self-Validation by 30 June 09 notify the Reporting and Monitoring Team at PSC Arlingtion via e-mail to arl-pf-cgpsc_validations@uscg.mil


Related Content.

New Version of Form for Reenlistment Contracts

Published Date: Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:40:15 CDT

A new version of DD Form 4/1 (October 2007) has been released by the DoD. The October 2002 version, which is generated by Direct-Access, remains valid for Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve reenlistments. The October 2007 version of the form will be added to Direct-Access in a future software update.


Related Content.

SWE Sea/Surf Duty and Awards Point Policy Change

Published Date: Wed, 26 May 2009 08:40:15 CDT

ALCOAST message 318/09 announces a policy change to the procedure for crediting points for sea time, surf time, and awards in the final multiple on the servicewide examination. Effective 1 January 2010, Para 5.C.16 and Para 5.C.3.b. of the Personnel Manual, COMDTINST M1000.6 (series) are changed to authorize final multiple credit for only that sea time, surf time, and those awards earned at a member's current pay grade when their date of rank in that pay grade is 1 January 2010 or later. This change will be implemented with the following rule:

  • All members will receive full credit for all earned Coast Guard sea time, surf time, and all awards currently authorized final multiple points for their first advancement on or after 1 January 2010.

    For example, a member who is not advanced in 2010 but at a later date will continue to receive all earned Coast Guard credit for sea time, surf time, and all awards currently authorized. All subsequent advancements will be based on the new policy.

Visit the MCPOCG All Hands Blog for more information on this policy change.


Related Content.

Spotting Signs of a Rental Scam

Published Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 10:26:15 CDT

It's PCS season and the Federal Trade Commission has some timely advice for spotting rental scams.

Consumers in search of an apartment or house to rent often rely on online rental listings in order to find the right place, especially if they're looking in another city or state.

Unfortunately, scammers are taking advantage. Some make up phony listings, and try to lure renters with the promise of extra-low rent. They ask potential renters to send money before they see the apartment or sign a lease.

The Federal Trade Commission, the nation's consumer protection agency, wants to help consumers hang on to their hard-earned money by showing them how they can spot a rental scam. The FTC has developed a new Consumer Alert, Rental Listings May Be Red Herrings.

To learn more about avoiding rental scams, go to

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt002.shtm

.
Related Content.

E-Mail ALSPO Message C/09; SPO Procedures for HR Data Self Validation Corrections and Verifications

Published Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 10:25:15 CDT

This E-Mail ALSPO message provides SPO procedures for the HR Data Self Validation.

A new page has been added to Direct Access to record SPO and PPC action taken on "False" responses submitted by members completing the HR Data Self Validation.

E-Mail ALSPO C/09 (PDF)).


Related Content.

HR Data Self-Validation Progress and New Tools

Published Date: Tue, 19 May 2009 10:25:15 CDT

ALCOAST 295/09, provides a progress report on the HR Data Self-Validation.

As mentioned in the ALCOAST, the HR Self-Validation Measure (report) is now available in Coast Guard Business Intelligence (PDF).

PPC is working on a Direct-Access Self-Validation Verification Page for SPOs (Advance copy of E-Mail ALSPO C/09 (PDF)). The new page, which will be available in Direct Access next week, will be used to record SPO and PPC action taken on "False" responses submitted by members completing the HR Data Self Validation.


Related Content.

Officer Competency Codes

Published Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 11:50:15 CDT

SPOs should not make any changes to Officer Billet Codes (OBC) or add any Officer Specialty Codes (OSC) codes during the transition to the new Officer Specialty Management System.

The Future Force Office (CG-1B1) is currently working with the Office of Workforce Forecasting (CG-12A) and the Personnel Service Center (PSC) on a series of pilot programs to develop best practices before assigning Officer Specialty Codes (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 ALCOAST 154/09, which summarizes Officer Competencies, Specialties, Assignment History, Education, etc. Pilot Program participants compare their ESS data with the requirements in the Officer Specialty Templates to assess the accuracy of their assigned OSC. This will lead to the development of best practices to assign and validate OSC to the remainder of the Officer Corps. The lessons learned and recommendations from the recently completed Phase One Pilot involving the Assignment Officers (AO) in PSC-OPM-2 have been incorporated in the Business Rules for upcoming phases of the Pilot Program. Subsequent phases will include the remaining officers in 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 ALCOAST 154/09 in preparation for the service-wide OSC validation initiative. We envision an annual OSC validation process conducted much like the OER Review process.

Due to the strategic intent of the Pilot Programs discussed above, ALL OFFICERS must refrain from engaging with SPO or ADMIN staffs to update legacy OBC or add new OSC data to their individual records at this time. SEVERAL RECORDS HAVE RECENTLY BEEN ANNOTATED TO SHOW THE NEW OSC AND THOSE NOT AUTHORIZED WILL BE REMOVED BY CG-1B1. THIS IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE DATA INTEGRITY OF THE OSMS.


Related Content.

New Date Fields Added to the Honors and Awards Component in Direct Access

Published Date: Wed, 13 May 2009 11:30:15 CDT

The Direct Access Honors and Awards (Individual) Component (Develop Workforce, Manage Competencies (GBL), Use, Honors and Awards) now includes fields to show the periods of meritorious service and/or acts.


The Honors and Awards Page with new date fields

Per 1.B.3 of the Awards Manual, awards will be made for either a period of meritorious service or for performance of a specific meritorious achievement or act. Citations and certificates for awards for an extended period of meritorious service are denoted by the month and year only for the inclusive period (e.g., June 2008 - November 2009). Awards for performance of a specific meritorious achievement or act will include the date, month and year for the inclusive period (e.g., 24 November 2008, 25 - 29 June 2009, or 22 May 2009 - 15 June 2009). The new date fields in Direct Access require the full date to be entered (e. g. 05/01/2009 for 01 May 2009). Therefore, when entering an award that only includes the month and year for the inclusive period (e.g., June 2008 - November 2009) you should use the first and last days of the month(s) to construct a complete date (e.g., From Date: 06/01/2008 - To Date: 11/30/2009 for an award that spans the period June 2008 - November 2009).


Related Content.

E-Mail ALSPO B/09; Self Validation Data Corrections and Post-9/11 GI Bill Customer Care Tickets

Published Date: Thu, 07 May 2009 15:30:15 CDT

This e-mail ALSPO message addresses PPC customer care ticket submission resulting from Self Validation data corrections, and future Post-9/11 GI Bill eligibility inquiries.

It also provides new procedures for:

  • Attaching supporting documentation to Customer Care Trouble Tickets (Note: This functionality is only available on the CGWEB version of the Trouble Ticket web form at http://cgweb.ppc.uscg.mil/ccb)
  • New procedures for requesting Statements of Creditable Service/Sea Service

Read/download E-Mail ALSPO B/09 (PDF)


Related Content.

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative - Foreign PCS Travel for Dependents

Published Date: Thu, 07 Apr 2009 12:15:15 CDT

Do you have your U.S. Passport? The Coast Guard Director of International Affairs & Foreign Policy (CG-DCO-I) wants to make you aware of some potential concerns in light of the upcoming implementation of phase two of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) on 01 June 2009. The International Affairs office has received a lot of questions concerning passports for dependents traveling under PCS orders to Alaska (via Canada) and other foreign countries thus the reason this announcement.

PCS TRAVEL TO & FROM ALASKA (through Canada):

Dependents must have a passport for travel to or from Alaska if they plan to enter Canada for any portion of their transit. This is not a Canadian requirement, this is a United State requirement.

CHILDREN: U.S. citizen children under the age of 16 will be able to present the original or copy of their birth certificate, or other proof of U.S. citizenship such as a naturalization certificate or citizenship card.

  1. Dependents can have a valid tourist passport or a dependent no-fee passport. If dependents already have a tourist passport at the time PCS orders are issued, they do not need to apply for the dependent no-fee passport.
  2. If dependents DO NOT have a tourist passport at the time PCS orders are issued, they should apply for the dependent no-fee passport.

NOTE: If dependents apply for a tourist passport for the PCS transfer they will NOT be reimbursed by the USCG.

Why can dependents travel on tourist passport or dependent no-fee passport?

The requirement to have a passport to re-enter the U.S. is a Department of Homeland Security requirement. The issuance of the dependent no-fee passport vice the tourist boils down to cost. If the dependents already have tourist passport then there is no need to obtain the dependent no-fee passports for travel through Canada.

It is important to apply for the dependent passports if the dependents DO NOT have a tourist passport. It is not realistic to expect that a family traveling to or from Alaska (via Canada) should spend several hundreds of dollars to obtain passports for their travel. The dependent no-fee passport is free for dependents vice the $60-$80.00 cost for a single tourist passport. There may be some minimal cost to apply for the dependent no-fee passport (passport photos and/or processing fee at a local U.S. post office). Those types of expenses are reimbursable on the PCS travel claim per JFTR, Appendix G.

PCS ASSIGNMENT TO A FOREIGN COUNTRY (does not include Canada):

  1. Dependents MUST apply for a dependent no-fee passport for a PCS tour abroad. The dependents are authorized to use the dependent no-fee passport any foreign travel performed while they are assigned overseas with the active duty member.
  2. If a dependent wishes to apply for a tourist passport for a PCS tour abroad they may do so but there is no reimbursement for the tourist passport.

For all dependent passport questions or concerns please contact the Passport & Visa Staff (Tel. 202-372-4465/4474/4476) or the local Coast Guard Certified Passport Agent (a listing if passport agents is available from the Servicing Personnel Office).

For more information on the WHTI, please visit the websites below:


Related Content.

Per Diem Committee Web Page and JFTR Update

Published Date: Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:15:15 CDT

The following information was updated for 01 May 2009:

  • Foreign and OCONUS Non-Foreign Per Diem Rates
  • FY 2009 CONUS Per Diem Rates
  • Overseas Cost of Living (OCOLA) and Housing (OHA) Allowances
  • Travel Regulations (JFTR & JTR)

To access the updated information, go to http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/


Related Content.

VA Accepting Applications for Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits

Published Date: Fri, 01 May 2009 14:05:15 CDT

The Department of Veterans Affairs is now accepting and processing applications for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. You should complete and submit the application form available online and will receive a letter explaining VA's decision regarding your eligibility for the program.

The application form requires that individuals currently eligible for benefits under the Montgomery GI BILL-Active Duty (MGIB-AD), Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) or the Reserve Educational Assistance Program (REAP) make an irrevocable election from their existing program to the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Read more and apply at http://www.gibill.va.gov.


Related Content.

HR Data Validation: SPO Instructions

Published Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:05:15 CDT

The SPO will play a key role in the successful execution of the HR Data Self-Validation process. The SPO will serve as the first line of contact to incoming inquiries from the service members. The service member is instructed to contact the SPO when specific HR data elements can not accurately be validated as "True" or if the member has general questions on responding to the HR Self-Validation Form as a whole.

For instances where a member responds "False" to any one of the data elements, the service member will be required to contact their SPO upon completion of the HR Self-Validation Form. The SPO will then assign the problem into one of three categories:

  1. resolve members' questions;
  2. troubleshoot the problem; or
  3. have PPC Topeka resolve the problem.

In scenarios 1 and 2 above, the SPO will obtain relevant supporting documentation (in accordance with the Imaged Personnel Data Record (IPDR) ALCOAST 208/09 instructions, dated 1 April 2009) to correct the problem within Direct Access. In the case of scenario 3, the SPO will transfer the case with the relevant supporting documentation to PPC via a Customer Care Trouble Ticket to correct the invalid data element within Direct Access. PPC will issue an e-Mail ALSPO message with additional guidance for submitting Trouble Tickets on or about 4 May 2009.

Please download the HR Data Validation SPO Instructions from http://www.uscg.mil/ppc/selfvalidation/ for detailed guidance.


Related Content.

HR Data Validation: FAQ

Published Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:25:15 CDT

Why is it important that I complete this Self-Validation Form? What happens if I have not validated the Form by May 31st, will my pay stop?

The answers to these and 15 other questions are available in the FAQ - http://www.uscg.mil/ppc/da/SelfValidationFAQ.pdf


Related Content.

HR Data Validation - Prep: Accessing DA

Published Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:10:15 CDT

Per Flag Voice 319 (Human Resources Data Validation) and ALCOAST 206/09 (Warning Order - May 2009 Direct Access HR Data Self Validation), it is critical that every active duty member and members of the Selected Reserve (SELRES) ensure they can log onto Direct Access (DA) so that they may complete the Self-Validation.

As explained in ALCOAST 598/08 (DA and TPAX Password Reset Functions) , all members must have their @uscg.mil or @dhs.gov email address entered in DA as their "Business email address" to use the automated password reset function. Members with limited or no access to a CG standard workstation may use Outlook Web Access (OWA) to receive password resets through their personal outlook in box via the web. See ALCOAST 375/08 for procedures on setting up OWA. Members who do not have a Coast Guard or DHS email account must contact their servicing IT staff (ESU/ESD, or TISCOM) to have an account established. These members can then use OWA to access their Coast Guard email.

PPC has completed all DA/TPAX changes and updates necessary for members to be able to receive password resets via the Forgot Your Password function via email 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and to comply with ALCOAST 598/08.

For those members who still require assistance with their user ID or setting up their Forgotten Password Function, a step-by-step guide titled "Password Reset Setup Guide" can be found at: http://www.uscg.mil/ppc/pswdreset. If the procedure in the guide does not work, the member should contact their SPO to correct their email address in their personal data. SPOs can find the procedure for updating a member's email address in the DA Online Guide at: http://www.uscg.mil/ppc/ps/spo/employee_home_and_mailing_address_change.htm.


