ALCOAST 355/19 - NOV 2019 COMDT OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT & DISASTER RESPONSE (CG-OEM) PROGRAM UPDATES

R 140935 NOV 19
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-5RI//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N03500//
ALCOAST 355/19
COMDTNOTE 3500
SUBJ:  COMDT OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT & DISASTER RESPONSE (CG-OEM) PROGRAM UPDATES
A. Contingency Preparedness Planning Manual, Volume 4: Incident Management and Crisis Response,
COMDTINST M3010.24 (series)
B. All-Hazard National Incident Management System Incident Command System Performance
Qualification Standard Guide November 2014
C. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 171017 JUL 17/ALCOAST 219/17
1. This ALCOAST provides program updates for COMDT (CG-OEM) as of October 2019.
2. The October 2019 Coast Guard Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer (EPLO) and the Incident
Command System (ICS) Coast Guard Agency Representative (CG-AREP) Position Qualification
Standard (PQS) workbooks are now available to the field. These competencies are detailed in
REFs (A) and (B) respectively. Members currently qualified or seeking qualification in these
positions shall adhere to the following guidance:
    a. Beginning November 1, 2019, members are required to use the October 2019 EPLO and CG-AREP
PQS workbooks to obtain these competencies. Members who began pursuing these qualifications
before November 1, 2019 are authorized to continue using the previous November 2014 version of
the PQS workbooks, but must complete these qualifications no later than June 1, 2020. Members
who cannot qualify by June 1, 2020 must complete the revised October 2019 CG-AREP and EPLO PQS
workbooks.
    b. Members who have already obtained an existing EPLO or CG-AREP position-specific competency
are not required to re-qualify or complete the new PQS workbooks.
    c. The unit training officer shall assign these competencies and, upon completion, qualify
the member in the Training Management Tool (TMT). CG Auxiliarists must capture obtained
competencies according to the current prescribed practice outlined by the CG Auxiliary Training
Directorate.
3. All remaining ICS PQS workbooks are currently being reviewed. Revisions are anticipated to be
finalized and released to the field in 2020. Members pursuing ICS qualifications are directed to
continue using the current November 2014 PQS until the new versions are made available. Upon
release of the 2020 PQS, all members using the previous PQS will be allowed a grace period to
finalize qualifications in progress.
4. The waiver of the oral board requirement for Type 3 Unit Leader and Division Group
Supervisor positions authorized by REF (C) is no longer in effect. All position-specific ICS
PQS qualifications require a unit-level oral board as directed by the current PQS workbooks.
5. The rank-based waiver of prerequisite requirements as listed in REF (B) has expired.
Members who began a position-specific PQS while the rank-based waivers were in place have
one year to complete their qualification. Eligible members must consult with their unit’s
ICS Coordinator to be prioritized for the associated ICS training course in FY20 to complete
the qualification process by the September 30, 2020 deadline. Members who did not initiate a
position-specific PQS while the rank-based waivers were in effect are not eligible for this
one-year extension.
6. All ICS program announcements and resources are available on the ICS Program & Coordinator
Portal: https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/cgcpe/SitePages/ICS%20Coordinators.aspx. ICS resources
are also available on Homeport: https://homeport.uscg.mil/missions/incident-management-and-
preparedness/incident-management/incident-management-ics/training-and-certification.
7. COMDT (CG-OEM) POC: LCDR Jeanita Jefferson, Jeanita.A.Jefferson@uscg.mil, 202-372-2261.
8. Ms. Dana Tulis, Director of Emergency Management, sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.