ALCGENL 061/19 - BOATSWAINS MATE (BM) ASSIGNMENT YEAR (AY) 2020 KICK-OFF

29 APR 19

ALCGENL 061/19
SUBJ: BOATSWAINS MATE (BM) ASSIGNMENT YEAR (AY) 2020 KICK-OFF
A. ALCGENL 050/19
B. Military Assignments and Authorized Absences, COMDTINST M1000.8A
C. COMDTINST 16114.32D, BOAT OPERATIONS AND TRAINING MANUAL, VOL. I
1. This SITREP kicks off AY20 for the BM Rating. Members who are
tour complete in AY20 should begin to look ahead to their next
assignment. Consideration for career progression and professional
development should be a key focus. BMs are strongly
encouraged to seek advice from their mentors. Commands should begin
to evaluate AY20 readiness impacts and submit command concerns to
EPM-2 during the COMCON window. Commands should also identify all
members who are nearing the end of their enlistment for reenlistment
eligibility and career intentions for continued service. Finally,
commands should counsel tour complete members to ensure they are
ready and available for worldwide assignment. Members who are
enrolled in the Special Needs program should ensure that their
enrollment information is up to date. 
2. Slating: BM AOs will begin the assignment year by slating
command cadre (OIC and XPO) followed by a single E-resume
deadline for all general duty assignments. This will allow
for all members to compete for afloat and ashore assignment
at the same time. Members should visit the BM Portal site
frequently for assignment process updates and specific
AY20 timeline guidance.
3. Advancement: Members are reminded that the Coast Guard advances
to fill vacancies. Accordingly, members and commands are reminded
that as outlined in Ref B, personnel who compete for advancement
must be prepared to be reassigned to fill any authorized position
at the next higher pay grade. Commands can not expect to keep a
newly advanced member, or a member who is above the cut at their
unit in a pay grade to position mis-match, unless specifically
communicated by the AO. This is true for members on the BM2
supplemental list as well. If a fleet-up opportunity is not
available at the unit, the member should expect to rotate
regardless of tour completion date. Command cadre members who are,
or will be in a pay grade to position mis-match should expect to
rotate regardless of tour completion date. In sum, members who come
above the cut in AY20, are in a pay grade position mismatch, or
double encumbered, should consider themselves tour complete in AY20
and submit an e-resume accordingly. Members should utilize the BM
Portal site for updated guidance after each SWE cut or revision
during the assignment year.  
4. Fleet-Ups and Extensions: BM AOs will continue to maximize
fleet-up and extension opportunities in AY20. Member and
command endorsements are required for all extension requests.
Extension requests and endorsements should also be noted in
the unit's AY20 command concerns. Fleet-ups for members in
non-command cadre positions will be maximized by the AOs,
per Ref B. Command cadre members who desire an extension
will have to screen and compete for an extension amongst
their peers. 
5. Career management:               
A. It is difficult to define a realistic E-resume across
all pay grades based on the diverse nature of the BM rating.
It is highly recommended that members contact their
respective AO by email to schedule a career counseling session.
To schedule a time for career counseling, please send an email
to your respective AO with the subject line
(Career Counseling-Name-EMPLID).  Career counseling open season
for AY20 runs through 31 August 2019.
B. Members should always craft their E-resume to reflect a
diverse career path of sea to shore. No member should try, or
expect to remain only at land or afloat positions for consecutive
tours. Tour complete members who submit an unrealistic e-resume,
and do not earn assignment, will be given a list of remaining
positions which will be filled by tour complete members.
This year there will be only one general duty E-resume
deadline. This will require each member to take a more
holistic approach to crafting their E-resume. Every member
will need to add substantially more picks than
in past years. A realistic E-resume will include
positions in multiple districts, afloat, ashore,
and OCONUS positions. As always, the member's
E-resume remains the primary communication tool with the AOs.
A member needs to realize that every position not on an
E-resume is a direct communication to the AO that the member
would rather receive a list of unfilled positions than apply
for those jobs. Members' comments should accurately describe
members desires. 
C. Sea Duty candidates are BMs that are E6 and E7 who do
not possess a Deck Watch Officer (DWO) certification. Furthermore,
if members have a DWO, but have completed two or more shore
assignments, they will be considered a sea duty candidate and
be considered for afloat assignment. This year a member's total
career sea time will be a larger determining factor when selecting
afloat assignments. Neither does this definition create an
exhaustive list of candidates, nor specify that only Sea Duty
candidates will be utilized to go afloat. It does identify members
who need either afloat qualification or sea time for advancement.
As well as identify members with a higher probability of being selected
to fill afloat assignments. No BM should create an E-resume of only
afloat, or only ashore jobs. Instead an E-resume with a substantial
amount of geographically diverse, afloat, and ashore pics will lead
to a successful assignment off an E-resume. 
D. Members that complete back to back assignments in a single
Mission platform (M/M afloat, M/M ashore, ATON afloat,
ATON ashore) should expect assignment to a different mission platform.