Related Content.

Servicing Personnel Office Newsletter, 01/2009

Published Date: Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:45:15 CDT

The SPO Newsletter for January - March 2009 is now available. This issue includes the following articles:

  • Unit Name Change
  • Dates for Next SPO Conference
  • Changes to Documentation and Data Validation Requirements
  • About the SPO Newsletter
  • PPC Web Addresses
  • New Coast Guard Pay Manual Released
  • Timing of PCS Reporting Entitlement Transactions
  • Redesign of Online Customer Care Trouble-Ticket
  • Personnel Service Center, Arlington VA, Established
  • PSC Arlington, Divisions & Branches
  • 25-Years of Modernization for CGHR
  • Amending CGPSC (epm) Separation Authorizations
  • Correcting or Deleting Reenlistment Contracts
  • Per Diem Committee Merged with Defense Travel
  • E-mail Access required for Password Resets
  • BAH/COLA for Single members Paying Child Support
  • HHGs Transportation/Storage for Retiring/Separating Members
  • PCS Travel Claim Tips
  • Airline Tickets and Passports for OVERSEAS/OUTCONUS Travel
  • YNs Microsite Moves to New CG Portal
  • Deployable Operations Group Names SPO YN as Enlisted Person of the Year
  • PPC Workshops
  • Change Log: PPC Worksheets
  • PCS - Fleet Ups, Extensions and Termination of DA User Roles

Related Content.

May 2009 Direct Access HR Data Self Validation

Published Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:45:15 CDT

As announced in ALCOAST 206/09, all active duty and SELRES members are required to complete a validation of certain critical data elements in Direct-Access during the month of May 2009.

The elements are:

  1. Is the Member is receiving pay?
  2. Date of Birth
  3. Pay Grade
  4. Marital Status
  5. Number BAH Dependents
  6. Pay Entry Base Date
  7. Active Duty Base Date (Active Duty members only)
  8. Component
  9. Employee ID Number
  10. Date Initial Entry Military Service
  11. Career Status Bonus Election Status
  12. Qualifying Service (YYMMDD) (SELRES members only)

The Self-Service data validation page will be added to the system in May.
Related Content.

New Pay Manual Released

Published Date: Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:15:15 CDT

The new version of the U. S. Coast Guard Pay Manual, COMDTINST M7220.29B is now available via the Coast Guard Directives System web site at http://www.uscg.mil/directives/listing_cim.asp?id=7000-7999.

Changes in this edition include:

  • Chapter 3: Updated to incorporate extensive changes to BAH policies and procedures, including BAH rate protection.
  • Chapter 4: Added references to WMSLs in section on CSEAPAY. Added section on Foreign Language Proficiency Pay.
  • Chapter 5: Incorporated ALCOAST on Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay for Visit, Board, Search and Seizure Boarding Teams (HDIP-VBSS).
  • Chapter 10: Updated information on severance and separation pay.
  • Chapter 16: Added section on Concurrent Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP).

Related Content.

Coast Guard E-mail Access Required for Password Resets

Published Date: Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:00:15 CDT

By: James Glynn, PPC Customer Care

Using automatic password reset features for DA and T-PAX is the quickest way to receive a new password, via email, 24/7 - without having to contact PPC and have a manual password reset performed. ALCOAST 598/08 directed all CG members with standard CG workstation access to enable Outlook Web Access (OWA) to make possible password resets through their personal Outlook inbox via the web. Additionally, it set 1 April 2009, as the last day that personnel, with standard CG workstation access, could contact PPC Customer Care for password reset support. Now, only personnel without standard CG workstation access are authorized to contact the PPC for password reset support. All manual DA/T-PAX password reset support will end on 1 July 2009. This deadline provides ample time for personnel to establish OWA access.

All CG civilian and military personnel are required to validate a current/correct e-mail address in both their DA and T-PAX profiles. It is imperative that all personnel maintain "uscg.mil" or "dhs.gov" email addresses in both systems. Compliance with this automatically enables the "Forgotten Password" reset function in both systems.

To assist personnel and commands in this tasking, a Step-by-Step Guide can be found at: http://www.uscg.mil/ppc/pswdreset. Additionally, a report titled "CG_Recall_Contact_Info" in DA can help commanding officers identify members for non-compliance with the "Forgotten Password" reset function in DA. No tools are currently available for this use in T-PAX.


Related Content.

Amending CGPSC (epm) Separation Authorizations

Published Date: Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:45:15 CDT

By: CWO Martin Shepler, PPC (ses)

When CGPSC (epm) issues a Separation Authorization, they normally provide a separation date 25-30 days in the future. When the reason for discharge is Misconduct or Unsuitability, rapid discharge processing is often requested. Please remember, if you request an amendment to the date after you previously started working the discharge based on the original CGPSC (epm) issued date, and have a saved separation in a pending status, you must delete that pending separation that is using the original authority. Upon hitting the yellow minus sign and deleting the old saved pending separation, the new amended date will come forward and you can start working the separation using the new authority.

PPC (ses) can only move up a discharge date to permit rapid processing. If you, or a unit Commanding Officer requests a delay from the original discharge authority, you must contact CGPSC (epm).


Related Content.

Correcting or Deleting Reenlistment Contracts

Published Date: Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:40:15 CDT

By: James Glynn, PPC (ccb)

Reenlistment contracts may be deleted if the transaction has not been approved by the SPO supervisor (CGHRSUP Role User). Press the Delete Row button minus sign to delete a contract with an approval status of "Pending".

The SPO cannot make Corrections to or Delete a Reenlistment Contract transaction after it has been approved and saved. If the Reenlistment Contract has been approved and saved and any information on the transaction is incorrect, contact PPC Customer Care, via the online trouble-ticket at http://www.uscg.mil/ppc/ccb. If the contract has not been executed (e.g. Signed by the member and oath administered), PPC can delete the contract and the member's the Contract Expected End Date, Expected Loss Date and Expected AD Term Date will all be reset to what they were prior to the reenlistment. Changes to executed contracts require approval by Commander, Coast Guard Personnel Service Center (epm/rpm).


Related Content.

Timing of PCS Reporting Entitlements Transactions

Published Date: Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:35:15 CDT

By: Chris Gambers, PPC (mas/ert)

After the PCS Reporting Endorsement is approved by the SPO Supervisor/Auditor (CGHRSUP Role User), then it's time to review the member's current pay entitlements. Start by clicking the Employee Entitlements link.

Submit transactions as necessary to start Pay and Allowances applicable for the member's new duty station and/or duty status.

When the PCS pay entitlements are approved prior to approving the PCS Reporting Endorsement, pay delays and/or pay problems result for our members. The PCS Reporting Endorsement is designed to "stop" certain pay entitlements in JUMPS. When approved out of sequence, the PCS Reporting Endorsement shuts down allowances the member is entitled to. For example, the PCS reporting endorsement will shut down any BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) when it processes. So if the SPO incorrectly approves the member's new BAH row transaction (applicable to the new duty station), prior to approving the PCS Reporting Endorsement, BAH will shut down in JUMPS creating an "underpayment" situation for the member. The BAH segment is opened in JUMPS, but gets shut down/closed immediately when the PCS reporting Endorsement is approved out of sequence.

More on the timing of PCS entitlement transactions

Many times an SPO will approve a departing or reporting PCS endorsement, save it, then look at the member's entitlement rows in Direct Access and it will look like the stop dates were not inserted when the endorsement was approved. This sometimes causes the SPO to attempt to insert the dates manually. If the dates do not show up in entitlements, click `Return to Search' and then go back into the member's entitlements summary. The dates will be inserted.

When an SPO inserts the date manually causes several problems:

  • When the auto stop function is allowed to work it does not create an audit record. Therefore no transaction is sent to JUMPS. If it is manually entered an audit record is created and will kick out on the exception report because the JUMPS auto stop program already closed the segments on the correct date.
  • There have been numerous occasions where the SPO entered an incorrect date when manually entering the dates, most frequently, when entering ENLBAS. Remember that ENLBAS stops effective the day of PCS reporting. Therefore, transactions to start ENLBAS or BASDMR at the new PDS should be input with an effective date the day after the date or reporting.

It is also important to remember that the JUMPS auto stop program is shutting down the proper segments when the departing or reporting endorsement is transmitted to JUMPS.

The Direct Access auto stop function is inserting the dates to reflect what JUMPS is doing. No transaction is sent to JUMPS when these dates are inserted. Due to deferred processing there is a delay before the system-generated stop entries will appear in the entitlements section.


Related Content.

Changes to Documentation and Data Validation Requirements Necessary

Published Date: Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:40:15 CDT

By: CWO4 Dave Schuster, Specialty Force Manager - PERS, CG-10

Accuracy of HR information impacts the readiness of the workforce. Having correct information on service members ensures that the workforce received the correct pay and benefits.

Changes made to the HR processes in the past were adequate at the time; however, they are not effective in today's environment. The Coast Guard must improve the accuracy of the information within our data systems and make improvements to the business process so that accurate information is retained going forward.

The Coast Guard is tackling the current situation of our actuarial reporting on several fronts.

  1. Self validation of data. Currently the Coast Guard has issues with HR data accuracy. A few key data elements are required to be verified by each service member. As with all HR events, the SPO will play a crucial role in the execution of the survey in Direct Access. For the majority of the service members, the data elements will be straight forward. However, Active Duty Base Date (ADBD) and Pay Entry Base Date (PEBD) are constructed for individuals with prior service and/or a break in service. The understanding of these data elements will be important in order for the Coast Guard to address the legacy data discrepancies with this self validation. The self validation process that will take place for all Active Duty, Reserve, and Reserve on Active Duty in Direct Access and when launched must complete by the anticipated release date of 1 May 09. An ALCOAST will be sent out prior to release, along with several emails to all members and possibly other communication channels (iCOMMANDANT, COAST GUARD Magazine, LES notes, etc).
  2. YN - MRA. The Manpower Requirements Analysis (MRA) will look at the world of work of the Yeoman workforce within the Servicing Personnel Offices and also the Personnel and Administration Offices. This MRA also covers all Collateral Duties currently being performed by YN's. There will be eight or so site visits that either I or YNCM Jennings (or both) will be heavily involved with.
  3. Assessment of the controls (checks) within the HR system starting with Accessions then moving to the SPOs. This will be a holistic approach to look at systems and business processes.
  4. Updating the PDR instruction (COMDTINST M1080.10). In summary, new documents will be required to be maintained in the IPDR (Birth Certificate, Marriage License/Divorce Decree, Dependent birth certificates, Promotions message and current executed PCS orders). These documents support key data on service members to ensure the proper entitlements and security issues. Once the new policy is in place, a CG-1 entity (CGPC, PPC, or CG-12) will need to perform a validation that the policy is being followed. Quarterly reviews will be necessary at first. After the Coast Guard can support that the policy is in place for approximately a year, then the validation could be rolled into

Related Content.

PSC Arlington, Divisions & Branches

Published Date: Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:30:15 CDT

Enlisted Personnel Management Division

  1. Advancements and Separations Branch (epm-1)
  2. Assignments Branch (epm-2)

Officer Personnel Management Division

  1. Boards, Promotions & Separations Branch (opm-1)
  2. Assignments Branch (opm-2)
  3. Evaluation Branch (opm-3)
  4. Career Management Branch (opm-4)

Reserve Personnel Management Division

  1. Reserve Officers Branch (rpm-1)
  2. Reserve Assignments Branch (rpm-2)
  3. Reserve Enlisted Branch (rpm-3)

Personnel Services Division (establish May 09, currently Administration Division)

  1. Disability Evaluations (de) (currently adm-1)
  2. Medical Review (med) (currently PSC-cm)
  3. Military Records (mr) (currently adm-3)
  4. Field Support (fs) (establish May 09)
  5. Surge Staffing (ss) (establish May 09)

Related Content.

PCS Departing Worksheet Updated

Published Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:00:15 CDT

The PCS departing worksheet (CG PPC-2000, http://www.uscg.mil/ppc/forms/ppc2005.pdf) has been revised (Rev. 03/2009) to include an additional page on Household Goods (HHGs) information. This page addresses Personally Procured Moves, certified weight tickets not obtained or lost/destroyed, and HHG's transportation and Non-Temporary Storage (NTS) upon separation from active duty.

The "Departure Date Requested" block was changed to "Departure Date (Last Day of Duty at current unit)" to demonstrate that the PCS date of departure is a day of duty, not a day leave, travel or proceed time. The PCS reporting date, on the other hand, IS a day of leave, travel, proceed time or other authorized delay, unless the 0900 rule applies. The 0900 rule is used when the orders are for a same day transfer (A term used on orders directing a change of station where both stations are located within the same corporate limits and, therefore, do not require traveling) and on orders involving leave only (no travel/proceed time). Under orders involving leave only, when the member reports determines whether the reporting date is a day of duty or a day of leave. If the member reports at or before 0900, the day would be a day of duty; if he or she reports after 0900 the day is a day of leave.


Related Content.

Changes in Income Tax Withholding Reflected in 1 April 2009 "Paychecks"

Published Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:30:15 CDT

New withholding tables may reduce the amount of income tax withheld from your wages.

Coast Guard Pay & Personnel Center, Topeka, loaded new federal income tax withholding (FITW) tables in the Joint Uniform Military Pay System (JUMPS) for the 1 April payday. The new tables were used, by JUMPS, to calculate your FITW effective March 2009.

