Department of Defense Plan for Use of the Physicians Comparability Allowance - The purpose of this plan is to prescribe Department of Defense (DoD) policies and procedures for administering the Federal Physicians Comparability Allowance Act of 1978, as amended.

Request for Special Salary Rate for (Occupation Title, Series, and Grade) - This document outlines the procedures for activities or locations to be covered by Special Salary rates to request them; whether an initial request for a new special salary rate (SSR) or for a change to an existing SSR table.

Implementation of Title 38 Premium Pay - Memorandum prescribing policies and procedures for the Navy medicine-wide implementation of Title 38 Additional Special Pay, hereafter referred to as Title 38 Premium Pay.

Recruitment Incentives

Recruitment Incentive – up to 25% of base salary paid generally in a lump sum for a person who accepts a position with the Federal government.  May be written to cover up to four years.  Have to sign an agreement continue in service with BUMED for period specified in the agreement.

       Serial #1 - Revised (Coming soon)

Relocation Incentive – up to 25% of base salary paid generally in a lump sum for a person currently working for the Federal government who agrees to move to a new location to accept a hard-to-fill position.  Have to sign an agreement continue in service with BUMED for period specified in the agreement.  Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs are also commonly paid.

Annual Leave Accrual Credit – allows for granting higher than the minimum number of hours for leave accrual to employees new to the Federal government who are in mid-careers – very popular with retired active duty members.

Student Loan Repayment Program – allows activities to pay up to $10K per year up to a total of $60K for the repayment of federally insured student loans.  Requires a 3 year agreement to continue in Federal service.

Federal Employment Benefits – often overlooked is that Federal employees are eligible for a wide range of health, life, savings and vacation benefits from the time they are employed.  There is no waiver for pre-existing conditions.

Pay Setting Flexibilities

Superior Qualifications – allows for an employee new to Federal service to be offered a salary above the step 1 level based on experience or unique skills.

Special Salary Rates (SSR) – where the normal Federal pay scale is inadequate to recruit or retain talent, the office of personnel management or DoD can raise pay scales so they are more competitive with the private sector or Department of Veterans Affairs.  Example – almost every MTF in Navy Medicine has an SSR for pharmacists.

Physicians Comparability Allowance (physicians and dentists only) – generally in the range $14K to $30K and is designed to make up some of the difference between Federal pay and that available in the private and not-for-profit sector.

Title 38 Additional Special Pays (ASP) – additional percentages added to base pay for working weekends, nights, holidays and while “on call,” pays that are common in the private sector.

On Call (Coming soon)

Retention Flexibilities

Retention Incentive – up to 25% of base salary generally paid biweekly to retain those who are likely to leave Federal employment.  Can be used to retain those who desire to retire as well as those seeking employment in the private sector.

Tuition Assistance – funding paid to off-set tuition, books and other fees generally for graduate or undergraduate education.  Can be used to pay for the attainment and maintenance of certification and licenses.

Awards – awards including both cash and time off to individuals employees or groups of employees who make contributions to the organization beyond the expectations of their job.  DON has established guidance that 1.5% of salary funding is to be set aside for awards each fiscal year. 

BUMEDINST 12451.4A (Coming soon)