ACN 102/19 - SEP 2019 FY20 WORKFORCE PLANNING TEAM RESULTS – C4IT/CYBER OFFICER INTERVENTIONS

ALCOAST COMMANDANT NOTICE                                         CANCEL DATE 05 SEP 2020

R 061450 SEP 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-1//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N07220//
ACN 102/19
SUBJ: FY20 WORKFORCE PLANNING TEAM RESULTS – C4IT/CYBER OFFICER INTERVENTIONS
A. 37 U.S.C. – Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services
B. Military Bonus Programs, COMDTINST M7220.2 (series)
C. Coast Guard Medical Manual, COMDTINST M6000.1 (series)
D. Coast Guard Weight and Body Fat Standards Program Manual, COMDTINST M1020.8 (series)
E. 10 U.S.C. – Armed Forces
F. Coast Guard Pay Manual, COMDTINST M7220.29 (series)
1. Overview: This ACN announces two bonus offers under Section 332 of REF (A) for eligible active
duty officers to remain as designated C4IT or Cyber Operations Officers. This retention offer is
exclusive to the current C4IT officer specialty code (OSC) and any officers assigned to the newly
approved CYB10 specialty or subspecialties and forms the basis for this incentive. Officers must
execute a contractual agreement to obligate active commissioned service in return. Bonus pay is
supplemental to any other pay and allowances to which a Service member is entitled.
    a. This ACN authorizes two interventions recommended by the FY20 Officer Workforce Planning
Team (OWPT). This is necessary to support Coast Guard missions to fill critical assignments and
optimize C4IT/CYB workforce readiness.
    b. The bonuses are authorized for eligible active duty officers (see 4.a-e) who submit
completed written agreements of newly obligated service as defined in REF (B) Chapter 3.A.2.f.
during FY20. The new active duty service commitment (ADSC) is the number of years a Service member
agrees to obligate service on the Bonus Agreement.
    c. The bonus offerings in this ACN begin in FY20 (01 Oct 2019 and not before) and are
anticipated to remain in effect until the end of FY20 (30 Sep 2020 and not after) contingent
upon Congress extending the authority to make payments. Monetary interventions may be adjusted
or terminated not less than 30 days in advance.
2. BACKGROUND: These bonuses are a special incentive pay to retain active duty C4IT/CYB officers
filling essential C4I10/CYB qualifications. IAW REFs (A) and (B), the bonuses apply exclusively to
fully qualified active duty officer personnel as follows:
    a. A $60,000 bonus is authorized for an LT/O-3 or LCDR/O-4 officer who agrees to obligate to a
four-year ADSC.
       (1) Eligible officers must be assigned to an officer billet coded as C4I10/CYB.
       (2) Eligible officers must have the C4I10 or other CYB OSC assigned.
       (3) LT/O3 officers must have two years of experience in a C4I10/CYB coded position.
       (4) LCDR/O4 and LCDR/O-4 (select) officers must have at least four years of experience in a
C4I10/CYB coded position.
       (5) Eligible officers must possess both an undergraduate and graduate degree with at least
one from the below list:
            (a) Electrical Engineering
            (b) Operations research
            (c) Computer Science
            (d) Computer Engineering
            (e) Information Technology Management
            (f) Cybersecurity/Information Assurance from a National Security Agency(NSA)/Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense
       (6) Eligible officers must meet DOD 8570 requirements for IAM Level III.
       (7) Eligible officers must possess a Contracting Officer’s Representative Level II
certification or a DHS Project Management Level I certification or a Project Management
Professional certification.
       (8) Eligible officers must have completed at least four but not more than 15 years of
active duty service prior to the effective date of the bonus agreement.
       (9) Eligible officers must possess and maintain a final adjudicated SECRET security clearance.
       (10) Officers not currently assigned to a C4I10/CYB position may enter into this bonus
agreement if they meet the requirements set forth in 4.d. and 4.e.
    b. A $35,000 bonus is authorized for an officer who agrees to obligate to a one-year ADSC.
