ALCOAST 445/09

COMDTNOTE 1223

SUBJ: LATERAL SELECTION PROCESS FOR MARITIME ENFORCEMENT SPECIALIST

(ME) RATING AND MARITIME LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY SPECIALIST

(MLES) CWO SPECIALTY

A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 232106Z JUN 08, ALL HANDS

B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 201611Z AUG 08, ALL HANDS

C. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 102013Z JUN 09, ALCOAST 348/09

D. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 162345Z JUL 09, ALCOAST 409/09

E. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 162346Z JUL 09, ALCOAST 410/09

F. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 162356Z JUL 09, ALCOAST 411/09

G. PERSONNEL SECURITY AND SUITABILITY PROGRAM, COMDTINST M5520.12

(SERIES)

H. COAST GUARD POLICY ON THE POSSESSION OF FIREARMS AND/OR

AMMUNITION BY COAST GUARD MILITARY PERSONNEL, COMDTINST 10100.1

(SERIES)

I. COAST GUARD WEIGHT AND BODY FAT STANDARDS PROGRAM MANUAL,

COMDTINST M1020.8 (SERIES)

1. PURPOSE. REF A ANNOUNCED THE COMDT DECISION TO ESTABLISH A COAST

GUARD ENLISTED RATING INVOLVING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY (LE/S)

DUTIES.  REF B ANNOUNCED THE DECISION TO NAME THE NEW RATING

MARITIME ENFORCEMENT SPECIALIST (ME).  MARITIME LAW ENFORCEMENT AND

SECURITY SPECIALIST (MLES) WAS CHOSEN AS THE NAME OF THE CWO

SPECIALTY. REF C OUTLINED THE PROCESS FOR RESERVE PORT SECURITY

SPECIALIST (PS) MEMBERS WHO DESIRE TO LATERAL TO ME. REF E OUTLINED

THE ADVANCEMENT PROCESS FOR ME FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.  THIS MSG

ANNOUNCES THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVE

MEMBERS DESIRING TO LATERAL TO ME AND MLES.  AS NOTED IN REF A,

MEMBERS IN THE ME RATING AND MLES SPECIALTY WILL PERFORM A WIDE

RANGE OF DUTIES ASSOCIATED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY.

COAST GUARD PERSONNEL SERVICE CENTER (CGPSC), WORKING WITH PROGRAM

MANAGERS, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONVENING PANELS TO SELECT QUALIFIED

MEMBERS TO LATERAL TO ME AND MLES.

2. TIMELINES. THE FOLLOWING MAJOR MILESTONES ARE PROVIDED. DATES

ARE TARGETS AND MAY BE ADJUSTED AS IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESSES.

       MILESTONE                                DATE

ME EPQS PUBLISHED ON CG CENTRAL                 01 NOV 08

PS LATERAL PROCESS PUBLISHED, REF C             10 JUN 09

ME ADVANCEMENT PROCESS PUBLISHED, REF E         16 JUL 09

ME/MLES BILLET MAPS PUBLISHED ON CG PORTAL      31 JUL 09

MLES CWO LATERAL APPLICATION DEADLINE           09 SEP 09

MLES PANEL CONVENES                             16 SEP 09

MLES SELECTIONS ANNOUNCED                       28 SEP 09

ME RATING LATERAL APPLICATION DEADLINE          02 OCT 09

CONDUCT ME LATERAL PANEL                        13 OCT-02 NOV 09

ME SELECTIONS ANNOUNCED                         10 NOV 09

ME RATING AND MLES SPECIALTY ESTABLISHED        01 JAN 10

3.  GUIDANCE. SERVICE NEEDS AND MEMBER EXPERIENCE WILL BE CRITICAL

ELEMENTS OF THE SELECTION PROCESS. PLEASE READ THIS MSG CLOSELY TO

ENSURE APPLICATIONS ARE COMPLETED PROPERLY AND SUBMITTED BY THE

REQUIRED DEADLINES. A CONDENSED VERSION OF THE ME BILLET IS POSTED

ON CG PORTAL:

HTTPS://CGPORTAL.USCG.MIL/LOTUS/MYQUICKR/ME/ME-BILLET-MAP

MEMBERS CONSIDERING A LATERAL TO ME OR MLES SHOULD REVIEW THE

BILLET MAPS TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF ASSIGNMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE ACROSS ALL UNIT TYPES: CUTTERS (WHEC, WMEC),

STATIONS, SECTORS, DSF UNITS (MSST, MSRT, TACLETS), CG POLICE

DEPARTMENTS, AS WELL AS INSTRUCTOR POSITIONS AT THE MLE ACADEMY.

