ALCOAST 409/22 - OCT 2022 FY23 MILITARY WORKFORCE PLANNING TEAM RESULTS - AFLOAT OFFICER INTERVENTION

R 211957Z OCT 22
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 409/22
SSIC 7220
SUBJ: FY23 MILITARY WORKFORCE PLANNING TEAM RESULTS - AFLOAT
OFFICER INTERVENTION
A. Military Bonus and Incentive Programs, COMDTINST 7220.2A
B. 37 U.S.C. - Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services
1. OVERVIEW: The FY23 Military Workforce Planning Team (MWPT)
convened in May 2022 to develop and recommend workforce policy
interventions. This ALCOAST announces the approved FY23 Afloat
officer interventions. The MWPT identified strategies for
specialties and programs deemed to have personnel shortages that
could negatively influence mission execution. The following
intervention is necessary to support Coast Guard missions and
fill critical afloat assignments onboard commissioned ships. Non-
commissioned or commission-special ships are not applicable.
a. OFFICER MONETARY INTERVENTION BONUS. This ALCOAST authorizes
one Critical Skills Retention Bonus (CSRB) offer under Chapter
3 of REF (A) and Section 355 of REF (B) for eligible active
duty officers with designated critical military skills and is
in addition to any other pay and allowances to which a member
is entitled. Bonus payments after 31 Dec 2022 will be
contingent on extension of the bonus authority in Section
355(h) of REF (B).
b. The bonus is authorized for eligible active duty officers (see
paragraph 2 of this ALCOAST) who submit completed bonus
agreements obligating the new active duty service commitment
(ADSC) during FY23. The ADSC is the number of years a Service
member agrees to obligate service on the Bonus Agreement.
c. The bonus offering in this ALCOAST is for FY23 (beginning 01
Oct 2022) and is anticipated to remain in effect until the end
of FY23 (30 Sep 2023). Monetary interventions may be adjusted
or terminated not less than 30 days in advance by announcement
via ALCOAST.
2. ELIGIBILITY: A $40,000 CSRB is authorized as a special incentive
pay to retain active duty officers filling essential underway
assignments, and who agree to obligate a four (4) year ADSC.
Qualified applicants must be eligible for AY23 rotation per
Officer Personnel Management (PSC-OPM-2) shopping list guidance, and
must agree to be assigned, and subsequently issued orders, to an
afloat billet. IAW REFs (A) and (B), the bonus applies
exclusively to fully-qualified active duty officers as follows:
a. Officers in paygrades O3 and O4 who are eligible for
assignment to an afloat unit in AY23 in the following
positions:
(1) LT/O3s must be assigned as a Department Head (DH) as
either an Operations Officer (OPS) or a Combat Systems
Officer (CSO) on an afloat unit; or
(2) LCDR/O4s must be assigned as an Executive Officer (XO) or
as a Department Head (DH) in an Operations Officer (OPS)
capacity on an afloat unit
b. LT/O3s must hold a current DWO competency code.
c. General Eligibility criteria are:
(1) Serving in pay grades LT/O3 (not on continuation orders)
or LCDR/O4 (not in or above zone for CDR/O5).
(2) Eligible for AY23 rotation per PSC-OPM-2 shopping list guidance
(3) Agree to accept and execute assignment orders to an afloat
position as outlined in Paragraphs 2.a.(1) or 2.a.(2) of
this ALCOAST.
(4) Have no current obligated active duty service, as defined
in REF (A) and Paragraph 3.c. of this ALCOAST, beyond 30
Sep 2023;
(5) Do not have an existing continuation contract agreement or
be serving as a reserve member on an extended active duty
contract;
(6) Years of total combined active duty or combined active
duty service in a reserve component cannot exceed 21 years
as of the effective date of the bonus agreement;
(7) Be fully vaccinated, or have an approved religious
accommodation or medical exemption from vaccination,
against COVID-19, in accordance with ALCOAST 270/22.
Commanding Officers must verify vaccination status prior
to approving a bonus agreement; and
(8) Remain qualified under the stipulations of this ALCOAST
and REF (A).
