PSC: Enlisted Personnel Management

Security Levels

U.S. Coast Guard
Personnel Service Center

Damage Controlman Assignments

CWO Dan Johnson Assignment Officer
Phone: (202)493-1258
FAX: (202)493-1269
E-Mail: daniel.w.johnson(at)uscg.mil

Assignment Officer's Hot Word:
Updated 16 SEP 2009

Hello, your new AO has a name, CWO3 Daniel Johnson. I replaced CWO Lovvorn on 22 June and have spent a significant amount of time discussing realistic e-resumes and providing career guidance. I encourage all of you to increase your rating knowledge starting with reading your DC force notes. You can access your rating force managers’ web site at:

This web page can help to provide additional and/or clarifying information. These comments are not intended to establish or supersede any current policies and procedures.
Members who are transferring should be reviewing Chapter 4 of the Personnel Manual, COMDTINST M1000.6 (series). Members must be keeping up to date with current SITREPS and are reminded to use their chain of command.

It would be wise to keep a copy of ALCGENL 075/09 as it spells out the timeline for the assignment season and can quickly answer many of your questions.
Timelines:

15 JUN - 31 AUG: Command/AO's conduct PAL Validation
15 JUN - 31 AUG: Member's contact AO'S for Career Counseling/Mentoring
25 SEP: Shopping List Published
27 NOV: E-Resume's Due

Modernization change
The DCC position number 0008280 at DD PSSU CHEBOYGAN has been proposed to be relocated to CEU Cleveland in the near future. Anyone desiring this position should be aware that the job location has a strong possibility to be relocated in FY-10.

Realistic e-resumes
One of the most common asked questions is “What is a realistic e-resume?” Most members generally fall into one of two categories with their intent on transfer. They choose by either geographic location or billet type. In both cases, the billet choices should start out with a specific job or area and continue to grow outward from that point. For example, a member wanting the Oakland area should start with the specific units in that area followed by as many billets that are listed for that area and all outlying areas. If you limit the number of billets you have chosen for that geographic location, it is unrealistic to think you will win that location.
The same can be said for a specific type of billet. For example, a DC2 seeking a WLIC should start with the specific cutter they would hope to win and expand the list to as many WLIC’s regardless of location. To only select billets based on location and type can greatly reduce the number of picks you will list and creates a limited selection for me to work with. If your intent is to acquire sea-time for advancement, do not limit yourself to one type of cutter.
If location and job are not the focusing goal, members should clearly explain their intent in the comments section. Members are highly recommended to analyze their assignment priority in respect to number of billets listed. It is my recommendation for all members to list at least 15 picks and increase that number as your priority decreases. Do not put yourself into a position where you will potentially lose your assignment priority, ensure that your E-resume is submitted by the required deadline. It is extremely difficult if not impossible for me to contact you directly during the assignment season if your billets are limited or your intentions are unclear.

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 that position number is entered into DA we receive 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.

Here are the steps to take to ensure that your e-resume will guarantee you a set of orders.

• Search for the job within your pay grade that you want the most then commence looking at all open jobs within that area.

• 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 view 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 your search away from your desired area based on the above decision. For example your preferred assignment is the CGC Vise in St. Pete, FL (professionally you want sea time, geographically you want St. Pete) so you decide that professional development is more important than location so your next picks are all of the other WLIC’s in the CG, followed by the 175’s, followed by the 225’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 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 210’s are open, I’ll take any 210 in the CG”. Pulling by position means we’ll never see you comment, unless you are competing for one of the 210’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 Cutter Never Sail. 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 Cutter Never Sail – the system spits out a list of priority 5 candidates, we then slate position. So once we’ve completed all of the pay grades we see that you haven’t received orders. The next step is that you receive the “Left Over List”. Obviously Cutter Never Sail isn’t on it because it went to a priority 5 who had it on their e-resume. Some of you will hesitate or not list something from this list on your e-resume based on the myth that the Detailer receives a reward 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. This is not a smart assumption to make. The other thing you need to know about the system is you get what you win. Let’s say that your 25th pick Station Frozen Tundra. No, one else in the Coast Guard has asked for Station Frozen Tundra. However, you are the highest ranked person to ask for NESU New Orleans. You go to New Orleans and Station Frozen Tundra goes to the “Left Over List”. I assure you there will be enough DC’s who don’t read this, so 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 above guidance gives you the best chance for success in the process.
Most frustrations with enlisted assignments are deeply rooted with a persons thinking that they know how “hidden” the process works. That being said, be extremely careful on who you are receiving your advice from. Your individual Detailer remains your most up-to-date source, and is willing to provide this advice free-of-charge or obligation.

