ALCGENL 143/20 - NOVEMBER 2020 SERVICE WIDE EXAMINATION (SWE) COMPETITION

24 JUL 20

ALCGENL 143/20
SUBJ:  NOVEMBER 2020 SERVICE WIDE EXAMINATION (SWE) COMPETITION
A.  Service Wide Examination (SWE) Guide
B.  Enlistments, Evaluations, and Advancements, COMDTINST M1000.2 (series)
C.  Performance, Training and Education Manual, COMDTINST M1500.10C
D.  COMCOGARD FORCECOM NORFOLK VA 231450 JAN 20 ACN 012/20
E.  Military Separations, COMDTINST M1000.4 (series)
1.  Summary. This message announces the November 2020 SWE competition for all ratings, except MU,
for advancement to pay grades E-5 through E-8. Commanding Officers (CO) must ensure dissemination
of this message to all active duty enlisted members in their AOR.  Members planning to participate in
the SWE need to be aware of these requirements, as well as their responsibility to confirm they are met. 
Failure to review and follow the guidelines of this message will not justify a waiver of its requirements. 
Units, SWE Officers, Education Services Officers and affected members shall familiarize themselves with
the contents of Refs A thru E and this ALCGENL. 
2.  Schedule.  SWEs will be administered per the following schedule.  Any requests for deviation must
comply with Refs A and B.
a.  AM 03 NOV 2020 (Tuesday) SWE for ADV to E-5
b.  PM 03 NOV 2020 (Tuesday) SWE for ADV to E-7
c.  AM 05 NOV 2020 (Thursday) SWE for ADV to E-6
d.  PM 05 NOV 2020 (Thursday) SWE for ADV to E-8
3.  Waivers.  This ALCGENL supersedes previously published waivers.  The following waivers apply:
a.  SWE.  The November 2020 SWE is waived for BM2 only, and is continued as a supplemental
advancement list.
b.  RAT/AQE.  Per Ref D all Rating Advancement Tests (RAT) and Enlisted Professional Military Education
(EPME) Advancement Qualification Exams (AQE) are waived indefinitely. 
c.  Advancement Requirement Waivers.  Requests for waivers of advancement requirements or waivers
of completion deadlines must be sent prior to 01 August 2020 the SWE Eligibility Date (SED). Failure by a
candidate, supervisor or supporting command to fulfill their responsibilities is not justification for a
waiver of the PDE correction deadline (01 October 2020).  Using the template in Ref A, send requests for
waivers via e-mail to PPC-DG-CustomerCare@uscg.mil and include member’s CO/XO in Cc line.
4.  Candidate Responsibilities. 
a.  The online PDE must show a status of “Eligible” in order to receive an exam.  Candidates who
participated in the previous SWE shall not assume eligibility on the upcoming SWE.  The PDE for the
upcoming SWE must be verified.  The candidate is solely responsible for accuracy of all PDE data,
including where the SWE will be shipped (Exam Board OPFAC).  Report any incorrect PDE data to the
unit Admin or Servicing Personnel Office (SPO).  After reporting incorrect data, the candidate must
follow up to ensure PDE corrections were made by again verifying the updated online PDE prior to the
01 October 2020 PDE correction deadline.  If the online PDE has not been corrected, the candidate shall
submit a Trouble Ticket prior to 01 October 2020 to PPC by e-mail to PPC-DG-CustomerCare@uscg.mil. 
PDE corrections must be visible on the online PDE and completed NLT 01 October 2020.  Failure to
report and verify online PDE corrections by the deadline will result in a “Not Eligible” status for the SWE
or loss of points in the final multiple.  PDEs will be posted online in Direct Access (DA) under Self Service
tab in August 2020.
b.  Per Chapter 3 of Ref E, active duty enlisted members who reach or exceed their PGP on or before 31
December 2020 (2021 HYT Candidates) must separate or retire on or before 01 September 2021 unless
granted a waiver.  HYT candidates who meet all SWE eligibility can still participate in the 2020 SWE,
however, will not be guaranteed advancement even if placed above the published cutoff, unless the HYT
Waiver Panel grants member a waiver and the waiver includes advancement authorization.  For more
information regarding HYT visit PSC-EPM-1’s website at
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/psc/psc-epm/SitePages/HYT.aspx.
c. EPME EPQs.  Updated EPME EPQ guidance can be found at the ERATS CG Portal page at
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/communities/erats/SitePages/Home.aspx.
5.  Command Responsibilities.
a.  CO responsibilities are detailed in Article 3.A.4. and fully amplified throughout Chapter 3 of Ref B. 
The most common reason for member ineligibility is a missing current Enlisted Employee Review (EER). 
Per Article 3.A.5 of Ref B, each candidate must have a current EER with a CO’s recommendation for each
new SWE cycle.  For members competing for E-7 and E-8, the EER must be dated after 01 August 2019
and NLT than 01 August 2020.  For E-5 and E-6 candidates, the EER must be dated after 01 February
2020 and NLT than 01 August 2020.  SWE type EERs must have all competencies populated in order to be valid.