Eligible officers must:
       (1) Be assigned to an officer C4I10/CYB position within Coast Guard
Cyber Command (CGCYBER), Coast Guard Cryptologic Group (CGCG), or other position executing Defensive
Cyberspace Operations (DCO). Individuals not assigned to CGCYBER or CGCG who may be executing DCO
missions may submit a waiver to the position requirement through COMDT (CG-791);
       (2) Have at least two years in a C4I10/CYB coded position, executing DCO at CGCYBER, CGCG,
or other waived location similarly to Paragraph 4.b.(1);
       (3) Possess both an undergraduate and graduate degree with at least one from the below list:
            (a) Electrical Engineering
            (b) Operations Research
            (c) Computer Science
            (d) Computer Engineering
            (e) Information Technology Management
            (f) Cybersecurity/Information Assurance from a National Security Agency (NSA)/Department
of Homeland Security (DHS) Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense
       (4) Meet DOD 8570 requirements for IAM Level III;
       (5) Possess a Contracting Officer’s Representative Level II certification or a DHS Project
Management Level I certification or a Project Management Professional certification;
       (6) Have completed at least four but not more than 15 years of active duty service prior to
the effective date of the bonus agreement; and
       (7) Possess and maintain a final adjudicated TS/SCI security clearance and a favorable
counter-intelligence polygraph.
3. DEFINITIONS:
    a. ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE COMMITMENT (ADSC): The ADSC is the number of years an officer agrees to
obligate commissioned service under a Bonus Agreement. The ADSC is calculated by adding the number
of years obligated to the effective date of the Bonus Agreement or the date after the officer
completes any current obligated service period and has met all other eligibility requirements,
whichever is later.
     b. BONUS AGREEMENT: C4IT/CYB Officer Bonus: A written contractual agreement between a Service
member and the Coast Guard in which the Service member agrees to remain on active duty for a
specific period of time. In return, the Service member receives the bonus contingent upon abiding
by all eligibility and retention conditions of the agreement throughout the entire contractual term.
The only approved Bonus Agreement to be used per this ACN is the ““C4IT/CYBER OFFICER Bonus Agreement”
form found on the COMDT (CG-612) Directives and Publications, CG Authorized Forms Portal site
<https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/forms/>.
    c. BONUS AGREEMENT SUBMISSION DATE: For management, assignment and oversight purposes, Bonus
Agreements must be submitted to Commanding Officers no later than 01 Oct 2019. Extension of the
application deadline will not normally be allowed. Officers with exceptional circumstances may
request a waiver for submission of their agreements past the due date from COMDT (CG-133) thru
CG PSC-OPM-2.
    d. CURRENT OBLIGATED ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE: Current obligated active service period includes:
       (1) All service obligations for initial entry into the Coast Guard (Academy, OCS, DCE, etc.);
       (2) Obligated service under an existing agreement, and obligated service for receipt of
training and education;
       (3) Current obligated service does not include obligated service for permanent change of
station (PCS), promotion, tuition assistance, or Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits transfer.
    e. EFFECTIVE DATE OF BONUS AGREEMENT: The Bonus Agreement will be effective the date a fully
qualified Service member’s Commanding Officer approves the agreement or, for those officers not
fully qualified by the Commanding Officer’s Approval date, the date the officer meets all
eligibility requirements after the Approval date, whichever is later, but not later than 30 Sep 2020.
4. To receive the bonus, Service members must abide by and continuously maintain the eligibility
criteria of this ACN for the entirety of the obligated ADSC in the designated career field.
    a. A Service member paid a bonus under this offer during the period of ADSC covered by the signed
Bonus Agreement and who fails any of the following eligibility criteria shall be subject to
repayment for any and all unearned portion of the bonus under provisions of Section 373 of REF (A).
General eligibility criteria are:
       (1) Remain qualified as a under the stipulations of this ACN for which the bonus is paid;
       (2) Remain assigned to a C4I10/CYB or other DCO position under the Bonus Agreement;
       (3) Maintain physical and medical standards for continuous retention IAW REF (C) and;
       (4) Maintain weight and body fat standards IAW REF (D).
    b. If an officer loses qualification, or is no longer qualified for those assignments in 2.a.
or 2.b. of this ACN due to any individual fault, any unearned portion of the bonus payment shall be
repaid as of the date of removal.
