ALCGPSC 039/19 - OFFICER POSTGRADUATE AND ADVANCED EDUCATION APPLICATION PROCESS FOR ASSIGNMENT YEAR 2020 (AY20)

united states coast guard

12 APR 19

ALCGPSC 039/19
UNCLASS //N01500//
SUBJ: OFFICER POSTGRADUATE AND ADVANCED EDUCATION APPLICATION
PROCESS FOR ASSIGNMENT YEAR 2020 (AY20)
A. CG PERFORMANCE, TRAINING, AND EDUCATION MANUAL, COMDTINST
M1500.10 (SERIES)
B. ACTIVE DUTY OFFICER POSTGRADUATE AND ADVANCED EDUCATION
APPLICATION PROCESS GUIDE ASSIGNMENT YEAR 2020
C. OFFICER ACCESSIONS, EVALUATIONS, AND PROMOTIONS, COMDTINST
M1000.3 (SERIES)
D. ALCOAST 114/19, COAST GUARD ADVANCED EDUCATION PROGRAM
ALLOCATIONS AY2020
1. This message announces postgraduate and advanced education
(PG/Adv Ed) opportunities offered by the Coast Guard to qualified
officers and select enlisted members. It clarifies the PG/Adv Ed
application procedures outlined in Ref A. Where the application
process guidance in this message conflicts with Ref A, guidance
herein and in Ref B takes precedence. These procedures also
govern enlisted members applying to the Physician Assistant and
Juris Doctorate programs. PG/Adv Ed Program Managers will release
their solicitation messages no later than 19 April 2019.
Solicitation messages for specific programs will be posted on the
PSC (opm-1) portal page (see link in paragraph 22) as they are
released. Separate guidance will be released via message
regarding Senior Education and Fellowship Panels.
2. In order to maintain fairness to all applicants in this highly
competitive process, the published requirements and deadlines are
enforced. Applicants bear the responsibility for ensuring their
application is submitted on time, complete, and in compliance
with applicable instructions and requirements. Applicants are
responsible for working with their command, SPO, Education and
Training Quota Management Command, and PSC Records Branch (BOPS-
MR) to correct any record errors or omissions. Applicants who
fail to meet the established requirements will not be considered
by the selection panels.
3. Eligibility requirements:
a. Must be an ADPL officer. Drilling Reservists and
officers/enlisted members recalled to active duty under Title 10
or ADOS are not eligible to apply.
b. Tour complete in AY20. Officers who are not tour complete,
including those who are in zone for promotion and may transfer
due to promotion, are required to submit a tour completion waiver
if their rotation date is not in AY20. Waiver submission
guidelines are in Ref B.
c. Unless otherwise stated, must have a minimum of two years
commissioned Coast Guard service at the time of enrollment in the
AY20 academic program.
d. Must receive a positive command endorsement.
e. Officers within their first two tours who have not received
Career Counseling from PSC (opm-4) since 01 Sep 2018, must submit
a request per paragraph 9.c..
f. Not currently enrolled in a PG/Adv Ed program or currently
serving in a utilization tour following completion of a PG/Adv Ed
program.
g. Those members who have attended full-time Coast Guard funded
PG/Adv Ed programs will not normally be selected for additional
programs. However, there are exceptions (e.g., Law-LLM, MS in
Acquisition Project Management). Officers in this category are
not precluded from applying.
h. Must have a conferred baccalaureate degree at the time of
their My Panel Submission. The only exceptions to this
requirement are those members applying to: Advanced Computer,
Engineering and Technology (ACET), Aeronautical Engineering
Officer Training (AEO), Contract Management, Naval Engineering
Technology (NET), and Physician Assistant (IPAP) programs.
