ALCGRSV 029/25 - RESERVE LIEUTENANT COMMANDER TO ENSIGN ASSIGNMENT YEAR 2026 (AY26) KICKOFF ANNOUNCEMENT

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 06/05/2025 06:29 AM EDT

united states coast guard

04 JUN 2025
UNCLAS
ALCGRSV 029/25
SUBJ: RESERVE LIEUTENANT COMMANDER TO ENSIGN ASSIGNMENT YEAR 2026
(AY26) KICKOFF ANNOUNCEMENT
A. Reserve Policy Manual, COMDTINST M1001.28 (series)
1. This message announces the AY26 Reserve assignment season kickoff
and provides important guidelines and information for Reserve
Lieutenant Commanders through Ensigns competing for assignment,
their command cadre or supervisors at large. Supplemental information 
on the assignment process, is available in the AY26 Reserve Personnel
Assignment Guide, located on the PSC-RPM-2 SharePoint: https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/psc_spo/psc-rpm/RPM2/SitePages/RPM-2%20Home%20Page.aspx/.
2. Shopping lists: PSC-RPM-2 is developing and validating AY26
shopping lists, which will identify anticipated billet vacancies.
Updates will be published on the PSC-RPM-2 SharePoint.
    a. Validation: Unit commanders must verify the accuracy and
status of each Reserve position on their PAL as reflected in Direct
Access (DA), along with anticipated vacancies. The Command Concerns (COMCON)
link is located on the PSC-RPM-2 SharePoint denoted in paragraph 1. Select
the "Command Concerns" link and follow the instructions on the Power BI. 
Submit discrepancies or comments to the Command Concerns Inbox at
COMDT-SMB-CGPSC-RPM-COMCON@USCG.MIL via Command Concerns by 31 Jul 25.
    b. Availability: Preliminary Shopping lists are available on the RPM-2 
SharePoint beginning 15 June. Use the Preliminary Shopping List to assist 
completing unit COMCON. Official Shopping Lists will be released by 01 Sep 25.
3. AY26 O1 to O4 Assignment Candidate Pool:
    a. The primary candidate pool consists of members reported in DA
as tour complete in 2026, members filling positions in which a
paygrade mismatch (plus or minus 2 pay grades) exists between member 
and billet, members in reprogrammed positions, and members projected
to be released from active duty. This includes Lieutenant Commanders
through Ensigns serving on long-term Active Duty for Operational
Support (ADOS) and Extended Active Duty (EAD) who desire a SELRES
assignment following their release from active duty. PSC-RPM-2 will
track additions and deletions to candidate pools created by promotions,
screening panels, separations, position reprogramming and other
actions. Members who do not apply for assignment may be transferred to the 
Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). Members in the IRR may request a change in 
Reserve Component Category (RCC) and compete for positions at anytime.    
    b. Members serving on long-term voluntary ADOS orders that 
terminate any time during AY26 must submit an e-resume in DA by 01 Nov 25.
Members who miss the deadline must reach out to their Assignment Officer for 
e-resume submission guidance. Members who do not apply for assignment will be 
transferred to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). Members in the IRR may
request a change in Reserve Component Category (RCC) and compete for positions
at anytime.    
    c. PSC-RPM-2 will adhere to tour completion dates when considering
assignments. Members generally will not rotate prior to completion
of their tours. However, early rotations are sometimes necessary to
meet Service needs. Members that desire a short tour, discuss with your
command and indicate this during Command Concerns. Last minute short tour 
requests may result in a vacancy if AOs are not notified early.
    d. Members who will be affiliating with the SELRES via the 
Regular to Reserve (R2R) or Temporary Separation process must meet the 
timeline in paragraph 10. Those who miss the deadlines will be considered
for assignment only after all other AY26 assignments have been made or expect 
to remain in the IRR until the AY27 cycle.
4. E-resume/FlexPAL:
   a.  For e-resume submission, command endorsement, and command endorsement
verification steps, refer to the PPCs guides located at the link denoted
in Paragraph 1. To ensure that an e-resume endorsement is completed on time,
members must notify their command when an e-resume requiring command endorsement 
