ALCGENL 226/24 - SUBJ: AY25 ENGINEER PETTY OFFICER (EPO) COMBINED EM AND MK SCREENING PROCESS

R 241934Z MAY 24
FM COMCOGARD PSC WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCGENL

ALCGENL 226/24
SUBJ: AY25 ENGINEER PETTY OFFICER (EPO) COMBINED EM AND MK SCREENING PROCESS
A. Military Assignments and Authorized Absences, COMDTINST 1000.8A
B. Coast Guard Weight and Body Fat Standards Program Manual, COMDTINST
M1020.8G
C. SNIPES Place - Home (sharepoint-mil.us)
D. Electrician's Mate (EM) (sharepoint-mil.us)
E. ALCGENL 176/23
1. EPM-2 is commencing the Engineer Petty Officer (EPO) screening process for
Assignment Year 2025 (AY) 2025. The goal of the EPO screening process is to
develop a robust pool of candidates prior to the assignment season that have
the qualifications and command endorsement required for afloat and/or ashore
EPO assignment, as per section 1.C.7 of reference (A).
2. Combining the EM and MK afloat EPO positions is intended to increase
candidate pools and assignment opportunities for both ratings. E7 through E9
EMs and MKs that have screened successfully will be eligible for all EPO afloat
positions in their paygrade. Screening criteria for afloat and ashore can be
found in reference (C) and (D). EM and MK AOs will ensure integrity of the
assignment process and ratio of the rated assignments so that neither rating
loses their total rated EPO opportunities. Any questions regarding this process
can be directed to an AO in paragraph 12 of this message or the Rating Force
Master Chiefs.
3. Potential Applicants:
a. All AY25 tour complete EMs and MKs who are interested in assignment to E7
through E9 EPO positions will be required to screen. Even if you have
successfully screened in the past or are a sitting EPO, you must re-screen
for AY25.
b. All AY25 tour complete MKs who are interested in competing for assignment
to E5 through E6 EPO positions will be required to screen. Even if you have
successfully screened in the past or are a sitting EPO, you must re-screen for
AY25.
c. Personnel who are advanced off of any currently active Service Wide Exam
(SWE) advancement list may also apply. As per section 1.C.3 of reference (A),
personnel should not compete for advancement unless they are prepared to
transfer. Members who become above a SWE cut in AY25, are in a paygrade to
billet mismatch, or a double encumbered position shall consider themselves
tour complete in AY25.
d. MK2 applicants may only screen for EPO ashore as there are no afloat EPO
positions for E5s.
4. Application Procedures:
a. In AY25, EPO screening requests must be entered using the "Panel
Submissions" link under “Member Career Details” in Direct Access (DA).
b. A detailed guide for the EPO Screening application process can be found
at reference (C) under the EPO Panel Guide.
c. Guides for submitting and checking Command endorsements can be found at
reference (C) under the EPO Panel Guide.
d. The EPO screening panel will open on 24 May 2024. All members desiring to
screen must submit a request no later than 15 Jul 2024. Submissions must
include a command endorsement. No late submissions or waivers will be accepted
after the closing of the panel submission date. Commands and members are
encouraged to reach out to AOs prior to the due date if there are complications
with submitting Panel Submission and/or command endorsement into DA (e.g.
operational commitments). Waiver requests will not be granted after the due date.
5. Interested members are reminded that eligibility for an EPO position is based
on a screening panel and not a board. To better align expectations and allow
members to compete successfully, interested applicants need to follow all
instructions in this message and ensure that they meet the selection criteria
outlined in paragraph 6. Members are reminded that they screen successfully for
EPO assignment, they are considered a candidate for all EPO positions and may
be considered if one becomes a critical service need.
6. Criteria: The following criteria will be used to select candidates in
accordance with section 1.C.7.b of reference (A):
a. Candidates that received an unsatisfactory conduct mark after 24 Jul 2020
will be disqualified.
b. Candidates with a record of civil arrest, court-martial, non-judicial
punishment (NJP), alcoholism, drug misuse, indebtedness, etc., after 24 Jul
2020 will be disqualified.
c. Candidates may have no physical impairments that preclude world-wide
assignment.
d. Candidates must comply with weight standards IAW reference (B).
e. Candidates that have not been assigned to a cutter in the last 7 years
will be considered on a case-by-case basis for afloat EPO positions based
on candidate pool size, service needs, and relevant service in the field.
f. Candidates that have not been assigned to a boat forces unit in the last
7 years will be considered on a case-by-case basis for ashore EPO positions
based on candidate pool size, service needs, and relevant service in the field.