       (1) Entitlement to this bonus will not be restored when loss of qualification was due to
personal fault and the member later re-qualifies during the original ADSC.
       (2) The Bonus Agreement is not a guarantee a member will remain on active duty for the
entirety of the ADSC if earlier administrative separation, retirement or, involuntary separation
for cause is awarded, or appropriate.
    c. Years of total combined commissioned active duty and combined active duty commissioned service
in a reserve component cannot exceed 15 years, 00 Months and, 00 Days as of the effective date of the
bonus contract.
    d. Eligible officers serving in pay grades LT/O-3 and LCDR/O-4, and not on a continuation contract
following non-selection for promotion, and in or above the PY20 O-5 promotion zone may apply for a
bonus if:
       (1) Their current obligated active duty service commitment expires on or before 30 Sep 2020;
       (2) They are tour complete in AY2020 if not currently filling a C4I10/CYB or other DCO
position and;
       (3) They apply for the bonus by completing and submitting the Bonus Agreement by the date in
subparagraph 3.c. above.
    e. Determining eligibility.
       (1) Have no current obligated active commissioned service, as defined in Paragraph 3.d. of
this ACN, beyond 30 Sep 2020.
       (2) Meet all of the requirements set forth in 2.a. or 2.b. by 30 Sep 2020. (Note: Failure to
obtain the requirements by 30 Sep 2020 will result in termination of the Bonus Agreement and
repayment of all unearned bonus funds paid).
       (3) Accept assignment to a C4I10/CYB other DCO position during the AY2020 process if not
currently assigned to one.
       (4) Have no more than 25 years, 00 months, and 00 days total active duty service at the
completion of the bonus contract term.
       (5) May not have an existing continuation contract agreement.
       (6) The effective date of Bonus Agreement will be in compliance with Paragraph 3.e. For those
officers failing to meet the eligibility requirements before 30 Sep 2020, the bonus agreement will
not become effective.
       (7) Officers serving in a retired recall status are ineligible to apply.
    f. Bonus Agreement limits and payment of bonus. The bonus will be paid in lump sum IAW REF (A)
subject to 22% federal, and applicable state income tax withholdings that are not contributed to
a tax-deferred Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) account. Officers desiring to contribute bonus monies to
a TSP account must consider the TSP Elective Deferral limit and confirm election not less than 30
days prior to receipt of bonus.
       (1) The lump sum payment will normally be paid on the next pay cycle after the effective date
of the Bonus Agreement or, if the officer has not met all eligibility requirements as of the Bonus
Agreement effective date, the date the officer meets all eligibility requirements after the
effective date, whichever is later, but not later than 30 Sep 2020.
       (2) Once a Bonus Agreement is signed, it will remain in force until the agreement expires.
Officers may request a new agreement upon expiration of their existing agreement provided a bonus is
being offered and the officers meet the eligibility requirements of the bonus program then in effect.
       (3) IAW Section 371 of REF (A), an officer is prohibited from receiving a bonus payment
pursuant to Subchapters I and II of Title 37, U.S.C., for the same activity, skill, or period of
service.
       (4) It is prohibited for an officer to receive multiple bonus payments for the same period of
service, unless specifically authorized by the Assistant Commandant for Human Resources (CG-1).
    g. ADSC Adjustments and Bonus Agreement non-compliance.
       (1) When a bonus for an officer is suspended or terminated as described in this ACN,
CG PSC-OPM will not automatically adjust the ADSC for the officer. An officer whose bonus
eligibility ends may submit a request, with supporting material, to change the ADSC to CG PSC-OPM,
who will consider the request and supporting material in making a determination as to whether or not
to change the ADSC.
       (2) An ADSC does not guarantee a member will remain on active duty indefinitely if earlier
administrative separation is appropriate.
       (3) The Coast Guard can also initiate involuntary separation under Military Separations,
COMDTINST M1000.4 (series), earlier than the ADSC date.
    h. Repayment of Unearned Bonus Amounts. Per Section 373 of REF (A), unearned bonuses shall be
repaid, unless collection is excepted under authorized conditions.