SWE-EERs must be finalized in DA NLT the 01 October 2020 PDE correction deadline date with an effective date
NLT 01 August 2020. SWE-EERs cannot be submitted only to change a CO recommendation.  For assistance with
SWE-EERs, submit an email to HQS-SMB-CGPSC-EPM-3-Evaluations@uscg.mil.
b.  If the CO wishes to change an advancement recommendation, the CO must submit a Commanding
Officer Recommendation Change (CORC) type EER per Article 4.D.3.i of Ref B.  CORC EERs must be
received NLT the 01 October 2020 PDE correction deadline.  Note, CORC EERs must have an effective
date NLT 01 August 2020, and the CORC EER shall not be used to reverse the advancement
recommendation of a discipline EER.  For any EER questions, including CORCs, contact HQS-SMB-CGPSC-
EPM-3-Evaluations@uscg.mil or the website at https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/psc/psc-epm/SitePages/EPM-
3.aspx.
c.  The CO shall verify the candidate’s most current Rating Performance Qualifications (RPQs) and
Enlisted Performance Qualification Standards (EPQS) were signed off NLT 01 August 2020.  RPQs and
EPQs must be completed and entered into Direct Access.  A competency entry process guide has been
created and is located on the ERATS CG PORTAL page. The Commanding Officer or Reviewer shall verify a
candidate has completed the necessary qualifications and authorize entry into DA by the unit’s
Personnel and Administration (P&A) entity.  The completion and approval date of the rating
competency code and enlisted performance qualification codes recorded in TMT or DA must have an
effective date on or prior to the 01 August 2020 SED to be considered for the November 2020 SWE. 
Both competency codes must appear in the member’s DA competency record to receive an “Eligible” PDE. 
Commands may enter backdated competency codes into DA during the PDE correction period up until the
01 October 2020 PDE correction deadline date.  It is highly recommended the competency code be entered prior
to the 01 August 2020 SED so the initial PDE shows a status of “Eligible” rather than entering backdated
competency codes and requesting PDE updates after PDEs are released.
d.  Units away from homeport on continuous deployment from early October to the SWE date can request early
mailing of SWEs.  Request of early mailing must be sent to PPC-DG-CustomerCare@uscg.mil. between
11 September and 01 October 2020.
e.  Exam board OPFAC changes must be requested on or before 01 October 2020.  OPFAC changes are
requested via PPC trouble ticket by submitting an email to PPC-DG-CustomerCare@uscg.mil. 
f.  Waivers of advancement requirements or completion deadlines must be requested on or before 01
October 2020.
g.  Substitute SWEs must be requested by 13 November 2020.  SWE Officers administering substitute
exams shall adhere to the guidance outlined in 3.B.2 of REF. B and Page 27 of the SWE Officer
Handbook.  Substitute exams must be administered on the date authorized by PPC and may not be
delayed due to personal leave or convenience.
h.  SWE Officers forwarding exams for deployed members shall ensure a copy of the SWE Officer
Handbook is included with the package and shall establish a method to verify receipt.  This can be done
by the required traceable shipment and an email to receiving command.  SWE Officers forwarding
exams OUTCONUS, or to deployed or underway units may contact PPC for additional guidance and can
request hand carry by authorized personnel as a method of shipment. 
6.  SPO Responsibilities.  Last day to complete PDE corrections in DA: 01 October 2020.
7.  PPC Responsibilities.
a.  Post PDEs in DA:  August 2020.
b.  Early mailing of SWEs to underway units: September 2020.
c.  Mail SWEs to exam boards:  October 2020.
d.  Compute final multiple:  December 2020.
e.  Post profile letters in DA:  December 2020.
8.  PSC Responsibilities.  Publish SWE advancement eligibility list December 2020.
9.  Miscellaneous.
a.  All candidates may use non-programmable calculators.  Consult the “SWE Officer Handbook”, on the
PPC web pages at the following link:
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/ppc/SitePages/Advancements%20and%20Evaluations%20Branch.aspx for
information regarding items that may be used by BM/OS candidates.
b.  EERs in current pay grade will be used to compute the marks multiple within the date ranges listed in
Article 3.A.7.b of Ref B.  The Point Start Date (PSD) shown on the PDE will be computed per Article
3.A.17.c of Ref B and used to determine sea, surf, and award points.  Candidates who advanced on/after
01 January 2010 will have a PSD equal to the day following the SED for that advancement.  Candidates
who have not advanced since 01 January 2010 will show a PSD equal to their Active Duty Base Date
(ADBD).  Candidates with broken service and with an adjusted ADBD may contact PPC by e-mail at PPC-
DG-CustomerCare@uscg.mil to request a PSD adjustment to capture prior service awards.
10.  PPC(ADV) is the single POC for all SWE inquiries.  They can be reached by e-mail at PPC-DG-
CustomerCare@uscg.mil.  For additional SWE information go to the PPC (ADV) home page at
https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/ppc/SitePages/Advancements%20and%20Evaluations%20Branch.aspx.
11.  CDR R. F. Deisher, Acting, Chief, Enlisted Personnel Management, CG Personnel Service Center,
sends.
12.  Internet release authorized.