Applicants to these programs should consult the respective
program solicitation message for specific academic requirements.
i. Officers who are not selected for promotion during the PG/Adv
Ed panel season will be disqualified.
j. Officers who submit retirement or resignation requests will be
withdrawn from further consideration and removed from any PG/Adv
Ed programs for which they were selected.
k. Any member recalled from retirement is not eligible to apply
for PG/Adv Ed opportunities.
l. Permanent and Provisional Reserve Program Administrators
(RPAs) are only eligible to apply for the Reserve Resources
Management program.
m. Chief Warrant Officers are only eligible to apply for the
Advanced Computer, Engineering and Technology (ACET), Naval
Engineering Technology (NET), and Contract Management (CMGMT)
programs.
4. Ref B is the primary source for information in properly
completing the application process in Direct Access. Do not use
"PSC E-Resumes" link when applying to PG/Adv Ed programs, instead
use "My Panel Submission" link. The Process Guide (Ref B)
contains several checklists and amplifying guidance to complete
the application and command endorsement portion correctly.
Applicants, units, and SPOs should use this guide and its
checklists to ensure eligibility requirements are met.
5. Selection panels are guided by the panel precept and base
their decisions on information in official records and
applications. Panels will see the following for each applicant:
a. EI-PDR (note: all service entries, whether enlisted or
officer, will be viewed).
b. Applicant's My Panel Submission: PG/Adv Ed choices in
preference order and member Comments.
c. Command endorsement comments. Command confirmation of Career
Counseling with PSC (opm-4) for Officers within their first two
tours.
d. Education and test data from Direct Access.
e. Tour completion date and assignment history.
f. Employee Summary Sheet (ESS) - Panel View.
g. Letters of recommendation are required for Physician Assistant,
Olmsted, Dental residency and enlisted JD applicants only. Letters
of recommendation will not be considered for applicants to any
other program.
h. Some programs require standardized test scores. Program
solicitation messages will explicitly state whether standardized
test scores are required for selection. Standardized test scores
should be submitted in accordance with Ref B. NOTE: Standardized
test scores are not authorized to be entered into the EI-PDR. All
AY20 applicants must submit a pdf copy of standardized test
scores, if required by the program, to the submission inbox
listed in paragraph 21, regardless if the scores were previously
entered into the member’s EI-PDR.
i. Separate communications to the panel, other than your My-Panel
submission comments, are not permitted.
6. Prospective applicants should act now to ensure their EI-PDR
is complete (e.g., OERs, CG-4082, and academic transcripts).
Officers applying for PG/Adv Ed programs should not delay their
regular annual/semiannual OER submissions.
7. Officers are encouraged to review their Employee Summary
Sheet. The ESS provides a consolidated view of their information
as it appears in Direct Access. This serves as a means for every
Coast Guard member to review his/her personal data and to ensure
the information in Direct Access is updated and accurate.
8. Specific guidance for Junior Officers within their first two
tours:
a. The first two to three assignments of an officer’s career
largely define the officer’s career track and are critical in
establishing a primary specialty. It is important that officers
time their attendance in a PG/ADV Ed program in such a way that
it does not adversely impact their ability to establish a primary
career path. Time at an operational unit is precious and should
be leveraged to attain qualifications necessary to make an
officer competitive for future operational assignments. PG/Adv Ed
opportunities should complement an officer’s operational
assignments and serve to broaden an officer’s specialty skills.
b. While PG/Adv Ed programs may be linked to a specific career
field, it should be noted that the follow-on tour for graduate
school will most likely not be in an operational assignment.
c. PG/Adv Ed opportunities are best suited for officers who are
completing an operational or field level assignment.