7. Command Endorsement: EPM-2 consistently receives applications lacking
complete command endorsements or endorsements that do not meet the specific
requirements of section 1.C.7.c paragraph 2 of reference (A). AOs will not
reach out to commands to get appropriate endorsements as this is the overall
responsibility of the member and command. To promote a fair and balanced
competition for applicants, commands must ensure that their endorsement
addresses all the categories listed below, bullet form is preferred. The
DA panel submission must be used for endorsements, any other submission
media (i.e. email) may be considered on a case-by-case basis prior to the
deadline submission. An EPO endorsement template can be found in reference
(C) under the EPO Panel Guide. Commands are strongly encouraged to utilize
the template when drafting endorsements. The requirements from reference (A)
are listed below and must be specifically addressed in the command endorsement:
a. Leadership required for independent duty,
b. Technical competence required for job,
c. Maturity,
d. Dedication,
e. Professionalism,
f. Military bearing and appearance,
g. Adherence to the Commandant's weight standards.
8. Screening Panel Results: Screening panel results will be announced no later
than 31 Aug 2024. A message will direct members to reference (C) for a complete
listing of members who successfully screened for EPO afloat and/or ashore.
9. EPO Assignment Process: EPO assignments will be slated ahead of all other
general duty assignments in AY25 to optimize pipeline training opportunities
for future EPOs. AOs will slate all open MK2, MK1 and E7 through E9 EPO
positions using the criteria set forth in section 1.C.7.d of reference (A):
a. Demonstrated leadership and performance,
b. Command endorsement,
c. Previous qualifications,
d. Career experience,
e. Personal preference.
10. The above standard is used to select the best qualified candidates for EPO
positions. Successful screening does NOT guarantee assignment, extension, or
fleet-up to an EPO position. If a screened EPO candidate does not receive an EPO
position from their eResume they will have the opportunity to apply for
additional EPO positions in the future. AOs will release additional solicitations
for any EPO positions that become vacant throughout the AY. In the absence of a
candidate for a critical fill position AOs will utilize Advance-to-Position
(A2P) IAW reference (E) to fill vacancies. After all EPO assignments are
completed, AO's will begin slating general duty positions using the dates
identified SEPCOR in the MK and EM SITREPs which will be published at a later
date. MK and EM SITREPs will be published using ALCGENL messages and AO
SharePoint pages.
11. eResume Guidance: All members who successfully screen for and desire an
EPO position shall submit an eResume listing all desired EPO positions. EPO
eResume due dates will be identified SEPCOR in the MK and EM SITREPs. Members
in pay grades E7 through E9 applying for afloat EPO positions are reminded to
search for EM and MK EPO positions in DA to view all available EPO positions
for AY25. EPO eResumes do not need command endorsements as members should only
be submitting if they successfully screened, unless the position requires an
additional endorsement (e.g. Overseas Assignments). All EPO orders will be
issued by the date identified SEPCOR in the MK and EM SITREPs. Members that
screened successfully but did not earn an EPO position must re-submit a new
general duty eResume by the dates identified SEPCOR in the MK and EM SITREPs.
a. All members in Assignment Priority (AP) AP1, AP2, and E9 positions that
successfully screened for EPO will be required to submit an eResume with all
EPO positions listed above all General Duty positions by the due date
identified SEPCOR in the MK and EM SITREPs.
b. All members in AP3 through AP6 positions that successfully screened for
EPO shall only submit eResumes listing EPO positions by the due date
identified SEPCOR in the MK and EM SITREPs.
12. For additional information, FAQ’s and guidance, refer to EPO Panel
Guide at reference (C), or contact your AO.
a. CWO Ryan Phillips: D5, PATFORSWA and MK A School (202) 795-6597
(MKCS Joshua Michael (202) 795-6589 after 22 Jul)
b. CWO Christopher Wolf: D1 and D7 (202) 795-6598
c. CWO Ryan Phillips (202) 795-6597
d. CWO Nicholas Johnson: D11, D13, D14 and D17 (202) 795-6502
e. CWO Brandon Frawley: EM AO (202) 795-6586
13. Released by: LT J. Loewenstein.
14. Internet release authorized.