ACN 053/19 - MAY 2019 OFFICER SPECIALTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM UPDATE AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF PAUSE IN ACCEPTANCE OF OSC APPLICATIONS (CG-5319A) AFTER 1 JUL 2019

united states coast guard

ALCOAST COMMANDANT NOTICE                                          CANCEL DATE 29 MAY 2020


R 301241 MAY 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-1//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N01000//
ACN 053/19
SUBJ:  OFFICER SPECIALTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM UPDATE AND ANNOUNCEMENT OF PAUSE IN ACCEPTANCE OF OSC APPLICATIONS (CG-5319A) AFTER 1 JUL 2019
A. Coast Guard Officer Specialty Management System Manual, COMDTINST M5300.3 (series)
1. This ACN announces changes to the existing Officer Specialty Management System (OSMS)
found in REF (A). The update to OSMS, commonly referred to as OSMS 2.0, was developed to
remedy deficiencies identified by the 2017 Change Action Team and implement the recommended
improvements. OSMS 2.0 is not wholesale change, instead it refines the current OSMS to better
quantify billet demands from units, and the supply of officers with the required specialties
to fill those billets. All changes were developed with the support and concurrence of
Specialty Managers from each program office, their respective Office Chief, COMDT (CG-126),
and briefed to each Assistant Commandant.
2. Specific changes to OSMS under 2.0:
    a. It mandates the “Apprentice, Journeyman, & Master” (AJM) model for all specialties and
“Levels” model for all subspecialties. This adds robustness to every Officer Specialty Code (OSC),
provides a mechanism to discern currency, and standardizes the qualification process to allow
comparisons across specialties. Accordingly, new Officer Specialty Requirements (OSR) will
accompany each updated OSC when 2.0 is officially launched.
    b. It adds, deletes, or modifies certain specialties and subspecialties to more accurately
align to existing and future needs.
    c. It assigns the correct specialty and/or subspecialty and the right skill progression
(AJM or Level) to billets.
3. OSMS 2.0 is scheduled for implementation Coast Guard wide OOA 1 OCT 2019. This timing is
intended to minimize impacts to the PY2020 board and panel season. After 2.0 launch, OPM-3 will
begin accepting OSC applications under the new/revamped OSRs.
4. Processing of requests for legacy OSCs will be suspended 1 JUL 2019 to complete two primary
tasks prior to the 1 OCT 2019 OSMS 2.0 roll-out. First, facilitate the priority processing of
Board/Panel candidate requests. Second, to focus on transitioning to OSMS 2.0. For PY2020
board/panel candidates, those officers choosing to apply for an OSC should submit their
application to OPM-3 by 1 JUL 2019, and ensure the application is marked with the board/panel
that the member is being considered, e.g., LCDR Jones AB, CG-XXX## OSC Application – candidate
for XXX board/panel. This is to ensure the application is expedited for completion/record entry
prior to the board/panel.
5. There is no requirement to submit an OSC application by 1 JUL 2019. Officers that are not
candidates for a board/panel this summer should consider delaying new OSC applications until
after 2.0 launch, once new OSRs are published and promulgated.
6. In the following months OPM-3 will also release business rules on transitioning legacy OSCs
to new OSCs under OSMS 2.0.
7. These changes will be implemented into the next version of REF (A), which will be released
within the next year.
8. We recognize these changes will prompt questions. To answer these questions and mitigate
concerns, OPM-3 has populated its OSMS CGPortal page: (http://cglink.uscg.mil/35ae2f3b) with
FAQs on OSMS 2.0. Additionally, time-sensitive questions can be directed to:
HQS-SMB-CGPSC-OPMOSMS@uscg.mil. Finally, additional guidance (expected member actions,
updates, etc.) will be published throughout the OSMS 2.0 rollout period.
9. Released by RDML M. W. Sibley, Acting Assistant Commandant for Human Resources.
10. Internet release is authorized.