ALCOAST 136/24 - MAR 2024 UPDATES TO POLICY TO INCREASE OFFICER MANAGEMENT FLEXIBILITY

R 251641Z MAR 24 MID120000979554U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 136/24
SSIC 1000
SUBJ: UPDATES TO POLICY TO INCREASE OFFICER MANAGEMENT FLEXIBILITY
A. Coast Guard Officer Accessions, Evaluations, and Promotions
Manual, COMDTINST M1000.3A
1. This ALCOAST extends previously announced updates to REF (A) to
include: elimination of the requirement for critically trained
reserve officers to integrate after being selected by an active
duty promotion list (ADPL) best qualified promotion board and policy
regarding Critically Trained Officers (CTOs) and temporary
promotions.
2. Reserve Officer Integration.
    a. The following language replaces Section 1.A.8.a.(2)(a) of
REF (A): "Integration Policy. Reserve and temporary officers
appointed from OCS and direct commission reserve officers, who
have been selected by a best-qualified ADPL promotion board, must
integrate as permanent regular officers. This requirement to
integrate does not apply to Critically Trained Officers (CTO)
fulfilling an Extended Active Duty (EAD) agreement. All other
officers fulfilling an EAD agreement must abide by the integration
requirements in this section."
    b. This change allows officers with critical training to choose
to retain a Reserve commission even after selection at an ADPL
promotion board.
    c. The following sentence replaces existing language in Section
1.A.8.c.(1)(b) of REF (A): "A general message will be released
advising officers of their eligibility to integrate. The message
will stipulate that temporary or reserve officers eligible to
integrate but who do not desire to integrate shall notify Commander
(CG PSC-OPM) of their intention within five business days of
notification. Per 14 U.S.C. 3739, Reserve officers selected by an
ADPL selection board will receive that promotion regardless
of whether they choose to integrate. A decision not to integrate
will not prohibit an officer with critical training, as documented
on their EAD agreement, from completing time on an EAD agreement
or accepting a new EAD agreement."
    d. The following sentence replaces existing language in the
first column of the first row of Section 1.A.9. of REF (A):
"Officers who decline appointment as permanent regular officers."
In the same section, the following sentences will replace existing
language in the second column first row: "The Service releases
reserve officers from active duty effective the date their EAD
agreement concludes or other obligated services expires. Officers
designated as CTO may be offered additional EAD agreements,
consistent with the needs of the Service.”
    e. The following sentence replaces existing language in Section
1.B.2.d.(2) of REF (A): "The Commandant may allow reserve
officers to continue under successive active duty agreements, as
required by Service need."
3. Critically Trained Officers. The following sections are added
to REF (A):
    a. "1.B.10 Critically Trained Officers. 1.B.10.a General. CTOs
are Reserve officers with critical skills as determined by
Commandant (CG-1M) and Commander (CG-PSC). Reserve officers
appointed under 14 U.S.C. 3738(a) may be designated as CTOs.
Current reserve officers may also receive this designation as
Service needs dictate.”
    b. “1.B.10.b. CTO Designation. The CTO designation is offered on
an as-needed basis to specific individuals based on Service needs.
Active-duty and reserve members may not apply for the CTO
designation.”
    c. "1.B.10.c. EAD Agreements. Reserve officers designated as CTOs
may be offered EAD agreements intended to secure service within a
specific position or type of position from one to five years with
multiple successive agreements as Service needs dictate. In
addition, CTOs may be offered follow-on EAD agreements for the same
position and/or geographic area as Service needs dictate (10 U.S.C
12311). CTO EAD agreements may:
        (1) Document the officer's consent to volunteer to transfer
to the Standby Reserve (Inactive Status List) upon release from
active-duty service, in the case where an officer's EAD agreement
is for a period less than that of the reserve officer's
military service obligation(MSO).
