ALCOAST 270/17 - SEP 2017 COASTIES HELPING COASTIES CAMPAIGN

R 151635 SEP 17
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//DCMS//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N05330//
ALCOAST 270/17
COMDTNOTE 5330
SUBJ:  COASTIES HELPING COASTIES CAMPAIGN
A.  Military Assignments and Authorized Absences, COMDTINST M1000.8 (series)
B.  Department of Homeland Security Directive 254-01, Volunteer Community Service
C.  Title 5 U.S. Code Chapter 81, Compensation for Work Injuries.
1.  I am extremely proud of the efforts put forth by our Coast Guard members, both
military and civilian, in recent weeks.  We have rescued or assisted to over 12,000
people and over 1,500 pets in distress from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. While the
storms have ended, recovery efforts will continue for weeks and months to come. 
What are even more exceptional are the sacrifices you have all made personally as
well, whether it’s deploying at a moment’s notice, to displacing your families to
ensure their safety, to experiencing damage to your own personal property.  As
recovery efforts continue, I know many of you will be challenged with balancing
your official duties while addressing your own personal loss.
2.  As a Coast Guard family, I want to encourage each of you to consider taking
time to assist fellow Coasties who may need a little help getting back on their
feet.  As such, the Commandant has launched a “Coasties Helping Coasties” campaign. 
We have the following authorities to allow civilian and military members to
volunteer their time to assist Coast Guard families in need:
   A.  Per REF A, an administrative absence, not chargeable as leave, is authorized
for military members wishing to volunteer their time to assist others.  I authorize
up to five days’ absence to assist others, pending approval from your unit
commanding officer/officer in-charge.  
   B.  Civilian employees who want to help with this initiative must volunteer
with a private, nonprofit organization, for example an affiliated private
organization such as the Chief Petty Officers Association (CPOA).  Per REF B,
civilian employees are authorized up to 40 hours of administrative leave per year
for volunteer community service.  Appropriated funded civilian employees who wish
to use administrative leave must not have previously exhausted the 40 hours per
year administrative leave maximum for volunteer community service.  Administrative
leave for volunteer community service must be recorded in WebTA.  If the 40 hours
per year maximum has been exhausted, employees must use other work schedule
flexibilities such as accrued annual leave, compensatory time off, credit hours
(under a flexible work schedule), or leave without pay.
        1.  For volunteer service of an individual nature not performed through a
private, nonprofit organization employees must use other work schedule flexibilities
such as accrued annual leave, compensatory time off, credit hours (under a flexible
work schedule), or leave without pay.
        2.  Per REF C, civilians who choose to volunteer and are in an administrative
leave status are covered under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act for injuries
related to the work done.  Other absences, like assisting individuals directly not
through a private, nonprofit organization, would most likely not be covered.
3.  I encourage unit ombudsmen, the local chiefs mess, and command cadre to identify
those families in need and facilitate volunteer support.  We are a resilient Service;
one hallmark of this resilience is “having each other’s backs”.  I encourage you to
consider assisting your fellow shipmates during this difficult time.  Semper Paratus!
4.  VADM Sandra L. Stosz, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, sends.
5.  Internet released authorized.