ALCOAST 214/26 - JUL 2026 UPDATE TO PROTECTIONS FROM SEPARATION FOR RESERVE COMPONENT MANAGERS FOLLOWING TWICE NON-SELECTION FOR PROMOTION

R 101716Z JUL 26  MID120041375180U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 214/26
SSIC 1000
SUBJ: UPDATE TO PROTECTIONS FROM SEPARATION FOR RESERVE COMPONENT
MANAGERS FOLLOWING TWICE NON-SELECTION FOR PROMOTION
A. Military Separations, COMDTINST 1000.4C
B. Officer Accessions, Evaluations, and Promotions, COMDTINST
1000.3A
C. Title 10, U.S. Code, Section 12686
D. Reserve Policy Manual, COMDTINST 1001.28D
1. Purpose. This ALCOAST announces a change to the policy governing
Reserve Component Manager (RCM) Retention Boards for RCM officers
who twice fail selection for promotion. Specifically, RCM commanders
and lieutenant commanders who are twice non-selected for promotion
must now be considered for retention if they have less than 18 years
of active duty. Effective immediately, the following policy replaces
Article 9.E.3 of REF (A):

"3. Protection from Separation for Twice Non-Selection. Permanent
RCMs in the grades of Commander (O-5) or Lieutenant Commander (O-4)
who have less than 18 years of active duty on 30 June of the
promotion year in which they fail selection for promotion a second
(or more) time must be considered for retention on active duty by an
RCM Retention Board following the RCM promotion selection board
(PSB).
    a. RCMs approved for retention will be permitted to remain on
active duty for one additional year. Those retained RCMs who fail
selection for promotion again in a subsequent promotion year must be
reconsidered by an RCM Retention Board every year until they are
promoted, are not selected for retention, or accrue at least 18
years of active duty.
    b. RCM Retention Board Criteria. The RCM Retention Board must
select RCMs for retention on active duty using the fully qualified
criteria found in Article 6.B.3.f of Reference (B).
    c. Exemption. RCMs who have at least 18, but less than 20, years
of active duty on 30 June of the promotion year in which they fail
selection for promotion a second time (or more) are exempt from
consideration by an RCM Retention Board in accordance with Reference
(C). These RCMs may not be involuntarily released from active duty
without their consent as a result of non-selection for promotion
until they reach 20 years of active-duty service. Credit towards a
reserve retirement must not be considered for continuation on active
duty.
    d. Release from Active Duty (RELAD). RCMs who are not selected
for retention by the RCM Retention Board will have their RCM
designation removed and be offered the opportunity to compete for
IDPL designation via the Reserve Officer Active Status Panel (ROASP)
in accordance with Reference (D)."

2. This policy applies immediately beginning in Promotion Year 2027
for all RCM Commanders (O-5) and Lieutenant Commanders (O-4) with
less than 18 years of active duty. Prior provisions that exempted
RCMs from retention board consideration based on previous
active-duty thresholds are superseded. Officers who were previously
exempt are now subject to this updated policy and must be considered
by an RCM Retention Board.
3. POC.
    a. Direct policy questions to COMDT (CG-WMM-2) at
HQSPolicyandStandards@uscg.mil.
    b. Direct RCM board questions to CG-PSC-RPM-1 at
HQS-SMB-CGPSC-RPM-BoardsPanels@uscg.mil.
4. REF (A) will be updated per internal controls requirements.
5. CAPT Lawrence D. Gaillard, Acting Assistant Commandant for
Workforce Management (CG-WM), sends.
6. Internet release is authorized.