An example of changing mission platform is moving from ATON ashore
to ATON Afloat. Failure to apply for positions in different
mission platforms can cause a delay in assignment decisions.
Career/mission diversity will help develop a well-rounded senior
BM workforce for future assignment to command cadre positions
across all mission-sets. Members E6 and above should not expect to
earn an assignment to a mission set or platform that they do
not currently have any qualifications in. Meaning, a BM1 who
has not been to an ATON unit, should not list an E-resume
of only ATON units and expect to earn an assignment. This
requirement does not apply to currently certified Surfmen.
E. BMs in the appropriate pay grade, who have the requisite
operational experience, and have an interest in training, should
consider an assignment to an instructor position at TRACEN
Yorktown, SMTC, MLEA, or a Regional Fisheries TRACEN. Instructors
are instrumental in developing and shaping the BM workforce
across a myriad of different mission-sets. 
6. General assignment guidance:
A. As outlined in Ref B, some positions require the command to
submit a command endorsement. It is imperative that each member
works with their command to ensure that they meet the specific
requirements of the position requested and that a command
endorsement is included in the E-resume submission. Failure to
include a command endorsement will prohibit a member from
earning a position.
B. PATFORSWA assignments will be made based on the solicitation
message which will be released per the below timeline. Specific
requirements and the application process will be covered in the
solicitation message. For more information please see:
https://cgportal2.uscg.mil/units/psc/psc-epm/SitePages/PATFORSWA-
MIPFTAG.aspx 
C. Prospective surfman assignments will be made based on
the solicitation message released per the below
timeline. Prospective Surfman Positions (PSP) are intended to
provide a continuous pool of Surfmen to the heavy weather
community. Individuals assigned to these positions will receive
orders for a four-year tour with a subsequent two year extension
upon certification as a Surfman. Interested individuals should
carefully read Ref C prior to applying.
D. Potential position reprogramming: EPM-2 receives numerous
requests to fill billets being proposed for reprogramming. As
outlined in Ref B, EPM is prohibited from assigning members
in anticipation of billet reprogramming. Assignment officers can
only assign members to approved positions. Commands/program
managers should anticipate billet reprogramming requests and
ensure requests/approvals best align with the assignment season
to capitalize on a robust candidate pool, and adequately address
the intended position reprogramming action (e.g. rate change,
location change).
E. Execution of AY19 fleet-up and extension orders: It is
imperative that commands work with their admin staff to
finalize the AY19 extension and fleet-up orders that have been
issued. Failure to do so will result in PAL errors, incorrect
rotation dates, members not appearing in the appropriate
position on the unit PAL, and delay future orders being issued.
7. BM AY19 Timeline:
15 APR 2019: PSP solicitation message released
01 MAY 2019: Career counseling begins
01 MAY 2019: Commands/AOs conduct PAL validation
01 JUN 2019: E-resume due for PSP screening panel
18 JUN 2019: PSP Panel begins 
12 JUL 2019: E-resumes due for the OIC screening panel
06 AUG 2019: OIC screening panel begins
15 AUG 2019: PSP screening panel results posted on BM CG Portal site
16 AUG 2019: OIC screening panel results posted on BM CG Portal site
31 AUG 2019: All command concerns due
31 AUG 2019: Career counseling concludes
01 SEP 2019: Available PSP billets posted on BM Portal site
02 SEP 2019: BM PATFORSWA solicitation message released
15 SEP 2019: PSP E-resumes deadline
20 SEP 2019: E-resumes due for the XPO screening panel
27 SEP 2019: AY19 Shopping List posted in DA
01 OCT 2019: XPO screening panel begins
18 OCT 2019: OIC/Senior BM (E-8/E-9) E-resume deadline
21 OCT 2019: XPO screening panel results posted on BM Portal
12 NOV 2019: OIC/Senior Enlisted (E-8/E-9) BM slate posted on
the BM CG Portal site
18 NOV 2019: XPO E-resumes deadline
16 DEC 2019: XPO slate posted on the BM Portal
03 JAN 2020: General duty E-Resume deadline (all assignment priorities
both afloat and ashore)
31 MAR 2020: All routine AY19 orders issued
8. Timeline changes, additional information, and how to subscribe
to Portal updates can be located at the following website:
http://cglink.uscg.mil/BM_Portal
9. Command representatives can contact the AOs using the information
below:
A. BOSN2 R. Seymour: D5 and D7, (202) 795-6614 
B. BOSN2 P. Brown: D11, D13, All TRACEN's, BM-A school, and Surf units,
(202) 795-6614
C. BOSN2 R. Radakovich: D1 & D9 (202), 795-6571
D. BOSN2 S. Stone: D8, D14, D17, PATFORSWA (202) 795-6607
E. LT K. Keefe: Central Assignments Coordinator (202) 795-6578
10. Internet Release Authorized