The new tables, prescribed by the Department of the Treasury, reflect the Making Work Pay credit and other changes resulting from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. For 2009 and 2010, the Making Work Pay provision of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will provide a refundable tax credit of up to $400 for working individuals and $800 for married taxpayers filing joint returns. This tax credit will be calculated at a rate of 6.2 percent of earned income and will phase out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $75,000, or $150,000 for married couples filing jointly.

You do not have to submit a Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate, to get the automatic withholding change. If you do not want to have your withholding reduced (because, for example, you have more than one job or you are married and your combined income places you in a higher tax bracket), you may want to file a new Form W-4 (Use Direct-Access; Self-Service > Employee > Tasks > W-4 Tax Information). You may claim fewer withholding allowances or request additional amounts to be withheld each month. IRS Publication 919 (http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p919.pdf) provides additional guidance for tax withholding.


Related Content.

About the New PSC

Published Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:05:15 CDT

This is the second in our series of articles about the new Personnel Service Center. In this article CWO2 Carr, of the Coast Recruiting Command, provides an overview of the PSC organization and mission.

By: CWO2 S. Carr, Coast Guard Recruiting Command

The United Stated Coast Guard continues to modernize its infrastructure to be more flexible, agile, and adaptable to change; and changes to its human resource system are in progress as part of the Commandant's overall efforts. While many responsibilities have been centralized for efficiency and standardization, the Coast Guard has not had a single organizational unit responsible for executing personnel policies and administering the Coast Guard's military workforce.

To meet this need, the Commandant of the Coast Guard directed the creation of a new command structure, the Personnel Service Center, under the Flag direction of Rear Admiral Daniel Neptun. The Personnel Service Center is designed to support mission execution by integrating all aspects of military personnel support: recruiting and accessing new members, assigning and developing careers, maintaining health and well-being for personnel, overseeing compensation, and separating and retiring all Coast Guard military personnel.

Admiral Neptun will be in command of 1,685 active duty members and 573 civilian employees plus over 1800 Non-Appropriated Funds employees stationed from Guam to San Juan. Admiral Neptun will oversee four functional divisions of the Personnel Service Center in Arlington, Va., and also 17 subordinate personnel commands, including: the Pay & Personnel Center in Topeka, KS., the Health Safety and Work-Life Support Activity Command in Norfolk, Va., the Community Services Command in Chesapeake, Va., the Coast Guard Recruiting Command also in Arlington, Va, and Personnel Service and Support Units across the United States.

Personnel Service Center divisions are designed to streamline personnel operations, working in unison using service line management to give field operators one place to call for all the tools they need to equip people for mission execution. Officer, Enlisted and Reserve Personnel Management Divisions will serve as the service line managers for all service members' assignments, ensuring operational units have qualified members to meet the unit's mission execution requirements. Additionally, each division's responsibilities include promotions, advancements, separations and evaluations. The Reserve Personnel Management Division will redefine the way the Coast Guard handles its Reserve force and will ultimately position all Reserve assignments under one roof. This unification allows for greater flexibility for the augmentations of reservist to operational commanders during a crisis.

The Recruiting Command being the first stop for the majority of all service members. This command has the responsibility of bringing in the "best ten not the first ten." They change the face of the Coast Guard daily and have a monumental impact on the future operations and leadership of the nation's oldest sea-going service. Individuals at the Pay and Personnel Center don't drive ships or boats; neither do they jump into helicopters and fly off into stormy oceans. But without the men and women who manage and operate the PPC, none, of the more than 40,000 active-duty or 10,000 reserve Guardians, would receive their pay, have their travel claims processed, receive their orders for temporary assignments or orders for a change of duty station. The creation of the Health Safety and Work-life Support Activity Command will unify our medical services, Work-life programs and Tricare effectively drawling on the strength of all the command's team members to provide a comprehensive system of care to Coast Guard members and their families. The new Community Services Command brings together all the quality-of-life entities within the service whose purpose is to uplift the spirits of the Coast Guard family: both active-duty members and their dependants. By dovetailing support functions such as housing offices, MWR offices, and Coast Guard Exchange system, the Coast Guard has reached a modernization highpoint to maximize benefits Coast Guard members use daily. At 13 locations across the United States, Personnel Service and Support Units will provide services and expertise for personnel situations that go beyond a field unit's capability.

PSC is a critical component of the Coast Guard's modernization effort. The men and women of the PSC find quality people for the service, manage their career paths and assist in their growth, and provide the Coast Guard a sustaining workforce to meet demanding mission requirements well into the future.


Related Content.

Modernization Update - The New Coast Guard Personnel Service Center

Published Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:00:15 CDT

The new Coast Guard Personnel Service Center was officially established on 16 March 2009 (see the Commandant's blog for a story on the ceremony). We thought this would be a good time to provide a brief review of Coast Guard HR management history. This is the first in a series of articles we'll be posting on the Modernized HR management structure.

By: CWO2 S. Carr, Coast Guard Recruiting Command

A good military tactician will tell you the keys to success in the present lie in the chronicles of the past. The human resources challenges the Coast Guard faces today have their roots in the history of professional military forces as far back as the Roman Legions. The Roman Army's version of a modern day Yeoman managed not only a legionnaire's length of enlistment but also his pay, about 112 denarii a year minus his deductions for his arms and food.

Coast Guard Human Resources have come a long way since the 1790 inception of our service. Over the last 25-years, we have been on a journey to modernize, a journey to create a nimble, adaptable and flexible command capable of integrating all personnel issues.

Prior to 1990, personnel services throughout the Coast Guard were de-centralized and isolated which lead to many short comings in the way Coast Guard members received personnel services.

Each District command had a Personnel Branch with broad authority to process pay, travel claims, assignments, orders and separations. This non-uniform process allowed for a non-standard interpretation of Coast Guard policy by the individual Personnel Branches within District commands. Military pay was a process that took Storekeepers nearly an entire month and generated mountains of paper to complete the two pay cycles each month. Personnel assignments of the most junior enlisted members were managed at the District Commander's level. Medical Clinics were an entity unto themselves with little oversight into the care provided to service members; Work-Life programs were non-existent and a member's personal, family, financial or emotional needs were on the shoulders of the unit's commanding officer. Local exchanges were basically `Mom and Pop' stores that worked for the unit's commanding officer and had no central buying power.

Centralization of many services in the 1990's provided a key transition point to modernize Coast Guard personnel services as they sailed into new territory. The Work-Life program was established in 1990 giving service members a single place to turn to for health promotion, family support or substance abuse to name a few. In 1993, the Assignments and Career Management functions moved from Headquarters offices to a Military Personnel Command which later became Coast Guard Personnel Command. This allowed for the integration of officer, enlisted and reserve personnel issues under one command. The mountains of payroll paper were replaced by automation. Travel functions were centralized in 1995 at the Pay & Personnel Center in Topeka, KS, and travel claims Coast Guard wide were processed in one location. Recruiting operations, which consisted of three commands: Eastern, Central and Western, was moved out of Coast Guard Headquarters in 1995 to become of a division of the newly formed Military Personnel Command. In 1998, the Coast Guard Exchange system was centralized under the National Exchange operation.

Crossing into the new Century, the Coast Guard continued its modernization with a Joint Rating Review in 2001 in an effort to craft a workforce to match the operational requirements of the service. A Chief Warrant Officer Specialty Review in 2003 continued the work of the Joint Rating Review and resulted in a realignment of warrant specialties, including the MSS specialty - the first personnel specialty intended draw individuals from many backgrounds to fill mission needs.

In 2001, the Recruiting Division of Personnel Command was turned into a separate command and in 2005 moved out of the Personnel Command offices and into their present office space in Arlington, Va.

As the spring of 2009 approaches, the pieces in are place for the culmination of 25 years of integration of our human resources system: the formation of new Coast Guard Personnel Service Center. This command will continue to benefit and learn from the past while charting a course and lead Coast Guard personnel services into the future.


Related Content.

New Uniforms Regulations Manual Released

Published Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:35:15 CDT
The cover of the new manual

Major changes in this revision include:

  • An updated uniform donation and disposal policy.
  • Elimination of the date for women's old-style Service Dress Blue jacket.
  • Six new warrant officer specialty markings.
  • Defines organizational clothing and the criteria for purchasing with unit funds.
  • Expands section on the camouflage utility uniform.
  • Inclusion of the new religious headgear policy.
  • Authorization and manner of wear for backpacks and bags while in uniform.
  • The inclusion of two additional chapters. Chapter five (Uniform Ordering and Uniform Care), and Chapter 6 (Uniform Fitting and Alteration).

The new manual can be accessed via the Coast Guard Directives Systems web site at http://www.uscg.mil/directives/cim.asp.

Source: ALCOAST 150/09


Related Content.

Office Closure

Published Date: Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:00:15 CDT
PPC Topeka offices will be minimum staffed on Thursday 19 March 2009 beginning at 1200 hrs (central time) to close of business day so staff members may attend command sponsored morale event. Normal business hours will resume on Friday 20 March 2009.
Related Content.

Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee (PDTATAC) merged with the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO)

Published Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2009 15:00:15 CDT

Defense Travel SealThe staff and responsibilities of the Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee (PDTATAC) merged with the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) on 1 October 2008, streamlining central management of commercial travel policy for DoD.

Effective 1 March 2009, the Per Diem Committee Website's new URL is http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem.

About PDTATAC:

PDTATAC ensures uniform travel and transportation regulations are issued pursuant to applicable laws and policies. PDTATAC coordinates with GSA and the State Department to establish per diem rates for OCONUS locations. PDTATAC also oversees several programs such as Continental U.S. Cost of Living Allowance (CONUS COLA), Outside Continental U.S. Cost of Living Allowance (OCONUS COLA), Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) as well as the Travel Regulation Change Process.


Related Content.

BAH/COLA Entitlements for Single Members Paying Child Support

Published Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2009 13:00:15 CDT

The CGHQ Military Compensation Division (CG-1222) continues to receive debt collection waiver/remission application packages from erroneously overpaid single members who pay child support for a child(ren) that is in the custody of another active duty member or active duty former spouse. SPO personnel could eliminate these erroneous BAH/COLA overpayment situations by correctly applying the rules for members married to other active duty members (M-to-M) or who were formerly married to active duty members. Housing and station allowance rules are considerably different for M-to-M couples and former couples than the rules for active duty members with spouses/former spouses that are not on active duty.* It is safe to presume that active duty members or active duty former spouses who are the primary physical custodians of children will be the one to receive with-dependent allowances.**

The M-to-M rule-of-thumb for with-dependent allowances is that "you can't get two scalps out of one pelt." This means that in most former M-to-M cases the non-custodial member*** paying child support to another active duty member or active duty former spouse is normally not, repeat, not authorized allowances at with-dependent rates. With-dependent allowances includes BAH or OHA at the with-dependents rate based on payment of child support (BAH code T), BAH-DIFF (if non-custodial member is assigned to or occupies government-owned or leased single-type quarters - BAH-code DP or DQ), CONUS-COLA, and O'CONUS-COLA. The non-custodial member is only authorized BAH or OHA without dependents, or BAH Partial if assigned to single-type barracks or shipboard quarters), and COLAs at the without-dependent rates. This is because the custodial active duty member is receiving BAH or OHA at the with-dependents rate (BAH code L), or is assigned to government-owned or leased family-type quarters on behalf of the dependent child(ren) (BAH code A, B, or C), and with-dependent COLAs. The Services only provide one with-dependent set of allowances (in cash or in-kind) for the same dependent.

A member paying child support who submits CG PPC-2020, Dependency Worksheet, must answer questions 15 thru 23 if he or she claims with-dependent allowances (including BAH-DIFF) on the basis of child support payments. If this section is left blank, it is in everyone's best interest for the SPO YN to verify with the member that the child(ren) is/are not in the custody of another active duty member or active duty former spouse (this includes non-active duty former spouses who are primary physical child custodians that have remarried another active duty member who is, in turn, receiving with-dependent allowances (or assigned to family quarters). For head-scratching questions on this subject (including cases involving both dependent children and dependent parents) get help via e-mail from: compensation@comdt.uscg.mil.

*A divorce decree that indicates "joint custody" between former spouses usually means that decisions affecting the child's upbringing are to be made jointly. One former spouse will be the child's primary physical custodian and the other former spouse will normally be required to pay child support to the actual physical custodian. See Figure 3-12, Section 3-D-9, and Sections 3-F-2, 6, 7, & 8 of the Pay Manual for specific M-to-M policy, regulations, & exceptions. See also Ch. 10, Part B: Dependency, of the JFTR. The Services do not consider a member to be a primary custodian unless the member has continuous actual physical custody for more than 90 consecutive days (exclusive of occasional short visits to the non-custodial parent). In any event, the period of custody for which a with-dependent allowance is paid is only for the actual period of physical custody - see Section 3-F-9 of the Pay Manual).

**Exceptions to this presumption are rare and always involve both active duty members each having primary physical custody of a dependent and maintain separate households caused by separations due to competent PCS orders.

***Normally single and has no other dependents residing with him or her; however, this rule would also apply to an active duty member that is paying child support to any former spouse and has remarried to an active duty member who, in turn, is receiving with-dependent allowances on behalf of dependents of the same class.

by Mr. Peter Bekken (PERS3, USCG (Ret.)), Military Compensation Specialist, Commandant (CG-1222)


Related Content.