Special Needs Program
The Special Needs program ensures that members that have dependents with a verified special need are assigned to a geographic area in where the need can be addressed. The specifics of the Special Needs Program are outlined in COMDINST M1754.7A. I will communicate with the Work-Life Staff to ensure that members enrolled in the Special Needs Program are assigned to an area that their special needs can be addressed. I must reemphasize, the program does not guarantee a specific unit, assignment, or geographical area close to family members. This program ensures that your next assignment location is has the infrastructure to accommodate the member. Furthermore, I do not discuss specific assignments with the Work-Life. If you are enrolled in the special needs program, list only positions/units that are located in areas that can address the need. Your active collaboration with the local Work-Life staff is encouraged to ensure that only acceptable areas are listed on the E-Resume. Do not send me specifics regarding your individual special need. You simply need a remark on your e-resume that you are enrolled in the program.

Transfer Season
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 DC1 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 I must consider the long-term service wide impact. That is why I will continue to tell you that you must compete for an extension. 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 above). As for no-cost orders, if you ask me transfer you from CA to FL 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.

Sea Duty
Remember you need 12 months rated sea time to advance to DC1 and 18 months rated sea time for advancement to DCC. Keep this in mind with applying for your next position. If your currently ashore and haven’t met this requirement, you should be applying for all cutters. Also if you’re currently afloat you should be looking at some land billets. You will need the Civil Engineering experience as you advance in the DC rating.

DC Striker Information
If you are striking DC and want to know what the process will work for you, read on. Within a couple weeks of being advanced to DC3 we look at your units Position Allowance List (PAL), to determine if there are any vacancies at the DC3 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 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 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. You will be asked to rank order the positions on that spreadsheet and return it to us. In your e-mail you forward back you should also list any concerns (COLO, Special Needs, etc) and give us a quick idea of what you want to accomplish in the Coast Guard. I will then slate all of the Strikers for that month, based on individual 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 second month following your advancement.

Assignments with Respect to Newly Promoted Members
In an effort to reduce the churn in the workforce, I attempt to leave members for complete tours. However, this is sometimes very difficult particularly for the newly promoted personnel especially E6’s/E7’s. I use the following as general guidelines for newly promoted members:

• Newly promoted DC2’s/DC1’s should expect to complete their current assignment. However, Critical vacancies in the field may over ride the ability to provide this convenience. I will contact your command if I plan to transfer you.

• Newly promoted DC2’s will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. I will consider time in current assignment, current tour length, service need and member’s sea time.

• Newly promoted DC1’s currently assigned to most independent positions, should expect to complete the assignment, and will be reviewed on a case by case basis as well. Remember we have no control over actual advancements.

• Fleet-ups, whether at current unit or another unit in the same locale, will be maximized. Fleet-ups do not change rotation dates.

Retirement (RILO) or Separation in Lieu of Orders
If you are placing a retirement letter dated for anything outside of the normal retirement window of September through December, ensure you have the Commands endorsement acknowledging they may be accepting a potential gap. If this is not done, the process will be delayed considerably.
Retirement eligible members (> 20 years active duty) in receipt of orders may request retirement in lieu of orders. The member must request the RILO within 15 days of receiving PCS orders. If the retirement request is approved, the member will be retired by 01Aug of the current year. Approval will be based on service need.
Members on indefinite reenlistments (> 10 years of active service) and in receipt of orders may request separation in lieu of orders. A separation request must be submitted to EPM within 10 days of receiving PCS orders. If the separation request is approved, the member will be separated from the service within three months of receiving PCS orders. Approval is based on service need.

Contact from your AO
During the assignment season it is often difficult to reach each of you during normal business hours. I encourage you to update your personal information in Direct Access with your current home & cell phone number’s and e-mail address. I will sometimes make phone calls or send e-mails after hours to reach you.

Best Regards,

CWO3 Daniel Johnson
DC Assignment Officer