ALCOAST 127/20 - APR 2020 COVID-19 IMPACTED ASSIGNMENT YEAR 20 (AY20): PCS AND HHG SHIPMENTS – SITREP 2

R 071237 APR 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-1//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLASS//N01320//
ALCOAST 127/20
COMDTNOTE 1320
SUBJ:  COVID-19 IMPACTED ASSIGNMENT YEAR 20 (AY20): PCS AND HHG SHIPMENTS – SITREP 2
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 272036 MAR 20/ALCOAST 111/20
B. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 202055 MAR 20/ALCOAST 098/20
C. CG2000 PCS Departing/Separating Worksheet
1. Last week the Deputy Commandant for Mission Support (DCMS) released interim guidance
regarding Permanent Change of Station (PCS) and the shipment of household goods (HHG)
in REF (A). This commenced the Coast Guard’s AY20 transfer plan after assessing the
impacts, risks, and challenges presented by COVID-19. Each day, the Service gains new
information on the landscape that is shaping the AY20 PCS season – one that balances
risk to mission with risk to our people and their families.
2. The purpose of this SITREP is to convey the Commandant’s Intent for the PCS season,
which is to assure the readiness of the CG, while protecting our members and their
family during PCS transfer. As described below, the CG will:
    a. Spread out the PCS transfer season over a longer period, allowing for more
decision points in a distributed-risk system;
    b. Assess risk continuously at the unit level, and at frequent, pre-set points
at the Headquarters level, to authorize segments of moves over a set time period;
    c. Deploy new tools such as the PCS Float Plan, PCS Assist Teams, and robust
resource guides;
    d. Utilize new and existing people-support policies and entitlements; and
    e. Increase unit and leader engagement in move-planning and execution. This PCS
season will not be normal, however the CG’s organizational values, desire to safeguard
our members and families, and familiarity with assessing risk will help us navigate a
complex and likely challenging environment.
3. The CG will carefully proceed with AY20 PCS and HHG transfers. In the guidance
below, you’ll note different things are expected of CG members, supervisors, commands,
and families. Members will be required to conduct mission planning much like before a
flight, a boarding, or an inspection. Members are required to obtain permission from
their commands to execute their PCS orders and configure their HHG request with the
Defense Personal Property System (DPS) earlier than ever before. And finally, all
transferring members and commands will be asked to be flexible with member move plans
if the unit, region, or national landscape changes such as to preclude a safe and
timely PCS transfer.
4. The requirement in SITREP-1 for members to send an email to COMDT (CG-13) and
receive an Exception to Policy cover letter to ship HHGs is rescinded. US TRANSCOM
is again processing all CG moves based on signed CG orders alone.
5. AY20 will have to proceed deliberately as we continually assess risk. Departing
and receiving commands must be flexible and exercise intrusive leadership to ensure
the safe transfer of personnel. The following applies:
    a. Domestic Locations. For CG PCS purposes, Alaska, Hawaii, and all U.S.
territories are considered domestic locations. Members conducting PCS to those
locations must not travel to or through a foreign country. A notable exception is
travel through Canada to effect a PCS to or from Alaska, which remains authorized
and is deemed mission essential travel per REF (B). Overseas screening procedures
are still in full effect per normal procedures.
    b. Foreign countries. DoD and US TRANSCOM has a stop movement on all PCS and
HHG to and from foreign countries until 25 May. The CG will not PCS personnel to or
from foreign countries before that date, with the notable exception of Canada. PCS
movement to, from, or through Canada is allowed utilizing domestic rules as noted
in paragraph 5.a. of this ALCOAST.
    c. Accession graduates. Accession source (Training Center Cape May, Leadership
Development Center, and Coast Guard Academy) PCS should follow, as close as is
practical, the same procedures for service-wide PCS. If, after reviewing the PCS
Float Plan described in paragraph 8, the receiving unit and the accession source
agree that the move should be delayed, the accession source and member shall develop
an alternate PCS plan. The plan should include, if necessary, keeping the member
temporarily at the accession source or alternative place of transition; PSC shall
be notified in this instance.
    d. Timing and increased transfer flexibility. Timing is critical to successful
PCS planning. I urge members and commands to determine the best time for the member
and family to transfer in light of ongoing national events while also considering
operational demands. It might be sooner than you planned, as scheduled, or later.
