ALCOAST 468/20 - DEC 2020 ADMINISTRATION OF DEFENSE ORGANIZATIONAL CLIMATE SURVEY (DEOCS)

R 291647 DEC 20
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-00H//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N05350//
ALCOAST 468/20
COMDTNOTE 5350
SUBJ:  ADMINISTRATION OF DEFENSE ORGANIZATIONAL CLIMATE SURVEY (DEOCS)
A. Coast Guard Civil Rights Manual, COMDTINST M5350.4 (series)
1. A positive command climate is critical to readiness and mission success.
2. Requirements: REF (A) requires units, directorates, and offices with at least
16 members to administer a Defense Organizational Climate Survey (DEOCS) within
180 calendar days of a change-of-command or change in Directorate or office head,
and at least annually thereafter. Unit commanders must share their entire DEOCS
results, including narrative comments, with their next higher-level command within
30 calendar days of survey completion.
3. Survey Strategies: Large units should consider creating subgroups by combining
departments, divisions, and smaller subordinate units that may be unable to meet
the 16-respondent threshold necessary to generate a report. Such units will receive
a cumulative report and Department reports for any subgroup that receives five
responses. Use of subgroups allows unit commanders to better identify and isolate
climate issues that exist but go unaddressed in departments, divisions, or smaller
units that do not have enough personnel to generate a report.
4. DEOCS administration transitioned from the Defense Equal Opportunity Management
Institute (DEOMI) to the Department of Defense, Office of People Analytics (OPA).
OPA provides instructions for creating subgroups and offers a host of resources
designed to assist commands with DEOCS. These resources are available at:
http://www.defenseculture.mil/Assesment-to-Solutions/A2S-Home/. OPA plans to
release a new version of DEOCS in CY2021.
5. Commands are urged to develop action plans to resolve problems identified in the
DEOCS. Civil Rights Service Providers (CRSPs) are available to assist with
administering, interpreting, and understanding DEOCS results. A list of CRSPs is
available at: https://www.uscg.mil/Resources/Civil-Rights/Service-Providers/.
Additionally, Commands can seek involvement from Command Chiefs, Command Senior
Chiefs, Command Master Chiefs, Command Drug and Response Representatives, Human
Resources staff, Sexual Assault Response Coordinators, Employee Assistance Program
Coordinators, ombudsmen, Chaplains and appropriate others. 
6. Fostering a positive command climate is an ongoing process, not an event.
Harassment, assault, bystander behavior, discrimination, hazing, and bullying erode
our core values and cannot be allowed to thrive. Leaders must remain vigilant and
take prompt effective actions to ensure that such behaviors are eradicated in the
Coast Guard and that a healthy and respectful climate prevails. Our mission success
demands it and we are stronger together because of it.
7. Dr. Terri A. Dickerson, Civil Rights Director, sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.