R 091509Z MAY 12 ALCOAST 230/12 COMDTNOTE 12990 SUBJ: VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY - HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF THE MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST (BILOXI, MS) A. Military Assignments and Authorized Absences, COMDTINST M1000.8 (SERIES) B. Volunteer Community Service, DHS 254-01 1. More than 1,000 DHS employees have answered the call for help in the recovery and rebuilding effort in the Gulf Coast region after Hurricane Katrina. The DHS Emerging Leaders group is leading Team DHS for this years Habitat for Humanity build in the Mississippi Gulf Coast, 27-31 August 2012. This year is an especially important project, as it will be taking place during the commemoration of the 7th year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and will be the 5th year of volunteer service for Team DHS. This volunteer opportunity qualifies as a DHS mission for which excused absence or administrative leave is permissible. 2. Employees and military members have an opportunity to help through a team made up of DHS volunteers who will work with Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast (HFHMGC) in this rebuilding effort. For more information on the types of work to be performed and other requirements, visit the HFHMGC website at http://www.hfhmgc.org, and select volunteer. 3. The DHS Emerging Leaders (DEL), a chartered DHS employee networking organization is coordinating the event this year. The DEL has reserved space for civilian employees and military members during the week of 27- 31 August 2012. Membership in DEL is not required to participate in this activity. Questions about DEL may be directed to Steven McGovern at 202-282-9313 or steven.mcgovern(at)hq.dhs.gov. 4. Civilian and military members must have the concurrence of their first-level supervisors before volunteering. Upon approval of their chain of command, military members are authorized administrative absence to support this volunteer opportunity. This information can be found in Section 2.A.10.B (7) of Ref A. Military members are not authorized to wear their uniforms while volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. 5. Interested volunteers must register at the following link: http://www.hfhmgc.org, select volunteer, register now, and choose week of 27 August 2012 (Team DHS). For any registration questions or problems (including housing options), please contact Austin Coomer at 228-678-9100, ext 1002, or at volunteer(at)hfhmgc.org. 6. Volunteers have the option of staying at the Volunteer Village or choosing alternate accommodations at area hotels. Details may be found on the HFHMGC website (http://www.hfhmgc.org), select volunteer and volunteer village. Transportation to Biloxi, MS, housing, meals and incidental expenses are at the employees or members expense. Housing at the volunteer village is 125 dollars per person for the week, which covers lodging and meals. The cost of alternative housing at area hotels varies. Alternative housing may be found at the link above or at www.gulfcoast.org. 7. Ref B permits civilian employees who participate in volunteer activities directly related to the DHS mission to receive up to 40 hours of Administrative Leave per year for Volunteer Community Service. Employees who wish to use administrative leave must not have exhausted the 40 hours per year administrative leave maximum for Volunteer Community Service. If the 40 hours per year maximum has been exhausted, an employee must request annual leave, leave without pay, credit hours (under a flexible work schedule), or compensatory time off, to participate in this volunteer activity. Guidance on recording mission-related volunteer service in webTA can be found at the following link: http://www.uscg.mil/civilianhr/leave/volserv.asp. For additional guidance regarding the appropriate use of leave, work schedules and workplace flexibilities, contact your servicing Command Staff Advisor or Human Resources Specialist at: http://www.uscg.mil/civilianhr/contact.asp. Military members will request leave/liberty IAW Ref A. 8. Civilian employees and military members, who are currently involved in volunteer activities, are encouraged to create a record of their volunteer service hours by registering with the Presidents Volunteer Service Award website: (http://presidentialserviceawards.gov). The DHS group code is LSM-22515. 9. Mr. Curtis B. Odom, Acting Assistant Commandant For Human Resources, sends. 10. Internet release authorized.