EPQS ARE POSTED ON THE CG LEARNING PORTAL.  MEMBERS CONSIDERING A

LATERAL TO ME SHOULD REVIEW THE EPQS TO GAIN A THOROUGH

UNDERSTANDING OF THE EXPECTED SCOPE OF WORK AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

4. ELIGIBILITY. THE FOLLOWING ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA APPLY:

      A. ANY ENLISTED MEMBER E4-E9 MAY APPLY FOR A LATERAL TO THE

ME RATING.  ANY CWO MEMBER IN ANY WARRANT SPECIALTY MAY APPLY FOR A

LATERAL TO MLES SPECIALTY.

      B. SECURITY CLEARANCES. MEMBERS OF THE ME RATING AND MLES CWO

SPECIALITY WILL BE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A SECRET CLEARANCE

ELIGIBILITY. A SECRET CLEARANCE REQUIRES COMPLETION AND FAVORABLE

ADJUDICATION OF A NATIONAL AGENCY CHECK WITH LOCAL RECORD AND

CREDIT CHECK (NACLC).  REF E PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT SECURITY

CLEARANCES.  PERSONNEL APPLYING FOR A SECURITY CLEARANCE NEED TO BE

A UNITED STATES CITIZEN.  MEMBERS CONSIDERING A LATERAL TRANSFER

REQUEST TO ME OR MLES WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO OBTAIN A SECRET

CLEARANCE ARE ENCOURAGED TO INITIATE REQUESTS EARLY TO ENSURE THERE

IS SUFFICIENT TIME TO COMPLETE ALL NECESSARY REQUIREMENTS FOR

SUBMISSION OF A PERSONNEL SECURITY INVESTIGATION PACKAGE PRIOR TO

SUBMISSION OF LATERAL PACKAGES. FOR THESE PERSONNEL, THE COMMAND

MUST CLEARLY STATE THE DATE PACKAGE WAS RECEIVED AT THE COAST GUARD

SECURITY CENTER (SECCEN) ON THE COMMAND ENDORSEMENT.  AN APPLICANT

MUST INITIATE THE NACLC PROCESS BY CONTACTING THEIR COMMAND

SECURITY OFFICER (CSO).

            1) YOUR CSO WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH ACCESS TO THE

ELECTRONIC SF-86 FORM (EQIP). SUBMIT AN SF-86 USING EQIP, IAW REF

G. YOU CANNOT GAIN ACCESS TO EQIP TO COMPLETE THE SF-86 WITHOUT

PRIOR APPROVAL FROM YOUR CSO.

            2) COMPLETE FD-258 FINGERPRINT CARD - 3 ORIGINALS ARE

REQUIRED (SCHEDULE WITH CSO).

            3) SUBMIT DHS FORM 11000-9, CONSUMER REPORTS DISCLOSURE

AND AUTHORIZATION FORM.

            4) YOUR CSO WILL COMPLETE THE ELECTRONIC FORM CG-5588,

PERSONNEL SECURITY ACTION.

      C. ALL APPLICANTS FOR ME/MLES MUST BE ELIGIBLE TO POSSESS A

FIREARM (LAUTENBERG AMENDMENT).  ANY PERSON WHO HANDLES FIREARMS

SHOULD BE SCREENED FOR SUITABILITY.  IT IS A FELONY FOR ANYONE WHO

HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF A MISDEMEANOR CRIME OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO

SHIP, TRANSPORT, POSSESS, OR RECEIVE FIREARMS OR AMMUNITION. EACH

PERSON APPLYING FOR A LATERAL TO ME OR MLES MUST HAVE ON FILE AT

THEIR UNIT A SIGNED DD FORM 2760 DECLARING THEY HAVE NO CONVICTIONS

FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.  ANY RESTRAINING ORDERS FOR DOMESTIC

VIOLENCE THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN EFFECT WILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY

MEMBERS COMMAND IN THEIR ENDORSEMENT.  FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE

REF H.

      D. ALL APPLICANTS MUST HAVE NORMAL COLOR VISION.

      E. ALL APPLICANTS MUST BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH COMMANDANT

WEIGHT AND BODY FAT STANDARDS IAW REF I.

      F. ALL APPLICANTS MUST HAVE COMPLETED EITHER THE BOARDING

OFFICER AND BOAT CREW PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST OR THE DEPLOYABLE

SPECIALIZED FORCES TIER II PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST AFTER 01 JAN 09.

