ALCOAST 172/19 - MAY 2019 CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE SOLICITATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) VOLUNTEER FORCE – SOUTHERN BORDER SUPPORT

R 160855 MAY 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//DCMS//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N12900//
ALCOAST 172/19
COMDTNOTE 12900
SUBJ: CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE SOLICITATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS) VOLUNTEER FORCE – SOUTHERN BORDER SUPPORT
1. DHS is responding to an unprecedented migration and humanitarian crisis at our southern border.
In March alone, nearly 100,000 migrants attempted to gain access to the United States along the
southwest border. To assist in responding to the humanitarian crisis and border security emergency,
the Coast Guard is seeking volunteers to serve as part of the DHS Volunteer Force. These volunteers
will assist our partners, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE), with the safe, orderly care and processing of these migrants. Through the
Volunteer Force, Coast Guard civilians will join active duty and reserve members in supporting
these efforts.
2. Participation in the DHS Volunteer Force is limited to federal appropriated fund civilian
employees. Employees interested in assisting with the Department’s efforts are strongly encouraged
to register with the DHS Volunteer Force. Barring significant impacts to operational or mission
support activities, supervisors shall approve these deployments. Employees in all occupational
series are encouraged to volunteer. Specific tasks to be performed include:
    a. Distribution of Meals
    b. High Capacity Transportation
    c. Hospital Watch
    d. Personal Property Management
    e. Other administrative duties as assigned by the onsite supervisors
3. Detailed information on these activities and a list of frequently asked questions can be found
on the DHS Volunteer Force webpage:http://dhsconnect.dhs.gov/org/comp/mgmt/dhshr/Pages/
DHS-Volunteer-Force.aspx.
4. Civilian volunteers must meet the following requirements:
    a. Be a current, permanent full-time or temporary full-time USCG civilian federal employee.
    b. Have a performance rating of record of meets/achieved expectations or higher.
    c. Have written supervisor approval.
    d. Possess a current personnel security investigation.
    e. Possess an HSPD-12-compliant employee identification badge (CAC).
    f. Trained in the agency’s policies concerning time and attendance and travel voucher procedures
when deployed away from the person’s normal duty station.
    g. Be able to deploy for 45 days.
    h. Complete the Health Threat Assessment.
    i. Possess an active valid government travel credit card (Note: Volunteers must successfully
complete mandatory online travel card training).
5. Because of their potential role within a recovery from a catastrophic event, certain employees
are excluded from volunteering for the DHS Volunteer Force. Excluded personnel include the
following:
    a. Active duty military
    b. Civilian positions funded by a reimbursable appropriation paid by another agency
    c. Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT)
    d. District Response Assist Team (DRAT)
    e. Joint Field Office (JFO)
    f. Maritime Transportation System Recovery Units (MTSRU)
    g. Selected Reserve (SELRES)
    h. Contractors
7. Interested civilian employees may register at the following link:
http://dhsconnect.dhs.gov/org/comp/mgmt/dhshr/Pages/DHS-Volunteer-Force.aspx.
Questions may be directed to DHSVolunteerForce@uscg.mil.
8. VADM Michael McAllister, Deputy Commandant for Mission Support sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.