       (1) Except under conditions described in Paragraph 4.i. below, the Coast Guard will demand
repayment of any unearned bonus commensurate with time remaining on the officer’s active duty
obligation when discharged, released from active duty, or the date the officer has been determined
to no longer be in compliance with the Bonus Agreement.
       (2) CG PSC-OPM will include a statement on the separation authorization for any officer with
remaining obligated service from a bonus agreement and any unearned bonus must be repaid by the
officer. These separation authorization statements must include the reason for demanding repayment
and advise the officer of the opportunity to apply for an exception to repayment along with the
procedures on how to submit the request.
    i. Authorized exceptions to repayment of unearned bonuses include the situations listed below and
shall be cited by CG PSC-OPM in separation authorizations or other documentation:
       (1) Separated, retired, or loss of bonus eligibility by reason of combat-related physical
disability, illness, or injury, and not due to misconduct.
            (a) The term “combat-related” has the same meaning as in Section 1413a of REF (E) and
further described in Section 16.D.6. of REF (F).
            (b) Combat-relatedness determinations will be made by CG PSC-PSD-MED.
            (c) In cases where an officer with a current Bonus Agreement in effect 1) dies or 2) is
retired or separated with a combat-related disability, and the death or disability is not the
result of the officer’s misconduct, any bonus installment amount previously paid shall not be
recouped. Further, the full amount of the Bonus Agreement amount not yet paid prior to the date
of 1) death or 2) retirement or separation due to combat-related disability but to which the
officer was eligible immediately before the death, retirement, or separation and would otherwise
be paid if not for the death, retirement, or separation shall be included as a lump sum in the
officer’s final settlement of pay and allowances. The lump sum shall be equal to the full remaining
amount specified in the agreement as if the officer continued to be eligible for the remaining
bonus payments. This payment must be paid not later than 90 days following the officer’s death,
retirement, or separation.
       (2) Sole survivorship discharge.
       (3) When explicitly excepted from repayment by Coast Guard personnel policy.
       (4) All other requests for exceptions to repayment of unearned bonus amounts must be
approved by COMDT (CG-8C). Consideration for exception to repayment determinations will generally
follow the standards for remission of indebtedness as described in Section 11.G.5. of REF (F).
       (5) Unearned bonus calculations will be based on the Defense Finance and Accounting Services
accounting method described in REF (B).
5. BONUS APPLICATION PROCEDURES.
    a. Applicant Responsibilities. Review the contents of this ACN prior to signing a Bonus Agreement.
       (1) Complete, sign, date and forward the Bonus Agreement to the designated command
representative in a timely manner.
       (2) Keep a copy of the signed agreement for record purposes.
    b. Command Responsibilities. Designate a command representative who will counsel all bonus
eligible officers assigned to the unit. The initial counseling session should be a one-on-one
meeting between each eligible officer and the designated command representative that outlines the
needs of the Coast Guard, how a bonus fits into the overall C4IT retention effort, and the Service
member’s eligibility. The command shall:
       (1) Ensure eligible officers are aware of the bonus offering submission deadline of 01 Oct 2019,
eligibility window, payment authorization, and the ADSC associated with accepting the bonus offer.
       (2) Ensure each officer fully understands the implications of the agreement and meets all
eligibility requirements.
       (3) Explain that any unearned portions of bonus will be recouped on a pro-rata basis for all
conditions listed in this ACN.
       (4) Explain that eligible officers with an approved date of separation (DOS) must request
withdrawal of the DOS prior to or upon submission of their bonus application. Officers will not
receive bonus payments if the DOS withdrawal request is disapproved.
       (5) Submit signed/endorsed agreements to the unit’s Servicing Personnel Office (SPO) not
later than 07 Oct 2019.
    c. SPO Responsibilities to process the bonus contract.
       (1) Ensure the Bonus Agreement has been properly completed.
       (2) Ensure the applicant and his/her Commanding Officer sign, initial and date the Bonus
Agreement as appropriate. Incomplete forms cannot be processed by PPC-MAS delaying bonus payment.