9. Prior to applying to PG/Adv Ed Programs:
a. Applicants should contact specific PG/Adv Ed Program Managers
to determine length of PG/Adv Ed program and approximate length
and types of utilization opportunities.
b. All Officers should review Officer Career Guides on PSC (opm-
4) portal page.
c. Junior Officers within their first two tours who have not
completed a career counseling session with a dedicated Officer
Career Counselor in PSC (opm-4)since 01 Sep 2018 to discuss
PG/Adv Ed timing and career specialties, must submit a request by
14 June 2019. Applicants should schedule a career counseling
session as soon as possible by emailing ARL-PF-CGPSC-OPM-
4@USCG.MIL. Note: there is typically a waitlist for counseling
sessions during panel season. In the Command endorsement section
of the My Panel Submission, Commanding Officers shall state that
the applicant has completed or has requested to schedule career
counseling with PSC (opm-4). Aviators within their first two
tours applying to Aeronautical Engineer Officer Training and/or
Flight Safety Officer are not required to complete counseling
with PSC (opm-4), but are still welcome to request counseling if
desired.
d. Junior Officers currently underway and unable to complete the
application requirements prior to the deadline should contact the
PG/Adv Ed POCs listed in paragraph 21 to request an extension.
10. In recent years, the Service has implemented workforce
management tools to improve pilot availability and retention
including Aviation Career Continuation Pay (ACCP) and limiting
Aviator participation in advanced education. These initiatives
have helped increase retention of aviators in operational
assignments. In order to ensure the Service can meet its aviation
mission requirements, in AY20 there will again be restrictions on
aviator eligibility for postgraduate and advanced education
participation, although restrictions have eased as compared to
AY19. This decision will help balance the professional growth
opportunities for aviators and the need for qualified aviators in
our cockpits.
Aviators may apply to the following programs:
a. Academy Company Officer Leadership Studies
b. Academy Instructor
c. Acquisition Systems
d. Advanced JPME
e. Aeronautical Engineering – STEM MBA
f. Aeronautical Engineering – Structures
g. Aeronautical Engineering – Avionics/Project Management
h. Aviation Safety Systems
i. Aviation Engineering Officer Training
j. Flight Safety Officer
k. Financial Management
l. International Affairs
m. Olmsted Scholarship Program
n. Operations Research
o. Organizational Leadership
p. Performance Technology
q. Public Administration
r. Public Affairs
s. Air War College (Command & Staff)
t. Army War College (Command & General Staff)
u. Marine Corps War College (Command & Staff)
v. Naval War College (Command & Staff)
The AY20 Postgraduate and Advanced Education general precept will
provide direction to limit non-aviation postgraduate panels to
select no more than 3 total Aviators as either primary or
alternate candidates if found best-qualified for selection.
The limits and restrictions to aviator eligibility for
postgraduate and advanced education participation will be
evaluated on an annual basis and will be adjusted as the needs of
the Service dictate.
Aviators should carefully examine Aviation Career Incentive Pay
(ACIP) gates and upcoming assignment windows when considering
application for any of the aforementioned programs. Follow-on
tours within each field of educational study will not be
deferred. Aviators completing their first operational tour should
expect to remain in an operational assignment for a second
consecutive tour. Questions regarding aviation career decisions
should be referred to the Aviation Assignment Officer.
11. Specific guidance for Reserve officers: Reserve officers on
Extended Active Duty (EAD), as defined in Ch. 1.B of Ref C, may
apply for PG/Adv Ed opportunities. Selected members must sign a
new EAD contract prior to enrollment. The new contract will
include existing obligated service as well as obligated service
incurred upon completion of the PG/Adv Ed program. These periods
of obligated service do not run concurrently. Enlisted members on
EAD may apply for the IPAP program and, if selected, must sign an
active duty agreement extending through the required obligated
service. Only officers on the ADPL are eligible to apply for
PG/Adv Ed opportunities. Officers and enlisted members recalled
to active duty under Title 10, ADOS, or drilling reservists are
not authorized to apply. Permanent and provisional Reserve
Program Administrators (RPAs) are only eligible to apply for the
Reserve Resources Management program. Specific guidance for RPAs
will be published in that program's solicitation message.
12. Specific guidance for PHS officers: PHS officers may only
apply for the Dental residency and Public Health programs when
offered. PHS officers may apply to other health-related programs
(e.g., Health Care Administration) on a case-by-case basis using
PHS-only tabs. PHS officers will incur the same obligated service
commitment for PG/Adv Ed attendance as regular officers.
