ALCOAST 475/23 - NOV 2023 AY24 MAJOR CUTTER ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN PROGRAM

R 292026Z NOV 23 MID120000668532U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 475/23
SSIC 3540
SUBJ: AY24 MAJOR CUTTER ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN PROGRAM
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 291914 NOV 23/ALCOAST 474/23
1. Background. DCMS-DPR-1 and COMDT (CG-4), in coordination with
COMDT (CG-1M), have established the Major Cutter Engineering
Technician (MCET) Program for Machinery Technicians (MK),
Electrician Mates (EM), and Damage Controlmen (DC) to support
WMSL-418 and WMEC-270 operations. This program will include
three distinct, but co-located tours of duty dedicated to either
the WMSL-418 or WMEC-270 asset class. The program will follow a
2-3-2 assignment structure, beginning with a 2-year assignment
at sea in the E4 or E5 paygrades to develop foundational knowledge
of major cutter engineering systems. Phase 2 is a 3-year assignment
to the co-located Maintenance Augmentation Team (MAT), and the
program culminates in technicians returning afloat to key
engineering leadership roles for a 2-year assignment. Applicants
selected for MCET will be eligible to receive a $55,000 Critical
Skills Retention Bonus (CSRB) in accordance with REF (A). MCET will
be limited to the following homeports: Portsmouth, VA; Charleston,
SC; Alameda, CA; and Honolulu, HI.
2. For AY24, MCET will also offer accelerated entry into phase 2
(MAT assignment) for E4s or E5s who are tour complete following a
successful assignment to a WMSL-418 or WMEC-270. Applicants selected
for entry into phase 2 will be eligible to receive a $35,000 CSRB in
exchange for obligating 5 years of active duty service (3-year MAT
assignment, 2-year afloat assignment) in accordance with REF (A).
3. MCET will enhance fleet readiness by developing platform
expertise and providing an unprecedented level of assignment
predictability, which allows for the completion of all cutter
related pipeline training prior to members reporting to the final
afloat phase.
4. Billet banding will be applied to each phase of the program as
members assigned to MCET are not eligible to advance out of any
phase of the program.
5. Eligibility. EMs and MKs are eligible for the MCET Program in
all four homeports identified in paragraph 1. DC eligibility is
limited to the WMSL-418 homeports of Charleston, SC; Alameda, CA;
and Honolulu, HI.
    a. MCET 2-3-2. DCs, EMs, and MKs who are tour complete in any AY
with E4 Date of Rank on or before 01 July 2024 or E5 Date of Rank
on or after 01 January 2024. Members who are not tour complete in
AY24 will not normally be considered primary candidates.
    b. MCET 3-2. DCs, EMs, and MKs in E4 or E5 paygrades who are
tour complete in any AY following a successful assignment to a
WMSL-418 or WMEC-270 in any homeport. Members will only be
considered for MCET 3-2 supporting asset classes that align with
their previous tour and will receive orders to one of the four
homeports identified in paragraph 1. Members who are not tour
complete in AY24 will not normally be considered primary candidates.
6. PSC-EPM-2 will publish application procedures and deadlines
SEPCOR via a future ALCGENL. Members will be selected using
standard EPM-2 business rules and criteria for assignments.
7. If a member fails to maintain eligibility during the obligated
service period, the unearned portion of the bonus would be recouped
and the member assigned based on needs of the service.
8. POC. Questions regarding general program administration should be
addressed to the COMDT (CG-452) Naval Engineering Workforce and
Policy Manager, LCDR N. P. Dufresne at
Nathaniel.P.Dufresne@uscg.mil or (202) 475-5719
9. RDML A. B. Grable, Assistant Commandant for Engineering and
Logistics (CG-4), sends.
10. Internet release is authorized.