       (3) Place a copy of the Bonus Agreement in the officer’s PDR and submit a copy to PPC-MAS
via a PPC Customer Care Trouble Ticket for processing within five working days of the officer becoming
fully qualified or upon completion of any current obligated active duty service commitment, whichever
is later.
       (4) Send a copy of initial contracts and changes to existing agreements to CG PSC-OPM-2
within five working days after receipt of the agreement from the officer’s Commanding Officer.
    d. Eligible officers in TDY or PCS Status: There will be some instances when eligible officers
may not be available for bonus counseling due to TDY or PCS. The length of the absence should
determine the action.
       (1) TDY: If the expected TDY length will prevent completion of the agreement by 01 Oct 2019,
then the designated command representative should counsel the Service member by whatever means
available, and forward the Bonus Agreement and a copy of this ACN to the deployed supervisor of
the applicant so he/she can document bonus acceptance/declination. The agreement should be signed
by the applicant and witnessed by the deployed supervisor and then returned to the permanent duty
station for Commanding Officer approval and distribution.
       (2) PCS: Departing commands should make every effort to contact eligible officers if they
have not left the immediate area and provide the necessary counseling. If the officer has departed
and was not counseled, notify the receiving command of the departing command's recommendation for
approval or disapproval. The receiving designated command representative will complete the
counseling process and the receiving Commanding Officer will normally approve or disapprove the
Bonus Agreement based on the previous Commanding Officer recommendation. The receiving command is
responsible for distributing the Bonus Agreement per Paragraph 5.b.
6. DISAPPROVING BONUS AGREEMENTS.
    a. Commanding Officers shall disapprove Bonus Agreements for officers who:
       (1) Are awaiting a disqualification resulting from an Evaluation Board;
       (2) Are awaiting involuntary separation;
       (3) Are awaiting or undergoing investigation into military or civilian offenses which could
result in a documented record of substantiated misconduct or substandard duty performance;
       (4) Have a documented record of substandard performance or conduct which render them poor
candidates for retention under the terms of a Bonus Agreement;
       (5) Have a documented record of C4IT skills and officer performance that makes them
ineffective for rated duty; or
       (6) Have an approved separation on file.
    b. Notification of disapprovals will be made to CG PSC-OPM.
    c. If any of the above listed conditions change before the Bonus Agreement submission date in
subparagraph 3.c above, the officer may reapply for the bonus within the explicit time limits of
this ACN.
7. TERMINATION AND SUSPENSION of BONUS.
    a. The bonus payments shall terminate when an officer:
       (1) Is discharged or dismissed as a result of a court-martial, or is administratively
separated;
       (2) Separates after declining selective continuation;
       (3) Voluntarily retires or separates before finishing the ADSC;
       (4) Is disqualified for C4IT/CYB service;
       (5) Fails to be placed in a C4I10/CYB other DCO position; or
       (6) Separates after being passed over for promotion or selected by a reduction in force
(RIF) board.
    b. Suspend bonus payments when an officer under a Bonus Agreement:
       (1) Is suspended from C4IT/CYB service;
       (2) Is medically disqualified for C4IT/CYB service; or
       (3) Loses eligibility for C4IT/CYB or other DCO assignment.
8. These changes will be implemented into the next revision of REF (B), which will be released
within the next year.
9. Questions regarding the C4IT program should be addressed to the COMDT (CG-791) Office of
Cyberspace Forces CDR Jamie Embry at: Jamie.M.Embry@uscg.mil or (202) 372-2534, or the COMDT
(CG-791) Office of Cyberspace Forces Portal site:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/cg791/SitePages/Home.aspx.
10. Questions regarding the assignment process should be directed to OPM-2 and the Engineering,
Logistics, C4IT, Intel Assignment Officer LCDR Jeremy Kime at: Jeremy.A.Kime@uscg.mil or
(202) 795-6452.
11. Questions from individual officers concerning the execution of this policy should be
addressed to their designated command representatives. Questions from designated command
representatives for policies regarding bonuses or other human resource management matters may
be directed to Office of Military Personnel (CG-133) at: HQSPolicyandStandards@uscg.mil.
12. Released by RADM J. M. Nunan, Assistant Commandant for Human Resources.
13. Internet release is authorized.