Openings for the March 10-11 Reservist Workshop

Published Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:00:15 CST

There are several seats available for the March 10-11, 2009, Reservist Workshop.


Related Content.

New URL for PPC

Published Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 11:00:15 CST

The Personnel Service Center was renamed on 13 February 2009 to the Pay & Personnel Center. We've changed the address of our internet and CGWEB sites to reflect our new name. The internet home page can now be found at http://www.uscg.mil/ppc. The CGWEB site's new address is http://cgweb.ppc.uscg.mil. Please update your favorites/bookmarks and help pass the word.


Related Content.

Incorrect Basic Allowance for Housing Payments for 591 Members in January

Published Date: Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:40:15 CST

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates were not properly updated for certain members effective 1 January 2009. During the update of BAH rates effective 1 January 2009, 591 members whose BAH rates are based upon County Cost Groups (CCG) were updated with incorrect rates. The zip codes, which are listed in enclosure (1) to e-mail ALSPO message A/09, were reassigned effective 1 January 2009 to a new CCG but the JUMPS data base was not updated to reflect such reassignment. As a result of the error, 591 members' BAH was incorrect. The impact on the members ranged from -$229.00 (overpayment of BAH) to $312.00 (underpayment of BAH). BAH rates for the impacted members have been corrected effective the 13 February 2009 payday. BAH adjustments (underpayments/overpayments during January 2009) will be processed in the mid-month February pay; adjustment details will be provided on members' end-month February Leave and Earnings Statements (LES's).


Related Content.

Personnel Data Extracts for May Servicewide Exam are Available

Published Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:15:15 CST

The May 09 SWE Personnel Data Extracts (PDEs) are now available in Direct Access. Per ALCGENL 012/09, the PDE correction deadline is 1 April 09. We will begin mailing the paper PDEs later this week.


Related Content.

Modernization Update

Published Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2009 11:15:15 CST

PPC Logo - a lighthouse, a sunflower and the Topeka skyline in the backgroundOn February 13, 2009, the current Personnel Service Center in Topeka, Kansas will be renamed the Coast Guard Pay and Personnel Center. This name change will precede the March 16, 2009 stand up of the mission support organization's Personnel Service Center (PSC) in Arlington, Virginia. The new PSC will unify, within one service center, all Coast Guard personnel and human resource support currently provided by the Personnel Command, the Pay and Personnel Center, the Recruiting Command, as well as some functions currently carried out by Headquarters, the MLCs, and ISCs, including services such as housing, MWR, CGES, educational services, health and safety, and work-life. See 'Modernization Update: 27 JAN 09 - Early 2009 Milestones' for more information.


Related Content.

PCS Mileage (MALT) Rate Change

Published Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:15:01 CST
Effective 1 January 2009, the MALT (monetary allowance in lieu of transportation) rate per authorized POC (privately owed conveyance) is $.24 per mile. This rate is effective for all PCS travel that commences on or after 1 January 2009 (i.e., the initial travel is started).
Related Content.

Airport Terminal and Unit Relationship; Make sure you're seeing all orders

Published Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:45:01 CST

Orders are being issued for Assignment Year 09 that include assignments to new departments/OPFACs created for Modernization Billet Reprogramming. You may have to do some searching to locate orders for incoming personnel because the SPO-Unit or ISC-Unit relationships for some of these new units have not been fully established. Orders for outgoing personnel are not a problem; relationships for existing units have not changed. The Human Resource Site/SPO relationships for the new units have initially been setup by assigning the closest (geographically) SPO. If you can't locate orders under your SPO's department ID, try the ID of another SPO. If you identify any setup issues please report them to PSC Customer Care for correction.

Follow these steps when using the Airport Terminal

Select a Relationship Type option from the list:
list of relationship type options

  • Human Resource Site will include units serviced by the SPO
  • Integrated Support Command will include units in the ISC's area of responsibility
  • Own unit only will only show orders for the department ID entered below
  • SWE Testing Unit, Training Quota Mgmt Center and Unit Relationship are not used by field units.

Enter a Department ID number. The department ID number must be valid for the type of relationship selected in the previous step (e. g. If ISC relationship is selected then only a valid ISC department ID number will return any search results). Click the lookup button, next to the department number, to search for the correct department number.

Note: If a Human Resource Site or Integrated Support Command relationship does not return the expected results (e. g. Orders for a unit serviced by the SPO or ISC are not present), contact PSC Customer Care to have the unit relationship table updated/corrected. Please include the department ID or OPFAC numbers of the units and relationship type in your communications with Customer Care.


Related Content.

Update - Reserve Component (RC) Member Pay and Personnel Workshop

Published Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:45:01 CST

Edit 8 Jan 2009, schedule for May to September added!

The PSC Procedures and Development team proudly announce the newest addition to our Workshop offerings - the Reservist.

This Workshop is open to all CG Reserve members as well as those who provide administrative support or assist the Reserve members (Unit YNs, Admin Officers, Training Officers, XPOs, etc.).

THE RESERVIST - This is a NEW course designed specifically for Reserve members. The topics for this course were created based on inquiries for information and assistance from Reservists throughout the Coast Guard via Customer Care Help Requests and PSC surveys.

The objective of this course is to provide Reservists with basic information on specific points of interest. It is not intended to provide an all encompassing background on all Reserve matters; rather, to:

  • Provide you the web links to Coast Guard policies,
  • Give you an understanding of procedures, and
  • Provide you with the skills to apply this information to enter accurate data into Direct Access (DA) that affects your pay and personnel issues.

Some of the Topics discussed will include:

  • Direct Access and You.
  • Self-Service procedures including: ASQ, Direct Deposit Changes, home/mailing address and TSP.
  • Reserve Bonus Programs.
  • Advancement policies/procedures.
  • Reading and understanding your LES and Reserve Retirement Point Statements.

Reserve Workshop Schedule:

  1. February 3-4, 2009 - No Seats Available
  2. March 10-11, 2009 - No Seats Available
  3. April 14-15, 2009- No Seats Available
  4. May 5-6, 2009
  5. June 9-10, 2009
  6. July 14-15, 2009
  7. August 11-12, 2009
  8. September 8-9, 2009

Please use the Quota Request Form , which is available on our web page at http://www.uscg.mil/hr/psc/pd.asp if you would like to attend one of the workshops. Travel and per diem expenses must be funded by the benefiting unit (no PSC funds are available). ADT/ADT-OTD orders, for Reserve Component members, must be funded and approved by the servicing ISC.


Related Content.

Update - New Human Resource Systems Workshops Offered

Published Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:45:01 CST

Edit, 8 Jan 2009, schedule for May to September added!

The Personnel Service Center's (PSC), Procedures and Development branch is pleased to announce the availability of our new workshop for Coast Guard Servicing Personnel Offices.

This workshop combines the best parts of the Basic and Advanced HRS Workshops that we offered last year. The new workshop and is focused on the new Direct Access Servicing Personnel Office User Manual. The workshop is an open discussion forum with exercises that allow data entry in a DA test environment. There are case scenarios and student accounts for both DA and JUMPS so attendees can work through a situation in class and see the end result in JUMPS. Topic selection was based on a combination of input from student surveys, issues provided by Customer Care, and problem areas identified by PSC's Military Accounts Support and Separations branches.

Topics include:

  • Military Pay Communications (DA, JUMPS and LES)
  • Service Contracts and Separations
  • Pay Entitlements
  • Corrections and Deletions
  • PCS (Orders, Departing/Reporting Endorsements, DA, and JUMPS)
  • Advances, Special Payments, and Cash Deposits
  • Reserves - SPO issues
  • Bonuses (Enlistment, SRB, CSB, and SELRES)
  • Debt Liquidation (How, when, and why)

Human Resource Systems 2009 Schedule (dates/workshop ID):

  1. Jan 12 - 16/HRS-901 - No Seats Available
  2. Feb 09 - 13/HRS-902 - No Seats Available
  3. Mar 16 - 20/HRS-903 - No Seats Available
  4. Apr 20 - 24/HRS-904 - No Seats Available
  5. May 11 - 15/HRS-905
  6. Jun 15 - 19/HRS-906
  7. Jul 20 - 24/HRS-907
  8. Aug 17 - 21/HRS-908
  9. Sep 14 - 18/HRS-909

Please use the Quota Request Form, which is available on our web page at http://www.uscg.mil/hr/psc/pd.asp if you would like to attend one of the workshops. Travel and per diem expenses must be funded by the benefiting unit (no PSC funds are available).


Related Content.

PSC Advancements and Evaluations Branch News

Published Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:45:01 CST

The Winter 2009 issue of the ADV Newsletter is available at http://www.uscg.mil/hr/psc/adv/advnews0109.pdf
Related Content.

2008 Wage and Tax Statement, W-2 Information to be Available in Direct Access Self-Service

Published Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:45:01 CST

In mid-January 2009 we will begin loading IRS Form W-2 information into Direct-Access Self-Service for Coast Guard military personnel. The W-2 data is not an 'electronic' W-2 that you can print and mail with your tax return. However, the W-2 data reflects the information on the paper W-2 that is mailed annually at the end of January. If you are an electronic filer, you can use the information on the Direct Access Self Service W-2 data page to prepare and file your 2008 return. Earnings and withholding information from our pay system is transmitted to the IRS, but we do not exchange W-2 data with any commercial software or tax preparation firms.

Here's an example of the self-service W-2 data page (click on the image to enlarge):
the W2 data page, click to enlarge

W-2 data will be available in Direct Access Self-Service for most personnel on 17 January 2009. The W-2 data is loaded in three 'batches'. The first batch, scheduled for 17 January, will include data for the majority of our active and reserve members, possible exceptions include:

  • Members whose accounts were newly established in late 2008
  • Members who separated or retired in 2008
  • Members who received special, 'off-line', payments in December 2008.

If your W-2 data isn't available on 17 January, please check back on 24 or 31 January as the second and third batches are loaded.


Related Content.

2009 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) Rates

Published Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2008 09:45:01 CST
Access the new rates from http://perdiem.hqda.pentagon.mil/perdiem/bah.html


Related Content.

Change to Payroll Processing Schedule for December

Published Date: Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:30:01 CST

PSC is making modifications to the payroll processing schedule to meet Treasury Department deadlines and to allow for sufficient time for error feedback processing.

  • The first update for the December end-month cycle is cancelled (15 December 2008).
  • The end-month compute for December (31 December payday) will run on 18 December instead of 22 December.

Related Content.

Monthly Premiums Decrease for TRICARE Reserve Select

Published Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:30:01 CST

Effective Jan. 1, 2009, TRICARE will reduce the rates for TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS). Monthly premiums for TRS individual coverage will drop 44% from $81.00 to $47.51, and TRS family coverage will drop 29% from $253.00 to $180.17.

To view the entire news release visit: http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=480


Related Content.

Understanding Your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)

Published Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:30:01 CST

The LES explainedThe Personnel Service Center has developed a training module for the LES; "Understanding your LES". This action is in response to comments and specific requests made by attendees at this year's SPO Conference regarding inadequate understanding of information presented on the LES. This presentation covers the basics to reading your LES. It Offers an example to better explain Appendix F of the Personnel & Pay Procedures Manual (3PM). And it explains why it is the member's responsibility to ensure accuracy.

The presentation is available in two file formats:


Related Content.

SPO Accuracy Measurements Now Available

Published Date: Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:30:01 CST

Two of the key areas that PSC is striving to improve are accuracy and timeliness of document submission. We announced the availability of the SPO Timeliness Coast Guard Business Intelligence (CGBI) Data Cube in E-Mail ALSPO message E/08 in May of this year. Today, we are pleased to announce that SPO Accuracy measurements have been added and that the name of the Data Cube is changed to "SPO Metrics"

The SPO Metrics Cube encompasses all documents submitted by the unit and the SPO. The timeliness portion of the cube represents all documents submitted. The accuracy portion of the cube does not reflect system errors nor does it reflect out of range errors (transactions outside the normal 6 months processing period) since this information is captured in the timeliness portion. The accuracy portion only reflects user errors. The newly added accuracy measures include the following:

  1. Exception Count - Represents number of errors by SPO for the month listed.
  2. Exception Cycles - Represents an "average" number of cycles (weeks) it takes to correct an error.
  3. Percent Accurate - Represents a percentage of correct documents submitted based on total document count and total exception count.

Related Content.

More Changes for CG Form PSC-2020D, Designation of Beneficiaries and Record of Emergency Data

Published Date: Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:30:01 CST

CG Form PSC-2020D, Designation of Beneficiaries and Record of Emergency Data, has been revised. In the October 2008 revision we completely removed the original Death Gratuity beneficiary section, leaving only the new Beneficiary to Receive a Portion of Death Gratuity section. We also added a form letter for commands to use to notify the spouse of a married member in the event the member designates someone (other than their spouse) to receive a portion or all of the Death Gratuity. The letter will print as page 6 of the form. It will be removed from the form when it is published in the next change to the Personnel and Pay Procedures Manual. In the November 2008 edition of the form we revised the format for entering names. All names should now be entered as "last name, first name, middle initial".

Q & A:

  1. Q. With the adding of emergency contacts to the CG PSC-2020D are we doing away with verification of the emergency contact sheet and or including it in the PDR?

    A. No. We would like to continue the use of Direct Access to record emergency contacts in addition to the form. Per ALCOAST 427/08 (para 4.f), the software will be modified to add the new PADD designation. After the software is changed, we can look at removing the duplicate fields from the form or reorganizing it so the DA printout will actually print the form.