MEMBERS WITH A DOCUMENTED AND TEMPORARY MEDICAL CONDITION THAT

PRECLUDES THEM FROM BEING ABLE TO PASS THE PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST

MAY REQUEST A WAIVER.  WAIVER REQUESTS SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE ME

RATING FORCE MASTER CHIEF.

5. DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS.  BELOW ARE FOUR ADDITIONAL

CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE DESIRED OF APPLICANTS, BUT ARE NOT

REQUIRED.  THESE REPRESENT FACTORS THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED BY THE

LATERAL SELECTION PANEL IN THEIR DELIBERATIONS AS TO WHICH

CANDIDATES WILL BE ACCEPTED INTO THE RATING.

      A. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY EXPERIENCE.  MEMBERS E-6 OR

ABOVE APPLYING FOR LATERAL POSITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO DEMONSTRATE

PREVIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT OR SECURITY WORK EXPERIENCE, INCLUDING BUT

NOT LIMITED TO PAST ASSIGNMENTS OR APPLICABLE COMPETENCY CODES

(E.G., BOARDING TEAM MEMBER).  E-4 OR E-5 MEMBERS WITH DEMONSTRATED

PREVIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT OR SECURITY EXPERIENCE WILL BE GIVEN

WEIGHTED CONSIDERATION FOR A LATERAL TO THE ME RATING.

      B. WEAPONS QUALIFICATIONS.  HAVE HELD FULL WEAPONS

QUALIFICATIONS AT SOME POINT IN THEIR CAREER, TO INCLUDE JUDGMENTAL

PISTOL COURSE, BASIC AND PRACTICAL PISTOL, BASIC AND COMBAT RIFLE,

AND SHOTGUN.

AS AN E-4 EPQ, THOSE APPLICANTS LACKING FULL WEAPONS QUALIFICATIONS

WILL BE EXPECTED TO COMPLETE THEM FOLLOWING SELECTION AS AN ME.

SPECIFIC TIME REQUIREMENTS FOR EPQ COMPLETION CAN BE FOUND IN REF

E.

      C. CURRENTLY HOLD A VALID STATE-ISSUED DRIVERS LICENSE.

      D. MEMBERS APPLYING TO LATERAL TO THE ME RATING WITH

OBLIGATED SERVICE THROUGH 01 JAN 12 WILL BE GIVEN WEIGHTED

CONSIDERATION OVER THOSE APPLICANTS WITH LESS OBLIGATED SERVICE.

LENGTH OF OBLIGATED SERVICE WILL NOT BE A CONSIDERATION FOR RESERVE

MEMBERS OF THE LEGACY PS RATING AND PSS SPECIALITY WHO CHOOSE TO

LATERAL TO THE ME RATING DUE TO THE DISESTABLISHMENT OF THE PS

RATING AND PSS SPECIALITY.

6. LATERAL APPLICATIONS. MEMBERS REQUESTING TO LATERAL SHALL SUBMIT

A LATERAL REQUEST PACKAGE TO CG PSC.  THE LATERAL PACKAGE SHALL

CONSIST OF AN APPLICATION FORM WITH COMMAND CERTIFICATION AND

ENDORSEMENT AND A 1-2 PAGE RESUME LISTING: SUMMARY OF MILITARY

CAREER, ASSIGNED COMPETENCIES, COAST GUARD TRAINING, OTHER

TRAINING, AND OTHER LE/SECURITY EXPERIENCE OR SKILLS.  THE

APPLICATION AND AN EXAMPLE OF A RESUME CAN BE FOUND ON CG PORTAL:

HTTPS://CGPORTAL.USCG.MIL/LOTUS/MYQUICKR/ME/WELCOME

RESERVISTS APPLYING TO ME SHALL USE THE ME LATERAL APPLICATION,

PORT SECURITY SPECIALIST (PS) MEMBERS APPLYING TO A RATE OTHER THAN

ME SHALL USE THE RESERVE APPLICATION FOR LATERAL REQUEST DESIGNED

FOR PS MEMBERS NOT LATERALLING TO ME. BOTH APPLICATIONS AND AN

EXAMPLE OF A RESUME CAN BE ACCESSED VIA THE COAST GUARD RESERVE

WEBSITE UNDER MEMBER RESOURCES. RESERVISTS CAN ACCESS THE

APPLICATIONS VIA AN INTERNET ACCESS SITE LISTED BELOW AS WELL AS

THE CG PORTAL SITE LISTED ABOVE AT:

HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/RESERVE/MEMBER (UNDERSCORE) RESOURCES.ASP THE

DUE DATE FOR SUBMITTING A LATERAL REQUEST PACKAGE FOR ME TO PSC IS

NLT COB 02 OCT 09.

