PSC: Enlisted Personnel Management

Security Levels

U.S. Coast Guard
Personnel Service Center

Boatswains Mate Assignments

CWO Troy Loining, Assignment Officer D7, 8, 14, 17, PATFORSWA
Phone: (202)493-1264
E-Mail: troy.l.loining(at)uscg.mil

CWO Neal Feustel, Assignment Officer D1, D5
Phone: (202)493-1257
E-Mail: neal.j.feustel(at)uscg.mil

CWO Mike Tollefson, Assignment Officer D9, 11, 13
Phone: (202)493-1262
E-Mail: michael.e.tollefson(at)uscg.mil

CWO4 Jeffrey Kerner, Assignment Officer Afloat, PATFORSWA
Phone: (202)493-1263
E-Mail: jeffrey.d.kerner(at)uscg.mil

CAC I
MST

Assignment Officer's Hot Word:
Updated 9 NOV 09

NEW - XPO Assignments
NEW - OIC Assignments
OIC Screening Panel Process
OIC Shopping List
OIC Screening Panel Candidates
XPO Vacancies
XPO Candidates'

Here’s what you can find on this site that will hopefully answer some questions, dissolve some “Detailing Myths” and set you up for success with your career as a Boatswain Mate.

AY-10 Timeline (BM) Coming Soon

How BM Assignments Work
BM’s assignments are in 3 Phases: OIC, XPO, then General Duty.

This process is geared to having members submit (when applicable) an OIC specific e-resume, an XPO e-resume (if not selected for OIC), then a General Duty e-resume (if not selected for either OIC or XPO). OIC and XPO positions are published by ALCGENL msg along with solicitations for (screening) and assignment to (“the slate”) these positions. Don’t bother with the Shopping List during these phases; it’s not up to date at this point in the process.

Each rating’s Assignment Officer works the assignment process differently based on their rating (some by assignment priority, some by sea duty, then shore duty, etc.). We (BMs) work E-9 to E-4 (all E-9s, then all E-8s, etc.). It’s not uncommon for members at the same pay-grade, but different ratings to receive orders at different times throughout the process.

Through the general duty slate we slate E9’s by assignment priority*, then issue the orders for the E-9’s. We then move on to the E-8’s, etc. After issuing orders to the E-7’s, and then each subsequent rank after that we identify members who were not slated either because they didn’t have an e-resume or they didn’t win anything from their e-resume (See E-Resume tips if you don’t want this to happen to you.). These are the people who get the “left over list”. The left over list is made up of positions which were not assigned during the normal process (either no one asked for them or those who did received a higher pick) and positions which unexpectedly came open after the e-resume deadline. These members will be asked to rank order the list and send it back to the AO’s and they will be slated based on that. The left over list is also processed by assignment priority*. Members who choose to not return the left over list are simply issued orders based on the highest service need.

*Keep in mind that Service Need will always trump Assignment Priority. If you are the best person to fill a specific job I have the authority and duty to send you there, regardless of whether or not it appears on your e-resume.

Urban Legend or Fact?
- The Shopping List in Direct Access can be counted on all the time.
Direct Access is a funny beast. Issuing orders will change the number of open positions, but so will a myriad of other actions which can be taken by a number of HQ units. The most important thing to remember is that the Shopping List is only accurate during the period between when the commands finish reviewing it and the e-resume deadline. This year that means it’s correct from 14 Oct – 07 Nov.

- Assignment Priority 3 means I’ll get whatever I want.
Nope! For some rates, Priority 3 may be awesome and a sure way to get a top pick. With the advent of units other than ships receiving priority 3, combined with our PATFORSWA and other overseas folks in the Boatswain Mate rating, not so much. Last year, over ½ of the BM’s transferred were Priority 3 or better. In one instance a Priority 3 member won the 37th pick on his e-resume.

