ALCOAST 402/25 - SEP 2025 CHANGE TO NORMAL PATH TO CWO APPOINTMENT FOR DAMAGE CONTROL RATING

R 291423Z SEP 25   MID120012107705U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 402/25
SSIC 1420
SUBJ: CHANGE TO NORMAL PATH TO CWO APPOINTMENT FOR DAMAGE CONTROL
RATING
A. Appointing Warrant Officers, COMDTINST 1420.1
1. This ALCOAST announces a change to REF (A) to allow Damage
Controlmen (DC) to apply for the Naval Engineer (NAVENG) Chief
Warrant Officer specialty.
2. Damage Controlmen are an essential part of the Naval Engineering
community due to their expertise in maintaining and repairing vital
systems, structures, and equipment onboard cutters. Opening up the
Naval Engineer CWO specialty to Damage Controlmen is a strategic
move that allows the Coast Guard to leverage this skillset and
create additional career opportunities for senior DCs while growing
the talent pool for selection to NAVENG.
3. Damage Controlmen who wish to apply for appointment to Naval
Engineer CWO specialty must meet the following eligibility
requirements:
    a. Minimum of 3 years rated sea time with 2 years aboard a
major cutter.
    b. Must have earned an Engineer of the Watch (EOW) qualification
on a major cutter.
    c. Must earn the EPOAFL (Engineering Petty Officer Afloat) and
EPOSHO (Engineering Petty Officer Ashore) competencies through
successful completion of both Engineer Petty Officer (EPO) Afloat
and EPO Ashore Performance Qualification Standards.
    d. For the purposes of this action, major cutters are defined as
any cutter with an O5 or O6 command.
4. POC: COMDT (CG-WMM-21), HQSPolicyandStandards@uscg.mil.
5. RDML Zeita Merchant, Assistant Commandant for Workforce
Management (CG-WM), sends.
6. Internet release is authorized.