  2. Q. There have been many changes, clarifications, and form revisions, do you expect all members to complete a new form every time there's a change?

    A. No. A member's elections/designations, made on previous editions of CG Form PSC-2020D, remain valid and will be honored until the member executes a new CG Form PSC-2020D. The phrase "PREVIOUS EDITION IS OBSOLETE", which appears at the bottom of the form on page 1, means "do not use an older edition of the form from this point forward".

  3. Q. The last page of the form is a letter. What are we supposed to do with it?

    A. The letter is a template you can use to comply with the requirement to notify a married member's spouse if the member designated a beneficiary to receive a portion or of all of the death gratuity. This letter isn't required for single members or members who choose not to complete the optional election. Here's a version of file without the letter, use it if you want to save a little paper. The letter template will be removed from the form when we publish the next change to the Personnel and Pay Procedures Manual.

  4. Q: Does the form have to be witnesses when the person signs the form?

    A: Yes. (To meet the definition of "witness")

  5. Q: Does not following the format for dates invalidate the form requiring the member to do a new one?

    A. No. The YYYYMMMDD is preferred because there's little room for misinterpretation, unlike the dd/mm/yy or mm/dd/yy format.


Related Content.

New Coast Guard Aircraft Visits Topeka

Published Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:16:01 CST

HC-144A CG-2310 on the tarmac at the Topeka airport on 29 Oct. One of the Coast Guard's newest aviation assets, the HC-144A "Ocean Sentry" medium range surveillance aircraft visited Topeka on 29 October. U. S. Coast Guard, Personnel Service Center staff members took tours of the aircraft.

The HC-144A, part of the Coast Guard's Deepwater Major Acquisition Program, will replace the Service's aging fleet of HU-25 Falcon jets. The HC-144A is a derivative of the EADS/CASA CN-235-300 and significantly enhances the mission execution capability of Coast Guard air crews. This fixed-wing turbo prop aircraft will perform various missions, including maritime patrol, law enforcement, search and rescue, disaster response, and cargo and personnel transport. Additionally, the "Ocean Sentry" provides the added operational capability of a hydraulic-operated rear ramp, with superb fuel efficiency--consuming less fuel than the HU-25 or HC-130.

Previously delivered HC-144A aircraft already have proven their capabilities in the field. During a routine training flight on February 20 of this year, an HC-144A was diverted to assist with a search and rescue mission following the collision of two Air Force F-15 aircraft over the Gulf of Mexico. The HC-144A quickly became the on-scene rescue coordinator and successfully led a multi-agency rescue mission, which included assets from the Coast Guard, the Department of Defense, and civilian partners.

The HC-144A also provided invaluable reconnaissance capabilities during the Midwestern floods on June 19, 2008, when it assisted Coast Guard and local government officials in determining where response and recovery resources should be utilized in the ongoing flood relief efforts. In both cases, the HC-144A's range, loitering capability, endurance, and passenger capacity met the requirements of the mission, demonstrating that the HC-144A is well-matched to the multi-mission Coast Guard it will serve.

For more information, check out the HC-144A "Ocean Sentry" Website - http://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/MRS/projectdescription.asp


Related Content.

New Direct Access User Role Required for Accession Processing

Published Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:16:01 CDT

Direct Access (DA) user account management policies and procedures were reviewed as part of the DHS Financial Statement Audit. An outcome of the review was a recommendation to segregate the user roles for accessions so that a person who enters an applicant's data is not the person that hires the applicant.

The CG Applicant Data (CGAPPL) user will be required in order to generate an applicant ID and enter applicant data (See the DA Accessions Guide, Chapter 2 B and Chapter 3 for more information on these accession processing steps). The ability to perform these actions has been removed from the SPO Technician (CGHRS) and SPO Supervisor (CGHRSUP) user role permission lists.

E-Mail ALSPO message N/08 announces this change and provides updated procedures for Servicing Personnel Offices. SPOs do not need to take any action (e. g. Completing new User Access forms) at this time. PSC will apply the new role to eligible users' accounts. SPOs will have to request the new role, along with the CGRHS user role, for personnel whose accounts are established after 25 November 2008.


Related Content.

New Mailing Address for Coast Guard Personnel Command

Published Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:16:01 CDT

As announced in ALCOAST 513/08, the mailing addresses for Washington D.C. area commands are changing. Here is the new address for Coast Guard Personnel Command:

COMMANDER (Staff Symbol)
PERSONNEL COMMAND
CGPC MS 7200
US COAST GUARD
4200 WILSON BLVD SUITE 1100
ARLINGTON VA 20598-7200

Be sure to use this new address when mailing records for members assigned to the IRR (Staff Symbol: rpm-2) or mailing documents for the CGPC I-PDR (Staff Symbol: adm-3).


Related Content.

Servicing Personnel Office Newsletter

Published Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:10:01 CDT

Issue 03/08 of the Servicing Personnel Office (SPO) Newsletter is available. This issue includes the following articles:

  • 2008 SPO Conference/Customer Advisory Council Meeting Presentations
  • PSC CO's Corner - Recent SPO Conference a Great Success!
  • Contacting PSC Customer Care, New Online Trouble-Ticket Form, PSC Weekend Staffing
  • Waiver/Remission News
  • Automatic Termination of DA User Access
  • RELAD or Transfer to the IRR
  • SGLI Debts
  • Excess Baggage Fees
  • AO's Notes on PCS Orders
  • Emergency Travel Allowances
  • Award Codes Update
  • 2009 Procedures and Development Workshops
  • Retirement Processing
  • New PSC Survey
  • Sale of Special Leave Accrual
  • FY09 SDAP Codes
  • TOPTS/JUMPS Password Rules
  • Retirement Certificates Delay in Mailing
  • TDY in Direct Access
  • Reserve Orders Contingency Data Codes
  • FY09 ADT/IDT Limit Exceptions

Related Content.

Clarification - Designation of Beneficiaries and Record of Emergency Data

Published Date: Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:25:01 CDT

Please note, per P.L 110-181, the option to designate a beneficiary or a contingent beneficiary to receive the death gratuity no longer exists. Under the new law, a person you name to receive a portion or all of the death gratuity has precedence over your spouse, children, etc. If you do not wish to designate a beneficiary, enter "None." in block 11a [of the CG PSC-2020D]. Undesignated portions will be paid by law according to the default precedence list. Which is:

  1. To the surviving spouse of the member, if any (does not include an ex-spouse);
  2. To any surviving "children" of the person and the descendants of any deceased children by representation;
  3. To the surviving "parents" or the survivor of them;
  4. To the duly-appointed executor or administrator of the estate of the person;
  5. If none of the above, then to other next-of-kin of the person under the laws of domicile of the person at the time of the person's death.

Related Content.

Update - Designation of Beneficiaries and Record of Emergency Data

Published Date: Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:15:01 CDT

New Policy for Death Gratuity Beneficiary Designations>

On July 1, 2008, a new death gratuity beneficiary policy became effective (Public Law 110-181 (PL-110-181), section 645) that allows service members to designate up to 100 percent of their death gratuity to a person of the service member's choice.

The balance of the death gratuity is paid to the service member's living survivors.

Prior to the enactment of PL-110-28 in May 2007, the entire death gratuity was paid to the spouse and children, or, if there were none, to other family members as elected by the member ( i.e., parents, brothers, sisters etc.). On May 25, 2007, a new death gratuity beneficiary policy became effective (Public Law 110-28 (PL-110-28), section 3306) that allowed service members to designate up to 50 percent of their death gratuity to a person of the service member's choice. Now, per PL-110-181, a member can designate up to 100 percent (in increments of 10 percent) to a person of their choice. An unmarried service member, for example, may now designate a person of his/her choice to receive a portion of the gratuity. The member may also designate as beneficiary a parent or another person that he/she elects as guardian over the minor children.

Because of the new designated beneficiary policy, PSC Form 2020D (July 2008) (October 2008), Designation of Beneficiaries and Record of Emergency Data, has been expanded to include a new Beneficiary to Receive a Portion of Death Gratuity section where the service member enters beneficiary data, including the percentage (up to 100 percent) of the death gratuity (Note: In the October revision we completely removed the original Death Gratuity beneficiary section, leaving only the new Beneficiary to Receive a Portion of Death Gratuity section). Form PSC-2020D (July 2008) (October 2008) has been significantly revised to mirror DD Form 93 (Jan 2008), Record of Emergency Data, which is used by all other branches of service.

Form PSC-2020D (July 2008) (October 2008), Designation of Beneficiaries and Record of Emergency Data


Related Content.

FY 2009 ADT/IDT Limit Exceptions

Published Date: Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:32:59 CDT

SELRES members assigned to the following units are authorized a maximum of 60 IDT drills and 15 days ADT in FY 2009.

The list is the same as last FY with the addition of USCENTCOM.

  1. PSU 305
  2. PSU 307
  3. PSU 308
  4. PSU 309
  5. PSU 311
  6. PSU 313
  7. PSU 312
  8. PSU 301
  9. NCWRON 21
  10. NCWRON 25
  11. NCWRON 26
  12. NCWRON 30
  13. NCWRON 33
  14. NCWGRU ONE - PACIFIC
  15. NCWGRU TWO - ATLANTIC
  16. SMTC
  17. CGRU USSOUTHCOM
  18. USCENTCOM
  19. CGRU JTRU US TRANSCOM
  20. CGRU USJFCOM
  21. CGRU USNORTHCOM
  22. MSST SEATTLE (91101)
  23. MARITIME SECURITY RESPONSE TM
  24. MSST LA/LB (91103)
  25. MSST GALVESTON (91104)
  26. MSST SAN FRANCISCO (91105)
  27. MSST NEW YORK (91106)
  28. MSST HONOLULU (91107)
  29. MSST KING'S BAY (91108)
  30. MSST SAN DIEGO (91109)
  31. MSST BOSTON (91110)
  32. MSST ANCHORAGE (91111)
  33. MSST NEW ORLEANS (91112)
  34. MSST MIAMI (91114)

Direct-Access will be setup to allow 60 drills for the units listed above. In accordance with Paragraph 2.B.4, of the Reserve Policy Manual, COMDTINST M1001.28(series), SELRES members assigned to other units are authorized a maximum of 48 drills per fiscal year.


Related Content.

CO's Corner - Recent SPO Conference a Great Success

Published Date: Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:23:59 CDT

Thank you to everyone that attended our recent Customer Advisory Council/SPO Conference. We had over 160 people from all over the Coast Guard. There was an excellent program of technical topics for SPO's and the YN rating, and excellent networking and professional development opportunities. It was great to see the YN rating leadership so strong in attendance. The overall feedback was good and this was the largest conference held yet. I emphasized the themes of Customers, Change in the Coast Guard, and SPO Service Line Management in my welcoming remarks.

We all serve customers so that they(we) can effectively and efficiently perform Coast Guard missions. We all must keep that sharp customer focus, and help educate and guide those customers as well. SPO's and our YN are on the front lines of customer service to the fleet.

Change is the hottest topic in the Coast Guard today and we had an excellent update and detailed presentation from Captain Bruce Viekman, CO of the Coast Guard Personnel Command, on the transformation of the Coast Guard and the stand-up of Personnel Service Center (PSC) Ballston, under the Deputy Commandant for Mission Support (DCMS) organization. This means that PSC Topeka will be renamed Pay and Personnel Center (PPC) Topeka.

Service Line management is critical to the success of SPO's and PSC, and very beneficial to the YN rating. Our processes rely on timely, accurate and correct information from you in the field. Service line management includes standards, process documentation, manuals, training and education, consistent communications in all media, and conferences like this one. We introduced our SPO measurement cube on CG Central as one more tool that will help SPO's - please take a look at this excellent dashboard gauge.

In conclusion, your energy, ideas, topics of concern, tough questions, and suggestions made the conference successful. Thank you all for attending!

J. D. PHILLIPS, PE, CAPT, USCG
Commanding Officer
Personnel Service Center (PSC) Topeka


Related Content.

2008 PSC Customer Advisory Council Presentations

Published Date: Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:15:59 CDT

Here are the [PowerPoint] slide shows given during the 2008 general and breakout sessions:

Note: The Deputy Commandant for Mission Support (DCMS) presentation is not available on the internet. Please see issue 03/2008 of the SPO Newsletter, which will be released soon, for the CGWEB link.


Related Content.

PSC Procedures and Development to Offer New Workshops in 2009

Published Date: Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:15:59 CDT

The PSC Procedures and Development team have been working hard to make changes and create new information based on the participant feedback from our past workshops. Yes, we do really pay attention to what you have to say and take all of your ideas and comments very seriously!

Since beginning our workshop offerings in 2005, we have been privileged to meet more than 1,000 military and civilian members seeking guidance and direction on the Military Human Resource and Travel Systems. We have traveled to every district, some more than once, throughout the years and the following charts show how many of you have actually taken advantage of what we have to offer.

bar chart showing number of courses from 2005 to 2008

bar chart showing number of students from 2005 to 2008

bar charge showing student approval ratings from 2005 to 2008

With the exception of the 2007 season, due to Global Pay for Retirees, we have been in full swing with little down time to update our curriculum offerings. Due to this fact, PSC P&D stopped offering our workshops after June 2008 to focus all of our attention on producing new products and services for all CG members.

With the 2009 season just around the corner, we are thrilled to be able to offer a variety of workshops to meet everyone's needs. Please stay alert for the release of our new schedule coming in December 2008.. The new offerings will cover the following topics:

* HUMAN RESOURCE SYSTEMS UPDATED workshops designed for all HR personnel working with the Direct Access and JUMPS systems.

