ALCGOFF 037/18 - 2017 OFFICER EVALUATION SYSTEM (OES) REVIEW

united states coast guard

R 07 JUN 18

ALCGOFF 037/18
SUBJ: 2017 OFFICER EVALUATION SYSTEM (OES) REVIEW
A. Officer Accessions, Evaluations, and Promotions, COMDTINST M1000.3A, 
Chapter 5
B. Coast Guard Officer Evaluation System Procedures Manual, PSCINST 
M1611.1D
1. CG Personnel Service Center has completed the annual review of 
calendar year 2017 OES, with input from Active Duty Promotion List and 
Inactive Duty Promotion List Promotion Year 2017 selection boards, 
panels, assignment officers, rating chain members and review of over 
8,900 officer evaluation reports (OER).
2. OER quality and timeliness are integral supporting elements of the 
Commandant’s guiding principle Duty to People. 
3. OER administrative information was improved across most areas with 
the updated OER forms.  The major administrative issues related to 
format changes and adjusting to the updated forms.  Rating chains and 
members were extremely responsive and error corrections were reduced 
significantly as the year progressed. A few reminders, continue to 
avoid acronyms and construct supporting, combined comments that reflect 
multiple dimensions in an easy to read format to readily convey action 
and impact. Additionally, reference the member’s CGBI employee summary 
sheet (ESS) for filling the block 1 information to help reduce errors.  
4. OER timeliness also continues to be an area for improvement.  Per 
Ref A, OERs are due no later than 45 days after the end of the 
reporting period. Almost 40% of all OERs were late in 2017.  Timely OER 
submissions are critical to the officer promotion and assignment 
processes. OER Submission emails should include the officer’s name in 
the SUBJ: line and be appropriately labeled if the member is a board or 
panel candidate to help ensure OER’s are processed properly. 
5. Best practices
     a. An OER should provide no surprises to the reported-on officer 
(ROO). With the updated changes to policy and procedures, ROO’s and 
rating chains are reminded of the mid-term counseling requirements 
looking forward. Much of the onus in the OES is on the ROO - the ROO 
must exercise initiative and be their own best advocate.  
     b. Use a new 2018 OER form from the forms library, 
www.uscg.mil/oer, as certain features inherent to the form background 
are critical for proper processing. Overtyping previous OER forms may 
cause return for correction or delay in validation due to technical 
errors.
     c. Print and route your ESS with OER support input, per Ref B. 
Check the following data fields for accuracy: date of rank, date 
reported, and PAL position.
     d. Reporting Officers should craft block 5 with extreme care, 
avoiding direct verbatim input from the ROO. Greater leadership roles 
and responsibilities are required comments; additional comments could 
address future potential.
     e. Know and fulfill your role in the rating chain. If you are 
unsure of your responsibilities consult Ref A and Ref B. Job aids 
assist each party of the rating chain in completing their applicable 
section.
6. Resources
     a. OPM-3 has a portal site with a wealth of information, including 
an OER video and powerpoint for individual officers and units to 
review.  Additionally, OPM-3 is available to conduct unit training 
remotely.  Please send requests to CWO James Dignan at 
james.m.dignan@uscg.mil.
     b. Commanding officers are reminded that civilians in the rating 
chain are required to have OES training and certification as per Ref A.
     c. If you have a question after consulting the references above 
and the PSC-opm-3 portal page, please contact: Active Duty email arl-
pf-cgpsc-opmoer@uscg.mil; Reserve email arl-pf-cgpsc-rpmoer@uscg.mil.
7. CAPT C.J. Glander, Chief, PSC-OPM, sends.
8. Internet release authorized.