| C |
Term |
Acronym |
Description |
| |
Career Appointments |
|
Permanent appointment in the competitive service conveyed automatically after successfully completing the required term of service in a career-conditional appointment. This is typically a three year period. |
| |
Career Conditional Appointments |
|
Permanent appointment in the competitive service of a person who has not yet completed the required period of creditable, substantially continuous federal service. |
| |
Critical Sensitive Positions |
|
If selected for this position, you must complete a process called the Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) prior to appointment. The SSBI is a background investigation that covers the last 7-10 years of your life or your 18th birthday (whichever is the shorter period). The investigation will cover where you have lived, schools attended, employment history, reference checks, military services record, foreign activities and travel, financial history (including a credit check), police records, and any drug or alcohol abuse. The investigation could take several months to complete, 9-12 or more in some instances. If complicated issues arise, it could take even longer. If you have filled out a security questionnaire before, it will help to have a copy to refer to. It will also help you complete the questionnaire if you verify all addresses and phone numbers of supervisors, references, former roommates, etc. You must provide accurate, complete, and honest answers to all questions on the security questionnaire. Incomplete information can delay the clearance. Falsifying or failing to provide required information can cause a denial or revocation of a security clearance. It is also prohibited by law and can be punished by fines and imprisonment. All information you provide will be verified during the investigation.
Once the investigation is complete, it is sent to a central adjudications facility. Adjudicators review all information to decide if you are eligible for a clearance. If no significant adverse information turns up, you will be granted a security clearance. However, if significant material adverse information is uncovered, you may be denied a clearance. A few examples of conditions that may be disqualifying include:
- Not meeting financial obligations or inability to satisfy debts.
- Driving under the influence.
- Spouse or child abuse.
- Improper or illegal involvement with drugs.
- Criminal conduct.
- Hacking into computer systems.
- Close personal relationships with citizens of foreign countries.
For more detailed information, see the Adjudicative Guidelines in the DoD 5200.2R Personnel Security Program Regulation. |
| D |
Term |
Acronym |
Description |
| |
Delegating Examining Unit |
DEU |
The Delegated Examining Unit (DEU) is a unit that is granted authority by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This delegated examining authority gives DLA Human Resources Services the ability to fill competitive civil service jobs with: applicants applying from outside the Federal workforce; Federal employees who do not have competitive service status, or Federal employees with competitive service status. Appointments made by agencies through delegated examining authority are subject to civil service laws and regulations. This is to ensure fair and open competition, recruitment from all segments of society, and selection on the basis of the applicant's competencies or knowledge, skills and abilities. (see 5 U.S.C.2301). |
| |
Defense Logistics Agency |
DLA |
The Defense Logistics Agency is the Department of Defense's largest logistics combat support agency, providing worldwide logistics support in both peacetime and wartime to the military services as well as several civilian agencies and foreign countries. |
| E |
Term |
Acronym |
Description |
| |
Emergency Essential Positions |
E-E |
A position-based designation to support the success of combat operations or the availability of combat-essential systems. |
| F |
Term |
Acronym |
Description |
| |
Federal Occupation Groups |
|
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has established occupational groups and series that are used to classify the work of positions. This classification is made in terms of the kind or subject matter of the work, the level of difficulty and responsibility, and the qualification requirements of the work. The classification is made to ensure similar treatment for positions within a class in personnel and pay administration. |
| |
Federal Employees Retirement System |
FERS |
FERS is a retirement plan that provides benefits from three different sources:  a Basic Benefit Plan, Social Security, and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).  Two of the three parts of FERS (Social Security and the TSP) can go with you to your next job if you leave the Federal Government before retirement.  The Basic Benefit and Social Security parts of FERS require you to pay your share each pay period. Your agency withholds the cost of the Basic Benefit and Social Security from your pay as payroll deductions. Your agency pays its part too. Then, after you retire, you receive annuity payments each month for the rest of your life. |
| |
Federal Employee Health Benefits |
FEHB |
The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program can help you and your family meet your health care needs. Federal employees, retirees and their survivors enjoy the widest selection of health plans in the country. You can choose from among Consumer-Driven and High Deductible plans that offer catastrophic risk protection with higher deductibles, health savings/reimbursable accounts and lower premiums, or Fee-for-Service (FFS) plans, and their Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO), or Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) if you live (or sometimes if you work) within the area serviced by the plan. |
| |
Federal Employee Group Life Insurance |
FEGLI |
