ALCOAST 011/20 - JAN 2020 16TH ANNUAL OFFICER WOMEN LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM (OWLS) 2020

R 131116 JAN 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-12//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N05420//
ALCOAST 011/20
COMDTNOTE 5420
SUBJ:  16TH ANNUAL OFFICER WOMEN LEADERSHIP SYMPOSIUM (OWLS) 2020
A. ALCGFINANCE 042/16 2017 Travel and Community Outreach Guidance
B. Military Assignments and Authorized Absences, COMDTINST M1000.8 (series)
1. The Annual Officer Women Leadership Symposium (OWLS), organized by the non-profit
organization Academy Women, will be held 14-16 APR 2020 at the Women in Military
Service for America (WIMSA) Memorial in Arlington, VA. OWLS provides female military
officers and female senior enlisted the opportunity to network with colleagues and
to grow professionally and personally through keynote messages, workshops, and panel
discussions. The distinguished speakers are leaders from the military, public, and
private sectors who offer their support and personal advice. Participants will have
tremendous opportunities for mentorship, while connecting with veteran and current
military women at every level of leadership and from every military branch of service.
2. While the focus of the affinity conference is identified in the title, all
conferences are open for ALL employees to attend, regardless of gender, race, or
ethnicity. In alignment with the Vice Commandant's "Carry Our Message" campaign,
the Coast Guard supports and encourages participation in affinity group symposiums
in an effort to increase the retention of a diverse and talented workforce. These
events are valuable professional development opportunities that provide a forum for
mentoring, networking, and optimizing career success for the total workforce.
3. In accordance with REFs (A) and (B), the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (CG-127)
is the Coast Guard's coordinator for the event and has responsibility to account for
all attendance and overall costs to DHS. Coast Guard funded attendance is limited.
All travel and registration fees will be covered by the member's unit funds. To
request attendance, members shall submit a TDY Travel Request Worksheet through
their chain of command for unit-level approval. Once command approval has been
obtained, members will email their approved TDY request to: HQS-SMB-OWLS@uscg.mil
no later than 28 February 2020. Approval priority will be based on the following
criteria: (1) first time attendees, (2) junior members, and (3) all others, with
consideration given to leadership experience. COMDT (CG-127) will issue final
approval to attendees via email. Once attendees are notified that their attendance
is approved, they may register for the conference.
4. Commanding Officers/OICs are strongly encouraged to support the professional
development of civilian and military personnel. However, attendance will be at the
unit expense. If funding is not available:
    a. For military members permissive orders are authorized IAW CH 2.a.10. of REF (B).
Attendance via permissive orders is unlimited for military members, but members must
notify COMDT (CG-127) via email to: HQS-SMB-OWLS@uscg.mil for accountability.
    b. For civilian employees, attendance including travel time is considered work time.
For civilian employees self-funding attendance and travel, supervisory approval to
attend during work time (including a reasonable amount of travel time) must be
indicated by email, and reflected in the remarks section of the employee's timecard.
The remarks must state the employee is approved work and travel time to attend the
OWLS Conference during his/her scheduled tour of duty from 14 April 2020 to 16
April 2020. The employee's attendance at events outside of the employee's scheduled
tour of duty is not required and is at the employee's discretion; therefore overtime
and compensatory time for work cannot be approved. Civilians attending must
notify COMDT (CG-127) via email to: HQS-SMB-OWLS@uscg.mil for accountability.
5. DHS requires a post-conference report to be submitted 30 days after the event.
To comply, all travelers on orders must submit a copy of their travel settlement to
COMDT (CG-127) via email to: HQS-SMB-OWLS@uscg.mil no later than 06 MAY 2020.
6. Symposium attendance information:
    a. Registration link is available at: https://www.militaryowls.org
    b. Do not register until you have been approved by COMDT (CG-127) to attend.
    c. Uniform for military is Tropical Blue and business casual for civilians.
    d. Attendees are responsible for making their own travel and lodging accommodations
through ADTRAV.
    e. The WIMSA Memorial is easily accessible by METRO (Blue line, Arlington
Cemetery stop) and paid parking is available at the Arlington National Cemetery
visitor center. Rental cars will not be authorized due to the accessibility
of public transportation and car shuttling services.
    f. Members may utilize local travel to the conference. Rental cars are not authorized.
    g. Make all travel reservations AFTER you receive approval from COMDT (CG-127).
7. POC: CDR Carrie Wolfe at: 202-475-5421 or Carrie.A.Wolfe@uscg.mil.
8. Ms. Michelle R. Godfrey, Director of Civilian Human Resources, Diversity, and
Leadership, sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.