3. ADMINISTRATION:
a. BONUS AGREEMENT: Afloat Officer Bonus: The only approved Bonus
Agreement to be used per this ALCOAST is CG Form 5305F
(revised on September 2022 or later), "Afloat Officer
(XO/Dept. Head) Bonus Agreement" found on the COMDT (CG-612)
Directives and Publications, CG Authorized Forms Portal site
at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)

https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/forms

b. BONUS AGREEMENT SUBMISSION DATE: For management, assignment
and oversight purposes, Bonus Agreements must be signed by the
officer's Commanding Officer no later than 01 Dec 2022 and
submitted to COMDT (CG-751) Program POC listed below with PSC-
OPM-2 POCs copied by 15 Dec 2022. Extension of the application
deadline will not normally be allowed. Officers with
exceptional circumstances may request a waiver for submission
of their agreements past the due date from COMDT (CG-133) thru
COMDT (CG-751) and PSC-OPM-2.
c. CURRENT OBLIGATED ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE: Current obligated
active duty service is defined in REF (A). NOTE: Members with
obligated service beyond 30 Sep 2023 for graduate/advanced
education or training, and who are otherwise eligible or would
become eligible during FY23 for a bonus authorized by this
ALCOAST, may request a waiver for the bonus from COMDT (CG-
133) thru COMDT (CG-751) and PSC-OPM-2. Waiver approval is
not guaranteed. Current obligated active duty service will be
authorized by waiver to run concurrently with the ADSC and the
bonus amount will be prorated based upon newly obligated
service.
d. EFFECTIVE DATE OF BONUS AGREEMENT: The Bonus Agreement will be
effective the date upon which a Service member is fully
qualified for the bonus, which includes: having applied within
submission deadlines, having a Commanding Officer approved
Bonus Agreement; having met all eligibility requirements;
having completed any current obligated active duty service
(unless ADSC is specifically authorized to run concurrently
with existing current obligated active duty service, with
proration of the bonus amount); and having reported to the
assigned afloat billet. The effective date will be whichever
qualifying bonus requirement occurs the latest during FY23.
4. BONUS APPLICATION PROCEDURES.
a. Applicant Responsibilities. Review the contents of this
ALCOAST and confirm eligibility prior to signing a Bonus
Agreement.
(1) Complete, sign, date and forward the Bonus Agreement and
supporting documents to the designated command
representative in a timely manner to ensure review by
the Commanding Officer by 01 Dec 2022;
(2) Upon reporting to a bonus-eligible unit and meeting all
eligibility requirements in this ALCOAST and REF (A), enter the
effective date and obligated service completion date into
the Bonus Agreement and forward to the SPO through chain
of command. Ensure SPO submits the Bonus Agreement to PPC
via a Customer Care ticket within five working days of the
effective date of the bonus agreement; and
(3) Keep a copy of the signed agreement for record purposes.
b. Command Representative Responsibilities. Command
Representatives must:
(1) Confirm all eligibility and counseling requirements in
REF (A) and this ALCOAST are met prior to signing the
application form.
(2) Commands that are not staffed to effectively conduct the
counseling session required in REF (A) should coordinate
counseling with COMDT (CG-751);
(3) Explain that eligible Afloat officers with an approved
date of separation (DOS) must request withdrawal of the
DOS prior to or upon submission of their bonus
application. Afloat officers will not receive bonus
payments if the DOS withdrawal request is disapproved; and
(4) Submit signed/endorsed agreements to COMDT (CG-751)
Program Manager identified below not later than 15 Dec
2022, and copy PSC-OPM-2 POCs below.
c. P&A/SPO Responsibilities to process the bonus contract.
P&A/SPO must:
(1) Adhere to the requirements and verify all eligibility
criteria are met in accordance with in REF (A);
(2) Ensure the Bonus Agreement has been properly completed,
and that the member has reported to the assigned Afloat
officer billet. Incomplete forms cannot be processed by
PPC-MAS, delaying bonus payments;
(3) Ensure the ADSC is entered into member’s record prior to
distribution; and
(4) Distribute the Bonus Agreement and submit PPC Customer
Care Ticket IAW with Chapter 3 of REF (A) within five
working days of the effective date of bonus agreement, as
defined in Paragraph 3.d. of this ALCOAST.
d. Counseling of applicants in TDY or PCS Status: There will be
some instances when eligible members may not be available for
bonus counseling due to TDY or PCS. The length of the absence
should determine the action.