In normal years, the majority of PCS moves occur in June and July. This year
commands are authorized to negotiate the PCS transfer of a member effective
immediately through September. This allows greater flexibility for members with
regional and unit transfer concerns caused by COVID-19 interruptions, and will
spread PCS moves across a wider period of time to reduce risk. Both departing
and receiving commands shall negotiate a PCS plan to allow the member by
themselves, or with their families, to adapt to the local conditions they encounter.
Commands are advised that this flexibility may result in longer than usual gaps
in billets, which may be an acceptable risk if it affords a safer PCS transfer.
    e. Members have the option to decouple the shipment of their HHGs from their
PCS departing or reporting date, and in some cases this may be required. There is
flexibility within policy which allows members to transfer in advance of their
families. This option is available to reduce gaps in mission critical positions
and allow for personal considerations.
    f. HHG Pickups. To allow the CG to view how moves are spread across the move
season, assess areas of risk, and better assist CG members with their moves, all
members are directed to, without delay, obtain signed orders and “build your move”
through the DPS website at: https://www.move.mil/. Even if your desired date is
late in the summer, you are required to register your move now; a pickup date can
always be modified. US TRANSCOM will assign a moving company shortly after your
move is registered.
    g. Personally Procured Moves (PPM). PPMs continue to be authorized, and
instructions can be found in REF (C). Members conducting a PPM are still required
to go through all risk mitigation steps outlined in this ALCOAST.
    h. Communicate early and often. While you may have a preferred and registered
time to move this season, national or regional events may alter that. Communicate
early with your family, receiving command, and landlords, that events outside your
control may require you to alter your plans.
    i. PCS Float Plan. Effective immediately, every member transferring to a new
permanent duty station in AY20 that requires a move must develop a “PCS Float Plan,”
described below. This plan will be approved by your departing and receiving commands
and is critical to ensure the safe transfer of members in this heightened-risk
environment. This is not required for retirees, those separating, or no cost orders.
    j. Leave. Leave en route for PCS is prohibited. In extenuating circumstances,
members may request a waiver, with approval authority by the CO/OINC or the first
O6 in the chain of command. All members may continue to take regular leave at their
current permanent duty station, or upon arrival at their new permanent duty station,
but such leave is subject to the restrictions in REF (B). During the COVID-19 pandemic,
house hunting leave may only be authorized after the member has safely arrived at
the new permanent duty station.
    k. Bi-weekly Assessment Points. Every two weeks, COMDT (CG-1) will make a risk-based
decision considering all of the factors of a PCS move and authorize (or not) the
next 30 days of PCS moves; this will be released in the bi-weekly SITREP. Members
should continue to plan their PCS moves, but remain attuned to bi-weekly SITREPs
if a total-Service pause to PCS transfers is required. In absence of a total-Service
pause, the decision to continue resides at the District and Unit level.
        i. Decisions to proceed with PCS moves will carefully weigh the risk to members,
families, and the public against the Service need to relocate members to meet mission
requirements and develop our workforce. Factors will include, but are not limited to;
road conditions, interstate travel restrictions, hotel and fuel availability, areas of
infection-density, and transportation provider availability.
        ii. This centralized decision authority regarding service-wide PCS posture does
not relieve individual departing and receiving commands of the responsibility to make
a unit or regionally-based decision to pause or expedite the PCS of a member or members.
Units may disapprove a travel plan even if COMDT (CG-1) authority for total Service
travel remains.
6. This SITREP specifically authorizes PCS departures through 08MAY. All members with
a HHG pickup date, or scheduled departure, on or before 08MAY are authorized to proceed
as directed in their orders, consistent with the requirements and restrictions in this
ALCOAST.