      A. ACTIVE DUTY ENLISTED MEMBERS SHALL FAX THEIR LATERAL

PACKAGE TO (202)493-1249 OR SCAN AND EMAIL TO DERRICK.L.RHONE (AT)

USCG.MIL.

      B. ACTIVE DUTY CWO MEMBERS SHALL SCAN AND EMAIL THEIR LATERAL

PACKAGE TO JAMES.M.DIGNAN (AT) USCG.MIL.

      C. RESERVE ENLISTED MEMBERS SHALL SCAN AND EMAIL THEIR

LATERAL PACKAGE TO ARL-DG-CGPSC IRR (AT) USCG.MIL.

      D. RESERVE CWO MEMBERS SHALL SCAN AND EMAIL THEIR LATERAL

PACKAGE TO DANIEL.R.MEEK (AT) USCG.MIL.

7. COMMAND CERTIFICATION.  COMMANDS SHALL CERTIFY THE FOLLOWING:

      A. ALL INFORMATION ON THE APPLICATION IS ACCURATE.

      B. MEMBER IS WITHIN COAST GUARD WEIGHT AND BODY FAT

STANDARDS.

      C. MEMBER HAS NO CONVICTIONS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

      D. MEMBER WAS MARKED SATISFACTORY IN CONDUCT ON MOST RECENT

ENLISTED EMPLOYEE REVIEW (EER).

8. COMMAND ENDORSEMENT. COMMAND ENDORSEMENTS SHALL BE MADE BY THE

MEMBERS COMMANDING OFFICER OR OFFICER IN CHARGE, OR EXECUTIVE

OFFICER OR EXECUTIVE PETTY OFFICER. COMMANDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO

WRITE AN ENDORSEMENT THAT EXPLAINS A MEMBERS POTENTIAL TO BE A GOOD

CANDIDATE FOR ME. ENDORSEMENTS ARE LIMITED TO 500 CHARACTERS.

9. ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE AND AMPLIFYING INFORMATION.

      A. THE LATERAL PROCESS WILL NOT AFFECT THE NORMAL TRANSFER

PROCESS. MEMBERS SELECTED FOR LATERAL SHOULD NOT EXPECT TO ROTATE

FROM CURRENT ASSIGNMENTS UNTIL TOUR COMPLETE.  MEMBERS NOT SELECTED

TO BECOME ME BUT IN A BILLET THAT HAS BEEN REPROGRAMMED TO ME WILL

CONTINUE TO CARRY OUT ASSIGNED DUTIES UNTIL TRANSFERRED OUT OF THAT

BILLET.

      B. ENLISTED MEMBERS SELECTED TO LATERAL TO ME WHO ARE IN

RECEIPT OF SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUSES (SRB) WILL NOT BE

REQUIRED TO PAY BACK ANY UNEARNED PORTION OF THE SRB AS LONG AS

THEY CONTINUE TO FULFILL ALL OTHER TERMS OF THEIR ENLISTMENTS IAW

THE SRB PROGRAM, REF E, ARTICLE 3.C.

      C. FOR THOSE SELECTED TO LATERAL, TIME IN RATE FROM CURRENT

RATING WILL CARRY OVER AND BE USED IN THE ME RATING FOR FUTURE

ADVANCEMENTS.

      D. EACH COMMAND SHALL ENSURE THAT APPLICANTS MOST RECENT OER

OR EER IS SUBMITTED IAW ART 10.A OR 10.B OF REF D. EACH APPLICANT

IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THEIR CG PSC PERSONNEL DATA RECORD

(PDR) IS UP TO DATE. THE PANEL WILL REVIEW THE CG PSC PDRS OF ALL

APPLICANTS.

      E. APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REVIEW THEIR CGPSC PDRS FOR

COMPLETENESS BY EITHER VISITING CG PSC-PSD-MR, OR WRITING TO

REQUEST A COPY. CG PSC-PSD-MR POC FOR PDR ISSUES IS MS. VALERIA

SMITH AT 202-493-1680. DOCUMENTS APPROPRIATE FOR FILING IN THE CG

PSC PDR SHOULD BE MAILED ASAP TO THE CGPSC PDR SECTION (CG PSC-PSD-

MR) ATTN: CWO MLES LATERAL PANEL OR ATTN: ENLISTED ME LATERAL PANEL

TO PERMIT TIMELY PROCESSING PRIOR TO THE PANELS.

10. RADM R. T. HEWITT, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR HUMAN RESOURCES,

SENDS.

11. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.