- The Detailer has to call me if he/she can’t get me a job on my e-resume.
Couldn’t be farther from the truth. Let’s do some math. We transferred about 400 BM1s and over 500 BM2/3s in AY-06. Say ½ listed only a couple picks on their e-resume, and we stopped the slating process to call these 450 people giving each the option to sleep on it and call us in the a.m. (this doesn’t even take into account that we are a sea-going service and our members are out of touch for days/months on end). As you can see this would not/does not work. That said, take a look at the E-Resume Tips for ways to set yourself up for success. If you follow them you will get something on your e-resume.

- Detailers tell me to re-submit my e-resume for a specific job or group of jobs because Detailers are evaluated on how often they get someone a pick from their e-resume.
Feel free to substitute rank order a complete list of jobs the Detailer sent me by e-mail or any similar version of the above, because the answer remains the same. We are not evaluated by getting you something on your e-resume. We advise you to update your e-resume for a variety of reasons (it’s unrealistic, the jobs listed are no longer available, we’re unable to co-locate you and your active duty spouse based on choices listed, etc.). There are two things to keep in mind. First, we have no need to try and trick you in to something. This is still the military and we can issue you orders where there is a service need (whether you pick it or not). Second and most importantly, we (Detailers) started off in your shoes and wanted to be treated fairly then as we still do now. Our actions are an effort to afford you the opportunity to participate in the process that will dictate your life during the next tour.

- Detailers keep a file on everybody
We sure do, it’s part of Direct Access. This is for the benefit of the member and the Coast Guard. We use it to record any promises made (short tour, assignment priority upgrade, etc.), career counseling (member advised to request a certain type of unit/position), career intentions, etc. We normally add any msg traffic or e-mails into this file.

- The Enlisted Assignments Roadshow is a waste of time because the (insert your rating here) Detailer won’t be there.
The Enlisted Assignments Roadshow presentation was developed and is updated annually collectively by all of the Enlisted Detailers. Whether it’s me, the YN Detailer, or an Aviation Detailer, the message is the same and worthwhile. The CG spends thousands annually to send us on the road to help you help yourself on career planning and the assignment process. We spend a lot of time after the presentation answering questions one-on-one. If it’s something we can’t answer (i.e. rating specific) we’ll take it back with us and get an answer for you from your Detailer. ** Keep in mind as a BM you are expected to be a leader and mentor to others in your role as a coxn, OOD, OIC, etc. Although you may not see any direct personal value, the information we pass on will better prepare you to help those under your leadership.

- In this currently challenging budget environment all I have to do is ask for an extension or no-cost orders and I’ll get it.
It’s not quite that simple. Fiscal responsibility is only one of 16 different factors that we consider during the assignment process. If everyone in the Coast Guard wanted to stay exactly where they are right now this would be easy. However, it is likely that the BM2 on the CGC NEVERHOME doesn’t want to stay there. Therefore all of the assignment factors have to be considered. While we fully intend to maximize our fleet ups, when it comes to extensions we must consider the long-term, servicewide impact when it comes to extensions. That is why we will continue to tell you that you must compete for an extension, not just be granted one automatically. If you place an extension as the only pick on your e-resume, there is a significant chance that you will be disappointed (see e-resume tips below). As for no-cost orders, if you ask me transfer you from NY to CA it doesn’t matter if you say you’ll take no cost orders. In accordance with Federal Travel Regulations (JFTR) if you receive orders outside your current geographical location, you are entitled to travel funds and I can’t force you to move without them.

E-resume tips
First you need to know how we make assignments. We maintain a list of position numbers which need to be filled. When we enter that position number into DA, it spits out a list of people who listed that position number on their most recent E-resume, ranked in order of assignment priority. We then make our assignment based on that list and move onto the next position.

Now that you know, how the system works, here are the steps to take to craft an e-resume that will guarantee you a set of order.

• Work the shopping list like you would and Expanding Square search pattern. The job you want more than any other should be your commence search point.

• Determine what is more important to you geographic preference or professional development. Keep in mind that if you pick geography over development, sooner or later you will have to pay the price (i.e. can’t make Chief, because you don’t have sea time and you can’t get sea time because you’re a priority 5), we can see all of your past e-resumes and we’re not big on sob stories about needing something to advance when you won one of your top picks on your last several e-resumes.