(1) TDY: If the expected TDY length will prevent completion of
the agreement by 01 Dec 2022, then the designated command
representative should counsel the Service member by
whatever means available, and forward the Bonus Agreement
and a copy of this ALCOAST to the deployed supervisor of
the applicant so he/she can document bonus
acceptance/declination. The agreement should be signed by
the applicant and witnessed by the deployed supervisor and
then returned to the permanent duty station for Commanding
Officer approval or disapproval and distribution.
(2) PCS: In the event a member has not been counseled prior to
applying for the bonus and has already begun transfer,
departing commands should make every effort to contact
eligible members if they have not left the immediate area
and provide the necessary counseling. If the member has
departed and was not counseled, notify the receiving
command of the departing command's recommendation for
approval or disapproval. The receiving designated command
representative will complete the counseling process and
the receiving Commanding Officer will normally approve or
disapprove the Bonus Agreement based on the previous
Commanding Officer recommendation. The receiving command
is responsible for distributing the Bonus Agreement per
REF (A).
5. POLICY: To receive the bonus, Service members must abide by and
continuously maintain the eligibility criteria in REF (A) and
this ALCOAST for the entirety of the obligated ADSC.
a. A Service member paid a bonus under this ALCOAST during the
period of ADSC covered by the signed Bonus Agreement and who
fails to maintain any eligibility criteria in paragraph 2 of
this ALCOAST, or is subject to termination of the bonus under
paragraph 7 of this ALCOAST, is required to repay any unearned
portion of the bonus under provisions of Section 373 of REF (B).
b. If an officer loses qualification, or is no longer qualified
for those assignments paragraph 2 of this ALCOAST due to any
fault of the individual, such officer shall repay any unearned
portion of the bonus payment as of the date of removal from
eligibility. Entitlement to this bonus will not be restored when
loss of qualification was due to personal fault and the member
later re-qualifies during the original ADSC.
c. Bonus Agreement limits and payment of bonus. The bonus will be
paid in lump sum and IAW REF (A).
6. DISAPPROVING BONUS AGREEMENTS.
a. Commanding Officers must submit notification of disapprovals
to PSC-OPM-2 and the Program Manager listed below.
Commanding Officers shall disapprove Bonus Agreements for officers
who meet the conditions in Chapter 3.D.3 of REF (A) or are not fully
vaccinated, and do not have an approved religious
accommodation or medical exemption from vaccination against
COVID-19.
b. If any of the above listed conditions change before the Bonus
Agreement submission date in Paragraph 3.b above, the member
may reapply for the bonus within the explicit time limits of
this ALCOAST.
7. TERMINATION AND SUSPENSION OF BONUS.
a. The bonus payments must terminate when an Afloat officer:
(1) Fails to achieve and maintain qualification IAW Cutter
Training and Qualification Manual, COMDTINST M3502.4
(series) for the entirety of the assignment.
(2) Is disqualified for afloat service;
(3) Receives a Mark of three (3) on any OER metric or lower
or receives less than a "Promote" rating on an OER
during the timeline of the bonus agreement; or
(4) For any additional reason as listed in REF (A).
b. A bonus paid to a member who had an approved religious
accommodation or medical exemption to the COVID-19 vaccination
mandate is subject to repayment where that member fails to
become fully vaccinated within two months after the expiration
of the religious accommodation or medical exemption.
8. This message will be canceled on 01 OCT 2023.
9. Questions regarding the Afloat program and eligibility for the
Afloat Officer intervention should be addressed to: LT R. M.
Cotton at HQS-SMB-CG-751-CMD@uscg.mil.
10. Questions regarding the assignment process should be directed
to PSC-OPM-2; the Afloat Assignment Officers: LCDR J. G. Ariail at
Johnston.G.Ariail@uscg.mil or LT M. J. Guentert at
Mark.J.Guentert@uscg.mil.
11. Questions from individuals concerning the execution of this
policy should be addressed to their designated command
representatives. Questions from designated command
representatives for policies regarding bonuses or other human
resource management matters may be directed to Office of Military
Personnel (CG-133) at: HQSPolicyandStandards@uscg.mil.
12. RADM B. K. Penoyer, Assistant Commandant for Human Resources
(CG-1), sends.
13. Internet release is authorized.