Most employees are eligible for FEGLI coverage. FEGLI provides group term life insurance. As such, it does not build up any cash value or paid-up value. It consists of Basic life insurance coverage and three options. In most cases, if you are a new Federal employee, you are automatically covered by Basic life insurance and your payroll office deducts premiums from your paycheck unless you waive the coverage. In addition to the Basic, there are three forms of Optional insurance you can elect. You must have Basic insurance in order to elect any of the options. Unlike Basic, enrollment in Optional insurance is not automatic -- you must take action to elect the options. |
| |
Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program |
FEDVIP |
The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) is a new program, separate and different from the FEHB Program, authorized by the Federal Employee Dental and Vision Benefits Enhancement Act of 2004. OPM has contracted with several insurance carriers to make supplemental dental and vision benefits available to eligible Federal and USPS employees, annuitants, and their eligible family members. |
| |
Federal Flexible Spending Account |
FSAFEDS |
The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) provides long term care insurance for its enrollees, who are Federal and U.S. Postal Service employees and annuitants, active and retired members of the uniformed services, and their qualified relatives. |
| |
Federal Long Term Health Care Insurance |
FLTCIP |
An account where you contribute money from your salary BEFORE taxes are withheld then get reimbursed for your out-of-pocket health care and dependent care expenses. |
| G |
Term |
Acronym |
Description |
| |
General Schedule |
GS |
The General Schedule (GS) is the predominant pay scale within the United States civil service. The GS includes the majority of white collar personnel (professional, technical, administrative, and clerical) positions. |
| I |
Term |
Acronym |
Description |
| |
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program |
ICTAP |
A well qualified ICTAP candidate is defined as meeting all of the minimum qualification standards and eligibility requirements as well as possessing skills that clearly exceed the minimum qualification requirements for the position. |
| M |
Term |
Acronym |
Description |
| |
Merit Promotion |
|
The system of employing and promoting civil servants on the basis of ability. |
| |
Mission Critical Occupations |
MCO |
Mission-critical jobs are those jobs that help the organization maintain or develop its distinct competitive advantage. Because of the importance of these jobs, they are typically paid a premium to market. When determining mission-critical jobs, organizations consider: 1) A job's expected contribution to long-term organizational success; 2)The criticality and/or unique contribution of a job to achieving ongoing long-term objectives; 3)The difference in contribution level between having an average performer and a high performer in the job. Because of the pay premium available to mission critical jobs, the group is typically very limited (no more than 5% of all jobs) and the entire leadership team must be in agreement as to which jobs are mission critical. |
| N |
Term |
Acronym |
Description |
| |
Noncritical Sensitive Positions |
|
If selected for this position, you must complete a process called the National Agency Check Plus Written Inquiries (NACI) prior to appointment. The NACI is a background investigation that covers the last 5 years of your life or your 18th birthday (whichever is the shorter period). The NACI combines a NAC (a record review and FBI fingerprint search) and written inquiries to law enforcement agencies, former employers, references, schools, and a credit check. |
| |
Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality |
NAFI |
The Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality (NAFI) Program is a computer-based system that provides benefits specialists a tool to assist eligible employees with retirement coverage elections under Public law 104-106. |
| |
Non-Combat Essential |
NCE |
A position-based designation to support the expeditionary requirements in other than combat or combat support situations. |
| P |
Term |
Acronym |
Description |
| |
Pathways Program (Executive Order 13562) |
|
Effective December 27, 2010 the President established the Pathways Program. This new EO supersedes and revokes Executive Order 13162, Federal Career Intern Programs (FCIP), effective March 1, 2011 and replaces the Student Career Experience Program under EO 12015. The new EO directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to consolidate student programs into the Pathways Program with three clear program paths that are tailored to recruit, train, and retain well-qualified candidates. The three programs will each provide non-competitive conversion eligibility for participants. The new program paths include: Internship Program – Targets student enrolled in a variety of educational institutions; Recent Graduates Program – Targets students who have received their degree within the last 2-years (6 years for veterans completing their service obligation). Presidential Management Fellows Program – Existing program targeting advanced degree candidates. The Pathways Programs will be put into effect once final implementing regulations have been issued. OPM is currently developing those regulations and once drafted, will publish in the Federal Register to provide an opportunity for public comment. OPM has not issued any timelines for final implementation of the EO. |
| R |
Term |
Acronym |
Description |
| |
Reinstatement Eligibility |
|
Reinstatement allows you to reenter the Federal competitive service workforce without competing with the public. Reinstatement eligibility also enables you to apply for Federal jobs open only to status candidates. You must have held a career or career conditional appointment at some time in the past. If so, there is no time limit on reinstatement eligibility for those who: have veterans' preference or acquired career tenure by completing 3 years of substantially continuous creditable service. |
