ALCOAST 413/18 - DEC 2018 SITREP 10 - HUMAN CAPITAL STRATEGY - BLENDED RETIREMENT SYSTEM (BRS) – CONCLUSION OF THE OPT-IN PERIOD
U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 12/12/2018 12:43 PM ESTR 121239 DEC 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-1//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N01000//
ALCOAST 413/18
COMDTNOTE 1000
SUBJ: SITREP 10 - HUMAN CAPITAL STRATEGY - BLENDED RETIREMENT SYSTEM (BRS) –
CONCLUSION OF THE OPT-IN PERIOD
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 131407 DEC 17/ALCOAST 357/17
1. Per REF (A), the BRS opt-in period ends on 31 December 2018 for eligible members.
Some members such as cadets through the Class of 2021, reservists in a non-pay status in 2018,
and newly accessed prior service members will have the opportunity to enroll beyond CY 2018.
2. Commands should ensure members are aware of the benefits of both systems and have the
opportunity to enroll into the BRS using Direct Access (DA). Members who leave the Coast Guard
before completing 20 years of service under the legacy retirement system do not have the
advantage of any government-provided retirement savings. BRS members will leave the Coast
Guard with some retirement savings in their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) account.
3. To enroll in the BRS use the Direct Access (DA) self-service application. Members unable
to access DA should consult their Personnel and Administration Shop or the Pay and Personnel
Center (PPC) for assistance in making their election using the Blended Retirement System Election
Form (CG-7430), available in the CG’s online forms library. Every effort should be made to use
DA to make a BRS election. Please be advised that DA will have limited access from 20 December
2018 through 31 December 2018 and members must then use Blended Retirement System Election
Form (CG-7430) to enroll.
4. Members opting-in to BRS should login to DA and follow these steps to navigate to the “My BRS
Elections” page: Self-service>Employee>Tasks. After answering three questions affirmatively and
clicking “Submit,” members will receive an email from PPC acknowledging their request. PPC will
validate eligibility and the member will receive a confirmation email. Individuals who make the
election, but are found to be ineligible will also receive an email from PPC.
5. Members considering opting-in should realize that: BRS enrollment is IRREVOCABLE, that is,
once selected it cannot be changed, members must self-serve their TSP contribution amounts
in DA, there is a difference between “traditional” tax-deferred and ROTH (after-taxes
are subtracted) contributions, the more you save the more the Government matches, and TSP is
managed by logging into their account from the TSP website, www.tsp.gov.
6. Commands shall ensure all BRS opt in eligible members receive this ALCOAST. Questions
regarding the BRS should be directed to COMDT (CG-1332) at: HQS-DG-lst-CG-1332@uscg.mil.
7. RADM William G. Kelly, Assistant Commandant for Human Resources, sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.