ALCOAST 174/21 - MAY 2021 SURGE STAFFING AUGMENTATION TO SUPPORT PARENTAL LEAVE AND RENEWAL OF BETA TEST

R 051850Z MAY 21
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 174/21
SSIC 5400
SUBJ: SURGE STAFFING AUGMENTATION TO SUPPORT PARENTAL LEAVE AND
RENEWAL OF BETA TEST
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 160803 APR 19/ALCOAST 124/19
B. Obtaining Personnel Resources to Meet Surge Requirements,
COMDTINST 5400.1 (series)
1. This ALCOAST announces the renewal of the Parental Leave Program
(PLP) beta test program, REF (A), for FY21. At the completion of
this third year of the beta test, COMDT (CG-133) will evaluate PLP
as a permanent program. Since the implementation of the beta test,
over 300 requests have been received. The fill rate has exceeded
90% and has provided over 18,000 days of Active Duty coverage.
Feedback has been exceptional from members utilizing parental
leave, their units, and the volunteering reservists filling the
positions. This opportunity not only provides much needed backfill
for Active Duty positions but provides additional training and
developmental opportunities for reservists in rating specific
roles. The use of the Reserve Component to cover Active Duty gaps
keeps our organization ready and able to provide immediate and
reliable responses to any maritime incident.
2. Headquarters will continue to centrally fund this program
utilizing short-term ADOS and manage it through PSC’s Surge
Staffing Section and the Request for Forces (RFF) process, per
REF (B). Requests for workforce coverage during times of prenatal
(up to 30 days), maternity convalescent (up to 42 days) and primary
caregiver (42 days) leave may be approved up to 120 days in
duration to cover the non-chargeable portion of parental leave.
3. To allow adequate time to identify an optimal ADOS candidate
and process the request:
   a. RFFs should be received by Surge Staffing Section
(CG-PSC-PSD-SSS) no later than 12 weeks prior to the requested
start date. Requests not received by this date, regardless of
having a By Name Candidate, may result in delays in the start date
of the augmentation and will not take priority over those requests
meeting the timeline requirement.
   b. The request must include the phrase “Parental Leave
Augmentation” in the RFF subject line.
   c. RFFs can be requested for up to 120 days of support to cover
the non-chargeable portion of parental leave.
   d. Units are encouraged to provide the most flexibility in
coverage requests in regards to rate, rank, and competencies to
better ensure a volunteer from the Reserve Component can be
identified.
   e. Final selection of candidates will be made by the Parental
Leave Program.
   f. A Direct Access Mobilization requirement must be created in
Direct Access before forwarding a completed RFF to the Surge
Staffing Section. Units without appropriate DA Mobilization access
should forward their RFF to their superior command
(District (dx/dxr), AREA program manager, DOL-1
(DCMS/Headquarter Directorates), etc.) for assistance.
   g. All RFF messages for “Parental Leave Augmentation” must info
the following ADMINOIX mailbox, HQS-SMB-PSC-PARENTALLEAVE@uscg.mil.
4. Surge Staffing Section manages all aspects of candidate selection
and funding approvals, in concurrence with COMDT (CG-823). All PLP
requests will be filled on a voluntary basis by reservists utilizing
short-term ADOS orders. Any requests deemed mission critical shall
use the process for Mission-Critical Short-Term Augmentation found
in REF (B), and are not funded by the PLP. All members, both male
and female, who are on non-chargeable leave exceeding 41 consecutive
days due to the birth or adoption of a child, are eligible for
PLP augmentation.
5. POCs:
   a. For questions or concerns regarding this process, contact
PSC’s Surge Staffing Section at: HQS-SMB-PSC-PARENTALLEAVE@uscg.mil.
   b. For questions or concerns regarding the parental leave policy,
contact the Office of Military Personnel (CG-133) at:
HQS-PolicyandStandards@uscg.mil.
6. Dr. D. M. Navarro, Acting Assistant Commandant for Human
Resources (CG-1), sends.
7. Internet release is authorized.