        (2) Document the officer's consent to opt out of Promotion
Selection Board (PSB) consideration in accordance with
14 U.S.C. 2113.
        (3) Document the officer's ability to decline integration."
    d. "1.B.10.d Management Opportunities. Officers who bring
critical skills to the Service may have the following opportunities:
        (1) Officers who meet their initial MSO may be offered the
opportunity to resign their existing commission and recommission as
a reserve officer at a higher pay grade through the Regular to
Reserve board. Doing so may incur a new active duty or Reserve
service obligation;
        (2) If selected by a temporary promotion selection board (see
Sections 3.A.14 and 6.B.16 of this Manual), officers may become
eligible for temporary promotion to the grade of lieutenant,
lieutenant commander, commander, or captain; and
        (3) The Service may offer follow on EAD agreements in the same
position or same geographic location based on the needs of the
Service."
4. Approved Appointment to a Higher Grade. The following section is
added to REF (A):
    a. "1.G.4.c Approved Appointment to a Higher Grade.
Applicants approved for appointment to a higher grade in the Coast
Guard Reserve:
        (1) Must be designated as a CTO and be in receipt of orders to
a designated critically skilled billet.
        (2) Must accept an EAD agreement.
        (3) May be appointed to grades up to and including the grade
of commander.
        (4) Must be assigned precedence as the junior most officer in
the grade appointed.
5. Temporary Service Promotions. The following sections are added
to REF (A):
    a. "3.A.14 Temporary Service Promotions. 3.A.14.a Statutory
Authority. Pursuant to 14 U.S.C Section 2130, an officer in the
grade of lieutenant (junior grade), lieutenant, lieutenant
commander, or commander may be temporarily promoted to the grade
of lieutenant, lieutenant commander, commander, or captain.
Appointments made under this section will be made by the President,
with the advice and consent of the Senate."
    b. "3.A.14.b. Eligibility. Officers may be promoted to the
applicable eligible grades if they meet all the following
conditions:
        (1) Officers are eligible for transfer;
        (2) Officers must hold a permanent grade of lieutenant (junior
grade), lieutenant, lieutenant commander, or commander;
        (3) Officers must have a skill in which the Coast Guard has a
critical shortage of personnel; and
        (4) Officers must be serving in a position that is designated
for a lieutenant, lieutenant commander, commander, or captain; and
requires that an officer serving in such position have the skill
necessary to serve in that position."
    c. "3.A.14.c Ineligibility. Officers who are already selected for
the higher grade to which the officer is being considered for
temporary promotion are ineligible for consideration for a temporary
promotion. In addition, if any of the following circumstances apply,
the officer is ineligible:
        (1) The officer has been convicted by a court-martial;
        (2) The officer received Nonjudicial punishment pursuant to
Article 15, UCMJ, within the current or last OER marking period;
        (3) The officer received any administrative documentation of
misconduct or poor performance, including a CG-3307 or punitive
letter of censure, within the last or current marking period;
        (4) The officer was Relieved of Command (for cause) or removed
from their primary duty(ies) within the officer's last assignment.
        (5) The officer received an OER mark of 3 or less within the
last or current marking period."
    d. "3.A.14.d. Terms of Acceptance. Unless expressly declined,
an appointment under this section is regarded as accepted."
    e. "3.A.14.e. Benefits.
        (1) General. Temporarily promoted officers are authorized to
assume the title and wear the insignia, receive pay, allowances,
and housing of the grade to which temporarily promoted, and a new
Armed Forces Identification Card (AFID), to reflect the higher
grade, as outlined in the Personnel and Pay Procedures Manual,
PPCINST M1000.2 (series). The officer is entitled to pay and
allowances of the higher grade on the date of the officer's
appointment.
        (2) Officer Evaluation Reports (OER). Officer evaluation
reports will continue to be submitted in the lower permanent grade
as outlined in Article 5.A. of this Manual.
        (3) Disciplinary Powers. Temporary appointments under this
Section are not authorized the disciplinary powers under Article 15,
Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) of the temporarily promoted
rank.