7. SITREP-3 will be released, with updated guidance OOA 22APR and will address
authorization for HHG pickups, and PCS departures through 22MAY.
8. PCS Float Plan. Just as a prudent mariner would not get underway without a float
plan, to include a risk analysis, no CG member shall travel without first completing
a PCS float plan. The float plan can be found here: https://www.uscg.mil/Coronavirus/,
and requires that:
    a. The departing member fill out the PCS Float Plan in its entirety.
    b. The designated departing command representative personally review the plan with
the member no greater than (10) days before the scheduled departure, and approve it
with a “go-no/go” decision.
    c. The departing command representative must ensure it is approved by both departing
and receiving commands, and the final copy electronically transmitted to the receiving
command at least (5) days prior to the scheduled departure.
    d. The departing member shall transmit it to his/her receiving sponsor.
    e. Just as a CG aircrew is required to “close out” a flight plan upon landing safely,
CG members will do the same. The departing command representative shall perform “flight
following” for the member, ensure travel is performed as planned, and require the member
to “close out” their plan by telephone upon arrival.
    f. The member shall carry, on his or her person, the PCS Float Plan, signed military
orders, and military identification (CAC Card) throughout the transfer.
9. Resources. The CG is providing additional assistance and resources for this PCS
season; some new in light of the COVID-19 crisis, and some which existed previously.
    a. New resources. Beginning with the COVID-19 response in mid-March, DoD and the CG
have implemented a number of new entitlements to support service members impacted by
COVID-19. Isolation Allowance, Hardship Duty Pay-Restriction of Movement, COVID-related
meals, and BAS-II are four new entitlements which are all explained on the CG’s
Coronavirus Website.
    b. Existing resources. Existing resources can ease transfer burdens; for instance,
the Family Stability Act (FSA) offers housing flexibility for PCS, and flexible relocation
policies allow dependents to relocate six months (before or after) the Service member and
be authorized the higher of the two BAH amounts - for up to six months.
    c. Legal assistance. CG Legal Assistance Attorneys are available to assist members
with lease issues, powers of attorney, and other services related to PCS moves.
Look for the “Resources Section” on the website coming soon, or search those key-words
for the applicable FAQ.
10. PCS Assistance Team: While most questions should be answered by the member’s current
command, or secondarily, by the member’s receiving command, the CG is standing up a
capability to serve as a life-ring for members who need immediate support and answers
while in the middle of their PCS transfer. This team, as well as additional base-level
surge support to transportation offices, will be accessible by hotline and email and will
have a “click to contact” button on the CG’s Coronavirus Website:
https://www.uscg.mil/Coronavirus/. This group will also continually update resource
information. The PCS Assistance Team will achieve initial operating capability by
01MAY20 with updates provided via this SITREP.
11. The sponsor program at each unit is more important than ever. As with every transfer,
the key to a successful sponsor program is early engagement from the sponsor to the
arriving member. Dialogue with the sponsor must start early this year, and work in
concert with the use of the PCS Float Plan as it is developed.
12. The CG’s COVID-19 website: https://www.uscg.mil/Coronavirus/ contains authoritative
documents, frequently asked questions, a resources guide, and a link to submit your
questions. This site is updated continuously and should be reviewed often.
13. Members may address questions to the following:
      a. COVID-19 impacts to retirement or separation requests:
OPM-1 at ARL-PF-CGPSC-opm-1-Separations@uscg.mil or
EPM-1 at HQS-SMB-CGPSC-EPM-1-Separations@uscg.mil.
      b. HHG moves: HQS-DG-LST-CG-1332-TRAVEL@uscg.mil.
      c. Pay, Compensation or entitlements: HQS-DG-LST-CG-1332-COMPENSATION@uscg.mil
14. RADM J. M. Nunan, Assistant Commandant for Human Resources, sends.
15. Internet release is authorized.