* RESERVES This is a NEW workshop designed to address all CG Reserve members or members that work with training the Reserves at their unit in HR System document submission. (Please pass this new course information to your out-lying units).

* TRAVEL AO This is a NEW workshop designed to provide all CG Travel Authorizing Officials with the basic skills needed to perform the duties of the assignment and advise travelers on the correct policies and procedures. (Please pass this new course information to your out-lying units).

On behalf of the entire P&D team we thank you for your continued support, vital feedback, and genuine interest in all of our products and services. We look forward to fulfilling your needs this upcoming season at PSC or at your local unit. Please feel free to contact us anytime PSC-PF-PD@uscg.mil with questions, comments, or to request attendance at any of our workshop offerings.


Related Content.

Reserve Orders Contingency Data Codes and Medical Holds

Published Date: Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:55:59 CDT

There are now three authority codes in the Contingency Data Table for Title 10/ADSW-AC OIF/OEF orders in Direct Access:

Operational ID Authority Duty Type Description
4.00 12301(D) ADSW-AC EXPEDITIONARY SPOE
13.0 12302 T10 EXPEDITIONARY SPOE
23.0 12301(H) ADSW-AC OIF/OEF MED HOLD

The Direct Access Reserve Orders Users Guide provides the following guidance for selecting the contingency ID:

"For each operation there will be multiple IDs, including one for ADSW-AC orders and one for Title 10 or Title 14 orders. You must choose an option that matches the duty type of the orders you are issuing."

SPOs need to make sure they select the proper codes when creating Reserve Orders. We have seen issues where an SPO selected a conflicting Duty Type on the first tab of the reserve orders page. They selected T10 for duty type, however when they went into Contingency Table they selected ADSW-AC EXPEDITIONARY SPOE. They had to cancel the orders because contingency data cannot be changed once the orders are approved.

If the SPO selects ADSW-AC orders for Duty Type on the first page, they must select either ADSW-AC (EXPEDITIONARY SPOE (12301(d) or OIF/OEF MED HOLD (12301(h)). See E-Mail ALSPO D/08, Direct Access Reserve Mobilization Orders Changes, or the ALCOAST 390/08 , reserve members retained on Active Duty for medical reasons shall have their current orders terminated i.e. 12301(d) or 12302, and will be placed on new 12301(H) orders.

Please contact COMDT (CG-1311); LT Richard Lavigne, CWO Lisa Evers, or CWO Ray Dalton with any questions.


Related Content.

The Common Class

Published Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:35:59 CDT

An unfortunate number of overpayments result from a failure to understand the term "common class of dependents". Many a waiver or remission that crosses my desk starts with some form of failure to understand or interpret the correct BAH entitlements for this factor.

The scenario of a military member married to another military member seems to be increasing. For whatever reasons, Coast Guard personnel married to other members of our service, or the other services, is clearly becoming more commonplace. Consequently, the opportunity to misinterpret the BAH and OHA rules for these members is likewise increasing.

One of the common errors I have seen appears in the following case: Member Alpha is a single parent living with two dependent children. Member Bravo is divorced, and is paying child support. Member Alpha is receiving (correctly) BAH WITH DEP. Member Bravo is receiving (correctly) BAH WITH On The Basis of Child Support. Alpha and Bravo get married and reside together in Alpha's house. Since Bravo is still paying child support, some SPOs have left the BAH CHILD SUPP running for Bravo. However, once Alpha and Bravo got married, AND started residing together, they were now both residing with a common class of dependents and therefore only one of them was entitled to an increased housing allowance on the basis of dependents. The senior member of Alpha and Bravo, in this case, should be receiving BAH WITH DEP and the junior should be receiving BAH WITHOUT (although sometimes the reverse results in a higher net BAH - should run the numbers both ways to be sure). If they were residing in family type government quarters, neither one is entitled to any BAH, regardless of any child support payments being made. The common class residing with them is the determining factor in this case.

If these two members were separated by military orders, and Alpha moved to the East Coast with the dependents in their custody, and Bravo moved to the West Coast and continued to pay child support, they would both be entitled to BAH WITH DEP (although Bravo's would actually be BAH CHILD SUPP.) This is because both members must maintain separate households. As a side note, the member who received the PCS order that forced them to reside apart from each other would also be entitled to FSA-R.

Although military members married to military members often have unusual entitlements, it might help to think about them as one family. For example, if you had a member who was married (to a non-military person) and had dependents residing with him or her, and was paying child support for another dependent from a previous marriage, would this member be entitled to both BAH WITH DEP (for his wife and dependents residing with him) and BAH DIFF (due to the child support payments)? Of course not. And so too with a military couple. The common class of dependents, when everyone is residing together, is the determining factor.

Please think carefully when assigning a BAH code for a member. The member will be the one who pays if you are the one who makes the mistake. And remember..if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. And always, when in doubt - shout for your supervisor.

Submitted by: CWO Sean Fennell, COMDT (CG-1222)


Related Content.

Reserve Assignments Resulting in SGLI Debts

Published Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:55:59 CDT

We need help educating the field on SGLI for our reserve members. Our CG members are not being properly counseled when they are released from active duty and Reservists are also sometimes inadvertently assigned to a drilling unit which can cause negative SGLI premium to accumulate.

Once a month a report is generated at end of month compute, our Separations Branch goes through the report and validates the negative SGLI premiums and then sends the Reservist and notice of overpayment for their negative premium balance. The Reservist is referred to Debt Collections to make their SGLI arrears payment. Typically Debt Collections section or our Customer Care Branch receives calls/emails from the Reservist stating they didn't realize they were being charged these negative premium balances (sometimes not so pleasantly). We then have to refer the Reservist to their SPO or sometimes have to research and ultimately may have to send to CGPC (rpm-2) for determination or to be fixed. We typically have about 10 of these a month and spend a lot of time on them.

The law says that a Reservist is eligible for SGLI coverage if the Reservist "volunteers for assignment to the Ready Reserve...and is assigned to a unit or position in which such person may be required to perform active duty, or active duty for training, and each year will be scheduled to perform at least twelve periods of inactive duty training that is creditable for retirement purposes". JUMPS, the pay system, will automatically start SGLI coverage upon assignment to the Ready Reserve (other than to the non-drilling IRR).

When a Reservist is assigned to the SELRES, it's clear that the Reservist is eligible for SGLI. If a Reservist is sent to RET-2 or RET-1 status, it's clear that the Reservist is not eligible for SGLI (they're covered by VGLI instead). It gets complicated if a Reservist is assigned to the IRR. Under the Reserve Policy Manual, the IRR is considered part of the Ready Reserve. For an IRR member to be eligible for SGLI, however, the Reservist must meet the next section of the law re. assignment to a drilling unit. What JUMPS logic does in terms of IRR members is that it shuts down their SGLI if the member has a Training Pay Category of H and the member's unit is 79-47900 (the non-drilling IRR).


Related Content.

Per Diem Committee Home Page Update

Published Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:10:59 CDT

The following information was updated for 01 OCTOBER 2008:

  • Foreign and OCONUS Non-Foreign Per Diem Rates
  • Travel Regulations (JFTR & JTR)
  • Overseas Cost of Living and Housing Allowances

To access the updated information, go to http://perdiem.hqda.pentagon.mil/perdiem/.


Related Content.

New PSC Customer Survey to be Launched Mid-October 2008

Published Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:00:04 CDT

Coming Soon: New PSC Customer Survey

"We can't make the changes you need unless we hear from you." Although the statement is true, the challenge remains, industry-wide. One great method for hearing the Voice of the Customer is through surveys and PSC is pleased to announce a revised, shorter version. Simply put, the former survey was not giving us the results we needed-too few of you were taking it-so it was incumbent upon us to determine what improvements were necessary. Here are a few:

  • It's shorter-reduced from 15 statements to 5
  • It's very specific to the topics of
    • Timeliness
    • Accuracy
    • Fully Explained/Resolved;
    • Courtesy; and
    • Process/Organization.

There will be two methods for taking the survey: one will be distributed through a random sampling of those of you who recently worked with PSC; the other will always be available to you through hyper links, much the same as what is done currently.

As our valued customers, your input is always appreciated.


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Natural Disaster Emergency Travel and Transportation Allowances for Military Members

Published Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2008 09:40:04 CDT

Upon a mandatory evacuation order, the following general travel and transportation allowances apply:

  • Uniformed servicemembers: Members who are ordered to evacuate an area are in a TDY status to a designated safe haven (temporary) location listed on their orders. Travel and transportation allowances are based on the safe haven location. Active duty members are not to be included on dependents evacuation orders. Reserve component members who are not on active duty are not authorized evacuation TDY orders.
  • Dependents: Dependents who are ordered to evacuate an area are in a TDY status to a designated safe haven location listed on their orders. Travel and transportation allowances are based on the safe haven location.
  • Evacuation status termination: When a member returns from a safe haven location with one or more dependents, all evacuation allowances cease for the entire family regardless of the location of other dependents. COMDT (CG-1222) may direct the early return of dependents, and termination of evacuation allowances, in certain areas before the evacuation period termination date. When requested through the members chain of command, COMDT (CG-1222) may authorize one or more of the dependents to remain at the evacuation safe haven location with appropriate allowances.
  • Reserve Members: Members of the Reserve Component serving on active duty, and their dependents, may be authorized evacuation allowances if the principal residence of the reserve component member called or ordered to active duty is in the vicinity of the evacuated duty station.
  • Travel Allowances: Local travel allowances in the vicinity of the safe haven or designated place (area where family sets up a more permanent Household) must not be paid if reimbursement is being received for expenses incurred in renting a motor vehicle.
  • Alternate Safe Havens: Requests for alternate OCONUS safe havens evacuations must be approved by COMDT CG-1222 before evacuation allowances will be paid.
  • Designated place: COMDT CG-1222 must approve the requests for members desiring to convert the safe haven to a designated place, including, if the designated place has a higher BAH rate, payment of applicable BAH for the requested designated place.


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Direct Access Award Codes Update

Published Date: Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:05:04 CDT

Codes for the following awards were added to the DA Honors and Awards code table on 16 September 2008:

AwardCode
Vice Presidential Service BadgeCGVPSB
CG Combat Action RibbonCG CAR
Navy Combat Action Ribbon (new)USN CAR
Armed Forces Reserve Numerical Mobilization Device CGAFRNMD


Related Content.

Agenda for SPO Conference/PSC Advisory Council Meeting 24-26 Sept.

Published Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:45:04 CDT

The agenda for the SPO Conference/PSC Advisory Council Meeting, which will be held at the Kansas Museum of History, in Topeka, KS from 24 to 26 September 2008, has been posted to the Advisory Council web page.

The address of the museum is 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615. Directions can be found at: http://www.kshs.org/places/kshs/map.htm.

A list of conference attendees is available on PSC's CGWEB site at http://cgweb.psc.uscg.mil/docs/Current_Attendees.doc


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E-Mail ALSPO Messages Issued

Published Date: Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:30:04 CDT

The following E-Mail ALSPO messages have been posted:

Number Subject Release Date
K/08 Sale of Special Leave AccrualAdobe Acrobat Required 16 September
J/08 FY2009 Special Duty Assignment Pay (SDAP) CodesAdobe Acrobat Required 08 September

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New Password Requirements for TOPTS/JUMPS Access

Published Date: Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:30:04 CDT

On September 15th, PSC will be implementing a change to the JUMPS system passwords to comply with USCG System Security Policies. The next time that you change your password for JUMPS you will be required to include a 'National' or 'Special' character in your password.

The National characters consist of the characters @,#, and $. If you receive a message when you next attempt to change your password that 'IKJ56414I NEW-PASSWORD IS INVALID FOR RACF' please check to make certain that your password contains one of these 3 national characters, contains at least one letter, at least one number, and that it is 8 characters long.


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November 2008 Servicewide Exam - Deadline to Verify and Correct Personal Data Extracts is Approaching

Published Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:50:00 CDT

Members competing in the November 08 Servicewide Exam (SWE) must verify and correct their Personal Data Extracts (PDEs) not later than 1 October 2008.

PDEs are available in Direct Access (DA) self service and have been mailed to member's units.

Members are solely responsible to review all data for accuracy.

  • Report any discrepancy to your admin support staff for correction.
  • Provide documentation proof to admin support staff of missing awards, competencies, TDY afloat orders, or any other pde errors needing correction in DA.
  • After reporting discrepancies to your admin support staff, ensure that corrective action is taken by verifying corrections in DA using the self service application.

If the "Candidate Status" field of the online PDE does not say "Eligible" by 1 October 08, a SWE will not be mailed. If your PDE has not been corrected, contact PSC via global e-mail address "psc-dg-adv." This must be done prior to the PDE correction deadline of 1 October 08.

an example PDE


Related Content.

Reimbursement for Excess Baggage Fees

Published Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:35:01 CDT

In accordance with Joint Federal Travel Regulations (JFTR), VOL. 1 (Para U3015, and appendices (A) and (G)), accompanied baggage in excess of the maximum weight, size, or number of pieces carried at no additional cost (free) by a transportation carrier is excess accompanied baggage. Effective immediately, authorizing/order-issuing officials (AOs) may indicate on all travel orders that excess baggage is authorized, reimbursement not to exceed $75. Receipts are required with submission of travel claims. Should a member incur excess baggage fees in excess of $75, the AO should verify that the claim for reimbursement is proper and in accordance with Para U3015 of the JFTR. The AO must ensure that all claims for excess baggage charges are limited to the personal effects of a traveler necessary for official travel and are immediately needed upon arrival at the point of assignment. Material/equipment belonging to the government may be included as authorized excess baggage. Travelers who purchase airline tickets to accommodate circuitous or personal convenience travel, in conjunction with official travel, are entitled to reimbursement for excess baggage costs that would have been incurred if the entire trip was for official travel.