        (4) Time in Grade. Time in grade for determining retirement
eligibility is computed from the temporary appointment date."
    f. "3.A.14.f. Scope of Appointment. An appointment under this
Section does not change the position on the ADPL, probationary,
or acting status of the officer so appointed, prejudice the officer
with regard to other promotions or appointments, or abridge the
rights or benefits of the officer."
    g. "3.A.14.g. Termination of Appointment. Temporary promotions
are not indefinite. Unless sooner terminated, an appointment under
this Section terminates:
        (1) On the date the officer who received the appointment is
permanently promoted to the grade of lieutenant, lieutenant
commander, commander, or captain;
        (2) On the date the officer is detached from a position as
described in paragraph 3.A.14.b.(1) and (2);
        (3) When the officer who received the appointment has engaged
in misconduct or has displayed substandard performance.
        (4) When otherwise determined by the Commandant to be in the
best interest of the Coast Guard. Upon termination of appointment to
the higher grade, the officer will revert to their permanent grade,
which includes wearing of insignia and adjustment of pay and
allowances, updated AFID, and all other administrative requirements
commensurate with the member's permanent grade. Commanding Officers
are required to notify Commander (CG PSC-OPM-1) of any adverse
information concerning an officer serving under a temporary
promotion."
6. Temporary Service Promotion Selections. The following sections
are added to REF (A):
    a. "6.B.16 Temporary Service Promotion Selections 6.B.16.a
Convening a Board. When the needs of the Service require, the
Secretary shall convene selection boards to recommend for temporary
promotion to a higher grade, officers on the ADPL of each grade
from lieutenant (junior grade) through commander. Officers
considered for promotion in such boards shall meet the criteria
as described in Section 3.A.14 of this Manual."
    b. "6.B.16.b. Selection Board Composition. The selection board
shall consist of five or more officers of the ADPL who serve in
or above the grade to which the board may recommend promoting
officers. No officer may serve on two successive boards convened
to consider officers of the same grade for promotion."
    c. "6.B.16.c. Board Convening Notice. Before convening the
selection board, Commander (CG PSC) will provide the Service at
large notice of the convening date, the officers eligible for
consideration, and the number of officers the board may recommend
for promotion."
    d. "6.B.16.d Selection Board Member's Oath. Each selection board
member shall swear an oath pursuant to 14 U.S.C. Section 931 and
Section 2109 and shall not disclose the proceedings of the
selection board to any person not a member of the board, see
14 U.S.C. Section 2118."
    e. "6.B.16.e. Information Furnished to the Selection Board.
Commander (CG PSC) shall furnish each selection board with the
following information:
        (1) The number of officers the board may recommend for
temporary promotion to a higher grade;
        (2) The names and records of all officers eligible for
consideration for temporary promotion to the grade(s) to which the
board will recommend officers for promotion;
        (3) The positions which require skills in which the Service
has a critical shortage of personnel;
        (4) Any other guidance necessary for the board to perform
its functions."
    f. "6.B.16.f. Number of Officers Recommended for Temporary
Promotion. A temporary promotion may only be made
in a position designated by Commander (CG PSC) for the
purposes of this section. The number of temporary promotions so
designated may not exceed the following percentages of the
respective grades in accordance with 14 U.S.C. Section 2130:
        (1) As lieutenant, 0.5 percent;
        (2) As lieutenant commander, 3.0 percent;
        (3) As commander, 2.6 percent; and
        (4) As captain, 2.6 percent."
    g. "Submitting Selection Board Reports.
        (1) The selection board will submit a report, as outlined in
Article 6.A.6.c. of this Manual, to the Secretary. If the board has
acted contrary to law or regulation, the Secretary may return the
report for revision and resubmission. After final review, the
Secretary will submit the board report to the President for
approval, modification, or disapproval.
        (2) The President may remove any officer recommended for
promotion who is not acceptable to the President.
        (3) Commander (CG PSC) disseminates the names of the
officers selected for promotion by the board and
appoints the officers to their temporary rank."
7. These changes will be reflected in an upcoming revision of REF
(A) which will be released within the next year. All other policies
outlined in REF (A) not addressed remain unchanged.
8. This message will be cancelled on 24 MAR 2025.
9. POC: COMDT (CG-1M11) at: HQSPolicyandStandards@uscg.mil
10. RADM M. W. Raymond, Assistant Commandant for Military Personnel
(CG-1M), sends.
11. Internet release is authorized.