• Expand out from CSP based on the above decision. For example your PSP is the CGC Knight Island in St. Pete, FL (professionally you want sea time on a 110, geographically you want St. Pete); you decide that professional development is more important than location so your next picks are all of the other 110’s in the CG, followed by the 87’s, followed by the 210’s, etc based on your preferences. If you decided location is more important than development, your next choices might be the Station, the 175, the 210, the Sector, etc.

• List all position numbers open at any unit you want to go to. If there are 2 different BM1 position numbers at a unit (department number) list both of them because we pull by position number not unit.

• Do not list several position numbers on one type of unit and then make a statement in your comments along the lines of “If none of these 110’s are open, I’ll take any 110 in the CG”. Pulling by position means we’ll never see you comment, unless you are competing for one of the 110’s you listed.

I’ve had a bunch of people ask how many jobs they should list. My first answer is “All of them”. I then expand on that by saying the only jobs that you shouldn’t list on your e-resume are the ones that you would rather get out of the Coast Guard than go to. Here’s why – let’s say that you are a priority 3 and submit an e-resume with 20 picks. We’ll call the place you would have listed as #21 Station Vacation. As the process rolls along, you don’t win one of your e-resume picks, however shortly after slating your #20 pick, we get to Sta Vacation – the system spits out a list of priority 5 candidates, then we slate that one. So once we’ve completed all of the paygrade we see that you haven’t received orders. The next step is that you receive the “Left Over List”. Obviously Sta Vacation isn’t on it because it went to a priority 5 who had it on their e-resume.

This is the point where some of you will hesitate to list something on your e-resume based on the myth that we Detailers get rewarded by getting you a pick on your e-resume or that we are trying to trick you into putting in for hard to fill jobs. Not a smart move to take this gamble. The other thing you need to know about the system is you get what you win. Let’s say that your 75th pick Sta Mosquito Bite. No, one else in the Coast Guard has asked for Sta Mosquito Bite. However, you are the highest ranked person to ask for Sta Lake Tahoe. You go to Lake Tahoe and Sta Mosquito Bite goes to the “Left Over List”. I assure you there will be enough BM’s who don’t read this that I will have candidates picking from the list.

A final note – I want to call your attention to the Assignment Continuum in the Personnel Manual (Article 4.B.3.c. (2.a). You will see the 1st concern in an assignment decision is Service Need. Your e-resume helps us match your desires, concerns, etc. to fill these service needs. Keep in mind your going to transfer somewhere (or get out), so you want some say in the process. Using the search pattern analogy gives you the best chance for success in the process.

A lot has changed in the enlisted assignment process since we used to list 8 picks (and 2 least desired) on a piece of paper, mailed it off and awaited our fate. Most frustrations with enlisted assignments are rooted in thinking this is the way the process still works – it does not! This being said, be very careful on who you are getting advise from on the process. Your Detailer remains the best, most up-to-date source for this advice.

BM Striker Information
If you are striking BM and want to know what the process will work for you, read on. Within a couple weeks of being advanced to BM3 we look at your units Position Allowance List (PAL), to determine if there are any vacancies at the BM3 level at your current unit. If there are, we will contact your command about fleeting you up into that position for the remainder of you tour there. If you aren’t fleeted up at the same unit, you will receive an e-mail from one us with an attached spreadsheet. The e-mail will contain instructions on how to proceed and the deadline. The spreadsheet will contain all of the open positions we have at the E4 (and in some cases E5) level. Direct Access will not be up-to-date at this point so don’t waste your time checking there. We will ask you to rank order the positions on that spreadsheet and return it to us. In your e-mail back to us you should also list any concerns (COLO, Special Needs, etc) and give us a quick idea of what you want to do in the CG (OIC, Surfman, OCS, 4 & out, etc). We will then slate all of the Strikers for that month, based on performance, current unit, and qualifications. If the process is working properly (no guarantee) you should receive a set of orders to your next unit by the beginning of the month following your advancement.