Some airlines may exempt government travelers from paying excess baggage fees but may require travelers to present government IDs and/or copies of official travel orders at time of check-in. Coast Guard travelers should be prepared to present military or government IDs and copies of official travel orders at the time baggage is checked in. Checked baggage fees cannot be charged to the Coast Guard Centrally Billed Account (CBA). Travelers who have their airline tickets charged to a Coast Guard CBA must be prepared to pay any assessed baggage fees at the time the bags are checked with the airlines. Checked baggage fees can be charged to the travelers individually billed government travel charge cards and claimed on travel vouchers as line items for miscellaneous reimbursable expenses.

Source: ALCOAST 405/08


Related Content.

SPO Conference/PSC Advisory Council Meeting Update - Registration Reopened

Published Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:25:04 CDT

To All SPO's - As you know, PSC Topeka is holding our annual Customer Advisory/SPO Conference here 24-26 September 2008. What you may not know is that we will be providing a ton of useful information for SPO's and covering important and timely issues like:

  1. Update on CG reorganization efforts from Admiral Neptun - what ISC SPOs could look like in the new structure, and the latest info on transition.
  2. SPO Metrics - CG Central now has an active cube to query D/A data and report on timeliness of SPO data entry. We are continuing development to include data accuracy and eventually plan to roll out this tool as a real time measure of timeliness and accuracy of data entry that will be available for all SPO's. This will help us target areas for training and help SPO's better manage their processes.
  3. Subject matter experts will provide information on T-Pax and Travel, Accessions, Enlisted Contracts, Reserve Transactions, and all manner of Direct Access issues. You will hear about Advancements, Separations, PCS Orders, and the best way to interact with PSC to solve problems.
  4. YN Force manager will attend to discuss rate specific career information and issues of concern for yeoman of all levels.
  5. Last but not least: we need YOUR feedback and information on what issues you are seeing in the field, and how we can best help you deal with them.

I strongly encourage SPO Chiefs and other leaders to attend if at all possible. Put in your request for end of year funds for travel and come out to see the latest in SPO metrics, personnel, pay and travel issues so you can bring the information and improved skills back to your unit!

Please let our Conference Chief, YNC Kevin Keener know that you will attend by the end of August. We are quickly reaching capacity and don't want you to miss this great opportunity.

Thank you - I look forward to seeing you in September in Topeka!

/s/
J. D. PHILLIPS, P.E, CAPTAIN, USCG
Commanding Officer
Personnel Service Center (PSC) Topeka

Related Content.

Sale of Special Leave Accrual (SLA)

Published Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2008 11:05:01 CDT

Sale of SLA (See ALCOAST 396/08 for eligibility) will not be input into Direct-Access by Servicing Personnel Offices. PSC (mas) will make payments for sale of SLA via a special credit process. Eligible members, who want to sell SLA must complete Form PSC-2046, Application to Sell Special Leave Accrual, and forward it to their SPO. The SPO will verify the member's leave balance (ensuring all leave transactions have processed through JUMPS) and forward the application to PSC (mas)(not later than 1 December annually) for payment.


Related Content.

Indefinite Reenlistment Program Changes

Published Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:05:03 CDT

ALCOAST 307/08 announced two changes to the Indefinite Reenlistment Program:

  1. Members who are currently serving on an indefinite reenlistment contract are authorized (on or after 1 September 2008) to enter into a new indefinite reenlistment, one time, during a career for the purpose of selling leave.
  2. Members who have 10 or more years of active service will be allowed, after 31 August 2008, to reenlist for periods of three years, four years, five years, six years or for an indefinite period up to their 30-year active duty anniversary date.

Direct-Access software changes for processing reenlistment contracts under the new policy will be completed by 02 September 2008. E-Mail ALSPO I/08, Indefinite Reenlistment Program Changes, updates the procedures for entering reenlistment contracts for active duty members authorized to enter into a new indefinite reenlistment for the purpose of selling leave and for members who have 10 or more years of active service.


Related Content.

Spouse's Date of Birth on Family SGLI Election Transactions

Published Date: Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:05:02 CDT

FSGLI premiums are based on the date of birth of the member's spouse. If the date of birth is wrong, then at some point the FSGLI premium will be wrong. E-Mail ALSPO H/08 provides procedures correcting the spouse's date of birth for Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI) premium deductions.


Related Content.

Reporting TDY in Direct Access - Update

Published Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:05:00 CDT

E-Mail ALSPO message A/08 announced the elimination of the Direct Access TDY Entitlements (P620 - Change Subsistence and/or Career Sea Duty Entitlements Due to TDY/Permissive Orders) transaction and promulgated new procedures for recording changes to enlisted Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) and/or Career Sea Duty Pay/Time (CSP) for members performing temporary duty (TDY).

We have noticed a couple of mistakes SPOs often make in connection with submitting transactions for refund of the Discount Meal Rate (DMR) for members on TDY, they are:

  1. Stopping BAS-DMR: In order for the refund of DMR to work there must be an open BAS-DMR segment in JUMPS. Otherwise, there's nothing to refund. Do not submit a Refund of DMR transaction if the BAS-DMR entitlement row is stopped.
  2. Overlapping Refund of DMR with Leave: Do not include the number of meals missed or the dates when a member was on leave. The leave transaction (Vacation Request), provided one is submitted, will automatically credit missed meals for members who take leave while on TDY. Submitting a Refund of DMR with dates overlapping a leave period will result in overpayment.

We have updated the Direct-Access Users Guide for TDY Entitlements, that was originally published as enclosure (1) to E-Mail ALSPO A/08, with warnings to avoid these errors.


Related Content.

Advancements & Evaluations Newsletter

Published Date: Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:05:01 CDT

The Summer 2008 Advancements & Evaluations Newsletter, published by PSC (ADV), is now online. This issue includes articles the following topics:

  • SWE Challenges
  • Message Traffic
  • Upcoming Oct08 RSWE and NOV08 SWE
  • SWE Profile Letters Online
  • Yeoman Access-Don't Abuse It
  • Statistical Summary
  • Applying Advancement Recommendations
  • Employee Review Helping Hints
  • Tricks for SWE Evaluations
  • Computing Your SWE Final Multiple
  • Processing Advancements
  • Supplemental Process Check Up
  • Common EER Mistakes
  • What Happens to EER's After Being Finalized
  • Required Comments for E6 and Above
  • Updating Weight Data in Direct Access

Related Content.

Procedures for Reporting Additional Active Duty for Reservists on AD Orders Ending in FY08

Published Date: Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:35:01 CDT

E-Mail ALSPO G/08 provides procedures for reporting additional active duty authorized for Reservists whose expected active duty termination date is 30 September 08 or earlier and insufficient information is available to issue new orders.


Related Content.

The Actual Report Date on a PCS Endorsement on Orders Transaction is not a Day of Duty

Published Date: Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:00:01 CDT

When completing the PCS Reporting Endorsement you should be aware that Direct-Access does not treat the Actual Report Date field as a day of duty unless it is the same date as the Actual Depart Date (which is treated as a day of duty). Therefore, you must not interpret the label of the field to literally denote the date a member first physically stepped aboard the unit. There are occasions when you will use the day prior to the date the member first reported as the Actual Report Date. An example can be found in Article 4.G.15. (Delay En Route During Execution of Orders) of the Coast Guard Personnel Manual. It is repeated below:

Orders authorize 10 days leave, no proceed time, no travel time, and date of detachment is 1 August. If the member uses maximum time allotted, count the periods as follows:

  • 1 August Detached (day of duty)
  • 2 to 11 August Leave period (10 days)
  • The member must report for duty by 0900 on 12 August.

Under orders involving leave only, when the member reports determines whether the reporting date is a day of duty or a day of leave. If the member reports at or before 0900, the day would be a day of duty; if he or she reports after 0900 the day is a day of leave.

This is how the endorsement would be completed in Direct Access:
The PCS Endorsement Panel in Direct Access

Note that we entered 11 August as the Actual Report Date, because 12 August is a day of duty.
Related Content.

Regular to Reserve Officer Commission

Published Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:30:00 CDT

ALPERSCOM 026/08 announced the Regular-to-Reserve (R-to-R) commission Panel (01-08) results. Chapter 8-B of the DA Accessions Guide (http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg1/psc/guides/accessions.pdf) is your best reference for completing the R-to-R discharge/accession for these officers. While your SPO may not be involved, this year, this is a good opportunity for you to review the process.

Keep the following key points in mind:

The officers will complete the CG-9556s (Acceptance of Oath of Office) in advance of their actual discharge dates. Do not discharge the officers while they're still supposed to be on active duty. The effective date for an officer separation is normally the last day of the month and the accession into the reserve is normally the first day of the following month (e.g. Discharge on 30 June 2009 if appointment is effective 1 July 2009).

The officers should complete Career Intentions Worksheets (http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg1/psc/forms/psc2045.pdf) with their terminal leave (if any) and travel intentions. The officers should submit new SGLI/FSGLI elections and be aware that they will begin incurring charges for SGLI immediately upon accession into the Coast Guard Reserve. If they don't plan on drilling right away, they may have a substantial debt for SGLI to be liquidated from their first drill pay checks.

The ISC (pf/fot)'s should not issue Reserve PCS assignment orders for these officers. The orders will interfere with the re-hire process. If orders are inadvertently issued, the SPOs must not approve or endorse them before completing the accession. The ISC (pf/fot)'s should provide the SPOs with the position numbers the officers will be assigned to. The SPOs will use the position numbers to create requisition numbers in Direct Access. The process for creating the requisition number is provided in Chapter 2-A of the DA Guide for Accessions. A new requisition should be created for each assignment; this will allow the SPO to set the rank accordingly and will carry forward into the re-hire process, the officers will be 'hired' directly into their drilling unit assignments.

The SPOs will also need to create new Applicant ID numbers as explained in Chapter 2-B of the DA Accessions Guide (be sure to affiliate the Applicant ID with the officer's Employee ID number as described on page 2-B-4 (Step 5) of the DA Accessions Guide).

The remainder of the accession process is set forth in the DA Guide (Chapters 3 and 8-B), pay attention to the warnings and notes for the key fields. For example:

  • When completing the Service Information tab of the Contract Data portion of the procedures (Beginning on page 3-26 of the DA Guide) be sure to:
    1. Carry forward the officers' Pay Base Date, Active Duty Base Date, and Initial Military Obligation dates.
    2. Accurately set the Reserve Anniversary Date, Expected Loss Date and, if the CGPC (rpm-1) memo requires the officer to make a commitment to remain in the SELRES for a specific period, the Reserve Drill Obligation Date.
    3. Set the Employee Classification to SELRES with a Reserve Training Pay Code of "A" (drill pay status) and a Reserve Classification Code of "I" if the officer is still within their initial 8-year Military Service Obligation (MSO) or "Q" if they have completed their initial 8-year MSO.
  • When completing the Hire Applicant procedures (Beginning on page 3-36 of the DA Guide) ensure you:
    1. Set the rank/pay grade correctly (Job Code).
    2. Set the Date of Rank in accordance with the CGPC (rpm-1) memo (Job Code Entry Date).

Related Content.

August 2008 Active Duty Enlisted Personnel Advancements

Published Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:10:01 CDT
The August Enlisted Personnel Advancement Announcement (ALCGENL 114/08) has been released.
Related Content.

August Reserve Enlisted Advancements

Published Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:10:01 CDT
The August Enlisted Reserve Advancement Announcement (ALCGRSV 025/08) has been released.
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Agenda for 2008 PSC Customer Advisory Council Meeting/SPO Conference

Published Date: Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:10:01 CDT

Registration:

PSC's Annual Customer Advisory Council meeting/SPO Conference is scheduled for 24-26 September 2008 in Topeka, KS. The deadline for registering was 30 July. Thanks to all those who registered.

Topics of Discussion

Here is what we have planned for the 2008 SPO Conference in Topeka, KS:

  • This year's SPO Conference will focus on:
    • The Customer Service Tier support and the new Help Desk Expert Automation Tool (HEAT)-deployable survey processes
    • Travel Overview with the latest T-PAX enhancements
    • Accessions
    • PCS Transactions and Direct Access orders
    • Reserve Transactions
    • Coast Guard Business Intelligence (CGBI) cubes found in CG Central.
    • CGPC-EPM will also be in attendance to discuss the problems that are being encountered with contract submissions.

  • Representatives from Advancements, Separations, and the Exception Reporting Team will be on hand to discuss their respective branches and to answer questions.

  • Additionally, the Customer Relations Council will be conducting an open forum on how they can better serve the field.

Coast Guard Modernization

The Coast Guard is planning to establish a new mission support organization under what will be called the Deputy Commandant for Mission Support (CG-DCMS). The Congress is considering legislation that would authorize a Vice Admiral position at Headquarters. The existing Assistant Commandant for Human Resources (CG-1) will be one of many support components that will fall under the purview of DCMS. A planned part of this restructuring will be a new organization to be called the Personnel Service Center (PSC). The PSC will include all the Coast Guard entities that provide services to the field, and its commander will be a Rear Admiral reporting directly to CG-1. What is now PSC Topeka will be renamed the "Pay and Personnel Center (PPC)" and report directly to the new PSC Ballston command.

