ALCOAST 336/23 - SEP 2023 ADVANCE PREPARATIONS FOR UPCOMING OUTAGE OF QUESTIONMARK ONPREMISE

R 191040Z SEP 23 MID120000452209U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 336/23
SSIC 1500
SUBJ: ADVANCE PREPARATIONS FOR UPCOMING OUTAGE OF QUESTIONMARK
ONPREMISE
1. This ALCOAST announces necessary preparations in advance of the
scheduled system outage to the Coast Guard's Secure Testing system,
QuestionMark OnPremise. The system outage is required to support an
upgrade to QuestionMark OnPremise release 2023-06.
2. At 0800 EST, Friday, September 25, 2023, there will be no
availability to QuestionMark OnPremise while the C5ISC completes
tasks to support the upgrade. QuestionMark OnPremise is scheduled
to be available for use at 0800 EST, October 9, 2023. This outage
is necessary to avoid submission of exam completions that
potentially conflict with a system upgrade.
3. This system outage for QuestionMark OnPremise impacts all Active
Duty, Reservists, Coast Guard Auxiliary members, and civilian
supervisors of military members. During this timeframe, access to
Secure Testing for all users will be unavailable. This means no
login access, including no ability to deliver Secure Tests, End of
Course Tests (EOCTs), Enlisted Professional Military Education
(EPME) exams, the Deck Watch Officer (DWO) exam, Merchant Mariner
exams, etc., and no access to create Service Wide Exam questions,
etc.
4. Commanders, Commanding Officers, Officers-in-Charge and Command
Senior Enlisted Leaders should advise all members of the need to
complete any testing requirements for promotion prior to 0800 EST,
September 25, 2023.
5. Education Service Officer (ESO) Guidance: ESOs and members are
advised to take account of the scheduled outage of QuestionMark
OnPremise for EOCT, DWO exams, etc. The outage will commence at 0800
EST on September 25, 2023, and conclude at 0800 EST on
October 9, 2023. Therefore, any EOCT and DWO exams scheduled within
this period should be rescheduled to a later date.
6. Rating Knowledge Manager (RKM) guidance: RKMs are advised that
they will not be able to develop Service Wide Exam (SWE) questions
during the upgrade period. This restriction will be lifted as soon
as the upgrade process is complete.
7. For field level questions, please refer to your ESO. ESOs with
related questions should contact the Course Support and Testing
branch via email at: ETQC-SMB-CST@uscg.mil. For any other questions,
please contact FORCECOM Business Technology Management Branch at
D05-DG-FORCECOM-BTM@uscg.mil.
8. Ms. Jennifer Sinclair, Deputy, Force Readiness Command (FC-Cd),
sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.