Questions regarding these issues should be referred to the
respective Headquarters program manager.
13. In accordance with Ref A, PG/Adv Ed school graduates incur
obligated service and should expect to go immediately to program
related staff assignments. See Refs A and B for further
information on obligated service and delayed enrollment.
14. Applicants are encouraged to consider their application and
selection to PG/Adv Ed in the context of their overall career
strategy. Timing of PG/Adv Ed attendance can be critical as the
education and follow-on assignment period together may total up
to seven years. Career management questions should be addressed
to the PSC-opm Career Management Branch (PSC-OPM-4).
15. Members selected during the AY20 PG/Adv Ed season will be
assigned to Duty Under Instruction (DUINS) in 2020.
16. Primary and alternate selections will be announced via msg
after the PG/Adv Ed panel adjourns and the results are approved.
17. Commandant’s Guidance to AY20 Officer Selection Boards and
Panels will be made available on the PSC (opm-1) PG/Adv Ed Portal
page listed in paragraph 22 below. All members are encouraged to
review this Guidance.
18. The PG/Adv Ed panel schedule and generic precept will be
available prior to selection panel convening dates on the PSC
(opm-1) PG/Adv Ed Portal page listed in paragraph 22 below.
19. Deadlines:
a. Complete PSC (opm-4) career counseling for all required
officers within their first two tours by 14 June 2019.
b. Application/My Panel Submission for all PG/Adv Ed programs on
14 June 2019. The following must be received by this deadline:
1) My Panel Submission including a Command written endorsement
(including confirmation of Junior Officers within their first two
tours required to receive Career Counseling with PSC (opm-4)) and
Endorsement marked final.
2) Waiver requests for eligibility requirements.
c. The following must be completed prior to the convening date of
the panel for which programs you applied:
1) Test scores correctly entered in Direct Access.
2) Test scores sent to CG PSC (opm-1).
3) Completed degree information and corresponding GPA correctly
entered in Direct Access. See the Process Guide for detailed
instructions.
20. For field validation purposes, CG PSC (opm-1) will post the
list of applicants for each program on their portal page the week
following the application deadline of 14 June 2019. Please refer
to the guidance in ref B for verification purposes prior to this
deadline.
21. POCS:
a. PG/Adv Ed Questions/Submission inbox: HQS-SMB-CGPSC-opm-1-
PGPanels@uscg.mil.
b. PG/Adv Ed Coordinator: LT Lauren Binger (LT Justin Nease as of
05 June), 202-795-6441.
c. PG/Adv Ed YN: YN3 Nel Bruno Felix, 202-795-6439.
d. OER Questions: Email PSC (opm-3) via ARL-PF-CGPSC-
OPM@uscg.mil.
e. Career Management Questions: Email PSC (opm-4) via ARL-PF-
CGPSC-OPM-4@uscg.mil.
22. Web Sites:
a. CG PSC (opm-1) Portal Postgraduate/Advanced Education (PG/Adv
Ed) http://cglink.uscg.mil/35c4669e
b. CG PSC (BOPS-MR) EI-PDR information (formerly PSD-MR, records
branch): https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/psc/psc-
bops/SitePages/Home.aspx
c. CG PSC (opm-3) OER information:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/psc/psc-opm/opm-
3/SitePages/Home.aspx
d. CG PSC (opm-4) Career Management:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/psc/psc-opm/opm-
4/SitePages/Home.aspx
e. CG PPC guide to Direct Access:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/ppc/RoboHelp/DAGP/index.aspx
f.Employee Summary Sheet:
http://cgbi.osc.uscg.mil/2.0/contentpanes/personal_files/summary_
sheet.cfm/
23. CAPT G. T. Prestidge, Commander, CG Personnel Service Center,
sends.
24. Internet release is authorized.