A representative from the PSC implementation team will address the audience of the Customer Advisory Council/SPO Conference held in Topeka 24-26 September 2008. Conference attendees can expect to learn first hand about the restructuring efforts under DCMS, CG-1 and PSC Ballston and how all of that will facilitate greater flexibility and responsiveness to the Coast Guard's rapidly changing personnel needs.

Uniform & Civilian Attire

The uniform for the conference will be Tropical Blue Long for Wednesday and Thursday with civilian attire (business casual) for Friday. If you chose to wear civilian attire on Friday, the following guidelines apply:

  • Dress or casual slacks
  • Collared shirts (tucked into pants)
  • Dress shoes
  • Non-revealing attire for women: Conservative dresses, dress or casual slacks, blouse & skirt, etc.

Location & Lodging:

The Kansas Museum of History will be the location this year. Hotel arrangements can be made with any hotel in the area (be sure to ask for the government rate). The address of the museum is 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka, KS 66615. Directions can be found at: http://www.kshs.org/places/kshs/map.htm.

Make your flight (KCI-Kansas City Airport) and car rental arrangements (KCI to Topeka) today! If you know someone who is attending from another unit you may want to carpool to save on costs.

We hope to see you at this year's meeting!


Related Content.

VA Announces On-Line Claims Application

Published Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:10:01 CDT

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced, on 16 July 2008, that on-line applications are now accepted from veterans, survivors and other claimants filing initial applications for disability compensation, pension, education, and vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits without the additional requirement to submit a signed paper copy of the application.

Effective immediately, VA will now process applications received through its on-line application website (VONAPP) without the claimant's signature. The electronic application will be sufficient authentication of the claimant's application for benefits. Normal development procedures and rules of evidence will still apply to all VONAPP applications.

VONAPP (www.va.gov/onlineapps.htm) is a Web-based system that benefits both internal and external users. Veterans, survivors and other claimants seeking compensation, pension, education, or vocational rehabilitation benefits can apply electronically without the constraints of location, postage cost, and time delays in mail delivery.

VONAPP reduces the number of incomplete applications received by VA, decreasing the need for additional development by VA claims processors. The on-line application also provides a link to apply for VA health care benefits and much more.

Over 3.7 million veterans and beneficiaries receive compensation and pension benefits from VA and approximately 523,000 students receive education benefits. Approximately 90,000 disabled veterans participate in VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program.

For more information about VA benefits, go to VA's website at www.va.gov or call their toll-free number at 1-800-827-1000.


Related Content.

Maternity Uniform Allowance Rate Change

Published Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:10:01 CDT

The amount for the Maternity Uniform Allowance will increase on 1 July 2008 to $262.82.

This amount covers the purchase price of the following uniform items:

QtyDescription Cost (each) Total
1 Maternity Jumper $34.97 $ 34.97
2 Maternity Dress Shirt (Short Sleeve) $22.15 $ 44.30
1 Maternity Dress Shirt (Long Sleeve) $24.21 $ 24.21
2 Maternity Dress Slacks $24.67 $ 49.34
2 Maternity ODU Shirt $30.44 $ 60.88
2 Maternity ODU Trousers $24.56 $ 49.12

Members submit requests for payment of Maternity Uniform Allowance on form CG-PSC-5155, Enlisted Supplementary Clothing Allowance Worksheet (http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg1/psc/forms/psc5155.pdf). The allowance is not payable more than one time in a three year period.


Related Content.

Servicing Personnel Office Newsletter

Published Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:10:01 CDT

Issue 02/08 of the Servicing Personnel Office (SPO) Newsletter is available. This issue includes the following articles:

  • Dates Announced for the 2008 SPO Conference/PSC Customer Advisory Council Meeting
  • Repaying Travel Overpayments by Check or Money Order
  • Enlistment Bonuses
  • Annual Purchase Limit for Savings Bonds
  • Termination of DA User Access
  • SGLI and VGLI Premium Reductions Effective 1 July 2008
  • Award Administrative Responsibilities
  • Mailing of Personally Identifiable Information
  • Using the T-PAX Forgotten Password Reset Feature
  • Processing PCS Travel Advance Requests in T-PAX
  • How to Calculate the Cost of a "GTR"

Related Content.

May 2008 Servicewide Exam Advancement Eligibility List

Published Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:10:01 CDT

The May 2008 SWE Advancement Eligibility List has been posted to CGCENTRAL. Access it via this menu path:

My Workspace > Career Management > Enlisted > Advancement > May 2008 SWE Advancement Eligibility List

The Profile Letters are available via Direct Access Self Service


Related Content.

SPO Timeliness Data Cube

Published Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 10:50:01 CDT

E-Mail ALSPO message E/08 announces the SPO Timeliness Data Cube in CG Central. PSC is fully committed to Commandant's Intent Action Orders (CIAO) No. 5 which is USCG Financial Management Transformation and CFO Audit Remediation. In keeping with this effort, one of the key areas that PSC would like to improve on is timeliness of document submission.

Improvement in this area would drastically cut down on underpayments and overpayments and also provide correct TIMELY payments to our CG members.

This is a fantastic tool to use for management, training, and process improvement. Please see what your SPO can do to improve timeliness of document submission. Our CG members expect a level of excellence from us and we have a responsibility to give that to them.
Related Content.

AWARD ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

Published Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 09:30:00 CDT

1. Awarding authority. Immediately upon approval of an award, forward copies to the Servicing Personnel Office (SPO) for entrance into Direct Access, and to Commander, Coast Guard Personnel Command (CGPC-adm-3), (with member's EMPLID on the upper right hand corner of the citation) for file in the permanent record.

2. Prior service members. CG personnel who have served in another branch of the Armed Forces who have received personal, good conduct, unit, campaign and/or service awards COMDTINST M1650.25D (Enclosure 22) are authorized to wear them on the Coast Guard uniform with the exception of marksmanship medals and ribbons.

3. Awards from other organizations and agencies. CG personnel are not authorized to wear awards from non-military organizations or government agencies except those specifically allowed by this manual. This restriction includes, but is not limited to:

(a) USCG Auxiliary awards;
(b) Awards from state and local governments;
(c) Awards from fraternal organizations (VFW, etc.).

4. If the Honor or Award Code is not present, contact CWO Hughes COMDT (CG-1221) to see if the award should be added to the database. If the award should be added, you can contact PSC to complete the transaction.

5. There seems to be a lot of confusion with the Combat Action Badge that has been awarded to some of our members of the Coast Guard. It is not a Combat Action Ribbon and should not be entered into Direct Access as a Combat Action Ribbon.


Related Content.

New Medals and Awards Manual

Published Date: Fri, 30 May 2008 09:30:00 CDT

COMDTINST M1650.25D of 05 May 2008.

Major changes in this revision include: clarification of Operational Distinguishing Device policy, award criteria for ribbons and medals established since the previous edition of the Manual, guidance for prior service members, clarification and expansion of administrative procedures and record retention requirements, and new and updated enclosures.
Related Content.

Direct Access Reserve Mobilization Orders Changes

Published Date: Mon, 19 May 2008 14:50:01 CDT

E-Mail ALSPO message D/08 promulgates new procedures for preparing and cancelling reserve mobilization orders.

New data fields have been added for recording a member's eligibility for the Early Identification Program and the Reserve Educational Assistance Program. Other changes, not specific to these benefit programs, are discussed in this message as well.


Related Content.

Foreign Language Proficiency Pay (FLPP)

Published Date: Thu, 15 May 2008 11:50:01 CDT

ALCOAST 195/08 extended the FLPP certification to 1 September 2008 for those members who were serving either as a unit interpreter or in a linguist billet and receiving FLPP (or would be receiving FLPP but for expiration of certification). The extension also applies to members who were serving as an interpreter or linguist at their previous duty station until PCS. E-Mail ALSPO C/08 provides updated procedures for entering FLPP entitlements.


Related Content.

Annual Purchase Limit For Savings Bonds Reduced to $5,000

Published Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:15:01 CDT

The annual limitation on purchases of United States Savings Bonds is $5,000 per Social Security Number, effective January 1, 2008. The limit applies separately to Series EE and Series I savings bonds, and separately to bonds issued in paper or electronic form. Under the new rules, an individual can buy a maximum of $5,000 worth of electronic and paper bonds of each series in a single calendar year, or a total of $20,000, in single ownership form. If paper bonds are issued in co-ownership form, the limit applies to the first-named co-owner. All limits are based on the issue price of the securities.

Members should be advised of this annual limit change. The pay system will not track and stop bond allotments when the limit is reached.

For more information about the change in the purchase limit for savings bonds, visit the Treasury Department's frequently asked questions page.


Related Content.

Getting the link to an Excel File to Work in Direct-Access

Published Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:10:01 CDT

File Downloads

Set Internet Explorer to allow downloading and opening files with certain extensions (XLS for MS Excel spreadsheets, PDF for Adobe Acrobat files, etc.)

Note: Set Internet Explorer to allow pop-ups, as described in the DA Online Help, before performing this procedure.

Step

Action

1

Navigate to the Personnel at a Dept. (CG_Dept_Run) (Self Service > Self Service > Self Service for Commands > Use > Command Information)

2

Click the tab

3

Click the button

4

Press and hold down the Control key (CTRL) on your keyboard while clicking the "To Excel" link

5

Continue holding down the Control Key until the following dialog appears:

6

Remove the checkmark next to "Always ask before opening this type of file"

Warning: This will effect all internet sites you access with Internet Explorer. You can just click Open and not remove the checkmark but you will need to press and hold the control key any time you click a link to a file with this type of extension.

7

Click the Open button or the Save button.


Related Content.

Termination of DA User Access Upon Separation or PCS/Fleet-Up

Published Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:40:01 CDT

With Permanent Change of Station season (PCS) upon us, the PSC Customer Care Branch would like to remind our customers that their Direct Access Roles are terminated upon separation, retirement, reassignment of duties (Fleet-Ups), change of organization or when determined by the Information Systems Security Officer to be in the best interest of the Government.

Please note that users who have been reassigned (PCS, Change of Department IDs) will retain Self Service access.

This reminder is important from the perspective that our branch has been receiving calls from the field stating something to the effect, "Yesterday I had all my access roles and today I have nothing. What changed from yesterday to today?"

Any one of the scenarios mentioned above can result in termination of access. The member's first step should be to engage their unit and let them know that they no longer have access. The member's unit can then research the situation and submit a new Direct Access User Authorization form (CG PSC-7421/2) if appropriate.
Related Content.

SGLI and VGLI Premium Reductions Effective 1 July 2008

Published Date: Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:40:01 CDT

Veterans and military personnel with life insurance policies managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will see a reduction in their premiums, thanks to improved investment earnings and a reduction in non-combat claims.

The premium cuts affect military personnel covered by Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and veterans covered by the Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI).

On July 1, 2008, the premiums for basic SGLI will be 6.5 cents per month for $1,000 of coverage, down from 7 cents per month for $1,000. This translates into a 7 percent savings.

Servicemembers with the maximum $400,000 of coverage will see their monthly premium reduced from $28 to $26. Servicemembers are also covered against severe traumatic injury for an additional dollar each month.

The reduction in SGLI premiums is made possible by lower, non-combat-related claims and increases in investment earnings. VA officials believe this premium reduction will help maintain the nearly universal participation in the program.

VGLI provides renewable term policies for people after their discharges from the military. Veterans pay premiums according to their age for this coverage.

On July 1, 2008, VGLI premium rates will be reduced for veterans aged 30 to 64, who make up 85 percent of those insured under the program. Premium rates for those under age 30 are already competitive.

Premium reductions, ranging from 4 percent to 12 percent, are a result of fewer claims being received. The reductions will ensure that VGLI remains highly competitive with similar insurance offered by commercial insurers.

More than 2.4 million people currently participate in the VA-managed SGLI program, with another 433,000 in VGLI. To obtain more information about the SGLI and VGLI premium reductions or to view a table with the new VGLI rates, visit the VA insurance Web site at www.insurance.va.gov, or call the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance at 1-800-419-1473.


Related Content.

Subsistence Policy for Inactive Duty For Training (IDT) on Career Sea Pay-Eligible Vessels With Appropriated Fund (APF) Dining Facilities

Published Date: Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:40:01 CST

Background: PSC has identified 179 personnel with 5772 occurrences who were erroneously paid IDT COMRATS while performing IDT aboard a sea-pay eligible vessel.

Policy: Per Coast Guard Reserve Policy Manual, COMDTINST M1001.28 (series), Para 2.b.7.a.(1), enlisted reservists performing IDT with pay on career sea pay-eligible vessels with Appropriated Fund (APF) dining facilities aboard shall receive subsistence-in-kind (SIK).

Direct Access Data Entry Procedure: When completing the "Meal Elig" field on the schedule drills detail page for members performing IDT aboard a sea-pay eligible vessel, always select the "Mess Avail" option.


Related Content.

New Procedures for Reporting TDY in Direct Access

Published Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 11:00:00 CST

E-Mail ALSPO message A/08 announces the elimination of the Direct Access TDY Entitlements (P620 - Change Subsistence and/or Career Sea Duty Entitlements Due to TDY/Permissive Orders) transaction and transmits new procedures for recording changes to enlisted Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) and/or Career Sea Duty Pay/Time (CSP) for members performing temporary duty (TDY).


Related Content.

SPO News Archive October 2007 to July 2008

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