has been submitted.  
   b. Junior Officer FlexPAL guidance: Junior Officers (O1-O3) can
now be assigned under the FLEXPAL system. The list of available
assignments where training capacity exists is located on the PSC-RPM-2
SharePoint denoted in paragraph 1, under the FlexPAL section.  Under
the FlexPAL system, there are billets marked F for flexible and
NF  for non-flexible. The NF designation means that this billet is
important to unit success and should not be moved under the FlexPAL
system. RPM-2 is expected to fill NF positions before F positions. 
As such, candidates must apply to NF positions foremost,
but if they are looking for a general position that is flexible in a
specific geo-location, then they must apply to the following
position number: 00042876. Members must provide their Assignment Officers
with their geographic location and desired drill location in the 
"Member Comments" section of the e-resume. For FlexPal e-resume guidance 
refer to the PSC-RPM-2 SharePoint.
5. Reasonable Commuting Distance (RCD): REF A, Article 5.C describes
policy regarding RCD. As a member becomes more senior, assignment
opportunities within RCD become increasingly scarce. If a member wants 
to continue to serve in a SELRES status, the member must consider 
assignments beyond RCD.
6. Members who will voluntarily accept orders beyond RCD shall
include the following statement in their e-resume member comments:
I, (rank and name) on (date), understand the Reasonable Commuting
Distance (RCD) policy stipulated in COMDTINST M1001.28 (series), and
will voluntarily accept orders beyond RCD.
7. IAW REF A, Article 5.E.1., members may be assigned to a Deployable
Specialized Forces (DSF) unit without their consent if they live
within RCD of these units and not enough qualified volunteers are
identified. DSF units include the Port Security Units (PSUs) and
Maritime Expeditionary Security Groups (MESG). Members who have not been 
assigned to a DSF unit are strongly encouraged to apply. 
Note: PSU assignments for SELRES Officers O1-O3 are now a 4 year tour. 
8. Members who decline orders will be transferred to the IRR,
Standby Reserve, or may request retirement or separation, IAW REF A,
Article 5.A.10. Members who do not successfully compete for an AY26
assignment, or members who do not submit an e-resume IAW paragraph
10, will be transferred to the IRR and may compete for assignment
in AY27.
9. For e-resume and assignment guidance, refer to the PSC-RPM-2 SharePoint
denoted in paragraph 1 to ensure that an e-resume endorsement is 
completed on time. Members must notify their command when an e-resume 
requiring command endorsement has been submitted.  
10. AY26 Lieutenant Commander through Ensign timeline:
    a. 01 Jun 25 - 31 Oct 25: AOs available for career counseling.
    b. 15 Jun 25: Potential shopping lists available for review and
       command validation on PSC-RPM-2 SharePoint denoted in paragraph 1. 
    c. 31 Jul 25: Command Concerns and shopping list corrections due
       to PSC-RPM-2.
    d. 01 Sep 25: Shopping lists released and available in DA.
    e. 01 Nov 25: Deadline for members to submit e-resumes.
    f. 01 Apr 26: Assignment slates approved and finalized.
    g. 10-30 Apr 26: PCS orders released in DA, available to units
       in DA airport terminal.
    h. 31 May 26: Requests to retire or separate in lieu of orders
       due to PSC-RPM-2.
    i. 01 Oct 26: Effective date for AY26 assignments.
11. Assignment Officers:
    a. CDR(s) Josue "Josh" Roman: All IDPL O4s or those Officers considering 
an O4 billet, (571) 610-4082, Josue.J.Roman@uscg.mil.
LCDR Dave Holden: beginning 22 Aug 25, (571) 608-7882, David.W.Holden@uscg.mil
    b. LT Jessica Colombo: Districts 7, 8, 9 Junior
        Officer assignments, including all Aviation billets, (571) 608-7570,          Jessica.C.Colombo@uscg.mil.
    c. LT Joel Laufenberg: Districts 11, 13, 14, 17 
        Junior Officer assignments, including all Cyber billets, 
(571) 607-7567, Joel.P.Laufenberg@uscg.mil.
    d. LTjg Summer Lowery: beginning 01 Jul 25; Districts 1, 5 Junior Officer 
assignments, including all Legal, and Medical billets,
       (571) 608-4289, Summer.E.Lowery@uscg.mil
12. CAPT T. E. Fryar, Chief, CG PSC-RPM, sends.
13. Internet release authorized.