assignment priority coast guard

Navigating Coast Guard PCS

Helping you sail through your pcs journey.

     The orders process is a complex process that begins almost a year before the physical transfer between units happens. This page provides an abbreviated and general overview of the timeline of the orders process. Members should consult the Office of Enlisted Personnel Management (EPM) and Office of Officer Personnel Management (OPM) for more details regarding the orders process.      Additionally, members should consult with their chain of command for guidance. The process below is not for those coming out of boot camp, OCS, CG Academy, or “A” school.

     Each assignment year (AY) starts the year before the actual transfer season happens, i.e., AY21 started in May of 2020. The AY starts off with kick-off messages from EPM and OPM outlining the timeline of the AY21 and provides members with an understanding of the process and milestones. Members should be on the lookout for these messages.

PCS Orders Process

Information about the PCS Orders process from the start of the assignment year till receiving orders. 

Enlisted Members

     Enlisted members generally receive orders based on assignment priority. However, there are numerous specialty assignments that are not issued through the assignment priority process. Members should keep an eye out for information regarding these assignments on the enlisted message page and EPM-2 Assignment Officer portal pages (CAC required).

The general timeline for enlisted members is:

May to August: Assignment Officers are available for career counseling.

September: The unofficial billet list is published to be validated by commands.

Late September: The official billet list is published.

Early November: PCS e-resumes are due for most rates. *Members should check with their assignment officer for more information.

Late November: Assignment Officers begin issuing orders based on assignment priority.

All orders should be issued by April 1st.  

Officer Members

     Officers generally receive orders in a hierarchical fashion. The list of available billets that officers can apply for become available at two different times. Specialty billets requiring extra screening are released in early summer, requiring interested members to apply by mid-summer. The general list of billets becomes available in late summer, requiring members to submit their e-resume list by September 1st.

     There are numerous factors, too many to discuss here, that can affect when a member receives orders. In general, orders start being issued in December with Captains. Commanders receive orders in January, Lieutenant Commanders in February, and Lieutenants and Lieutenant Junior Grades receiving orders in March. All orders should be issued by April 1st. Please reference the OPM-2 assignment page and specific specialty detailer pages for the most up-to-date information.

Once orders are received, the PCS adventure begins. Check out the process to receive executable orders and the rest of the moving process.

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Coast Guard adjusts planning amid workforce shortage

(WASHINGTON) — Coast Guard mission demands are growing while the service faces a significant workforce shortage. The Coast Guard is short nearly 10 percent of the entire enlisted workforce and cannot continue to operate as it has historically with fewer people.

To mitigate the workforce challenge risk in a deliberative and strategic fashion, Vice Commandant Adm. Steven Poulin has provided specific temporary operational guidance to adapt operations while prioritizing lifesaving missions, national security and protection of the Marine Transportation System. There will be no loss of search and rescue (SAR) capabilities.

The commandant, Adm. Linda Fagan, and Heath Jones, master chief petty officer, have emailed the workforce to outline the service’s mitigation strategy.

“The Coast Guard cannot maintain the same level of operations with our current shortfall – we cannot do the same with less. Conducting our missions is often inherently dangerous, and doing so without enough crew puts our members and the American public at increased risk,” wrote Fagan and Jones.

What does this mean for you?

The commandant has given assignment officers unprecedented flexibility this assignment season to work with members impacted by these force alignment changes.

Enlisted personnel management (EPM) and officer personnel management (OPM) staff started visiting the impacted units last week. They’ll answer questions and address members’ individual concerns. Some visits will be in person, others virtual.

“We understand the extra stress and anxiety these unforeseen changes create for our members and their families,” said Rear Adm. Rusty Dash, commander of the Personnel Service Center. “EPM and OPM will directly engage with each affected command to discuss individual situations and concerns.”

EPM’s priority is to assign affected members to the same geographic area (if possible and if that is what the member desires) while keeping their original tour completion dates. If that’s not possible, EPM will increase the member’s assignment priority and reassign the member based on their desire and service needs.

OPM will offer officers one-on-one counseling prior to eResume submission. OPM will work to tailor assignments to best meet officers’ professional and personal needs. You can access the AY 2024 Force Alignment Initiative SharePoint site for full details.

Detailed changes

As cutter crews are not scalable, the only way to reduce the workforce of the cutter fleet is to reduce the number of operating cutters. Previously planned cutter decommissionings will continue, including the Coast Guard cutter Steadfast.

Some cutters will be placed in a special status awaiting either decommissioning or future reactivation. In some cases, the crews will do a hull swap to layup the cutter with the largest pending maintenance requirement. Some of the changes include:

• Three 210-foot medium endurance cutters (WMEC) will be placed in layup, pending decommissioning. • ​Seven 87-foot patrol boats will be placed in layup, pending reactivation. • Five 65-foot harbor tugs will temporarily not be continuously manned but will be kept in a ready status in case icebreaking is needed. • Two 154-foot patrol crafts will commence uncrewed for the Recurring Depot Availability Program (RDAP) at the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, Md. The next 154-foot patrol craft scheduled for RDAP will deliver the hull to the Coast Guard yard and swap hulls with a cutter that has completed dry dock.

Shoreside changes are also necessary. There are 44 stations and 36 aids to navigation teams (ANTs) that currently have more billets than their staffing standards allow in the activity-based staffing model. The stations will be reduced to their staffing standards and the ANTs to one billet below their staffing standards. Other shoreside changes include, but are not limited to:

• Crews at all 23 seasonal station smalls will transfer to their parent command. • The six non-response units (boat forces units without SAR responsibilities) will suspend operations and their crews will be reassigned in assignment year (AY) 2024. • The identified 19 stations whose SAR response capabilities are redundant will be deemed Scheduled Mission Units. Three of these 19 stations will be ports, waterways and coastal security level one Scheduled Mission Units.

What’s next?

These risk-based adjustments for AY 2024 will mitigate the shortage, but the service will still have some gapped positions. More mitigation efforts may be needed as it continues to evaluate service readiness. This strategic approach to temporarily adjust operations will best position the Coast Guard for future operational capabilities.

And the future is coming quickly. The first offshore patrol cutter, Argus, was launched in late October.

“The ‘Trackline to 10,000,’ to have 10,000 members assigned to afloat units, is still the goal for our future fleet and we will get there,” said Capt. John Driscoll, the chief of the Office of Cutter Forces. “We need to adjust our operating capacity now so we can prepare for the future. We will gradually grow fleet capacity back through continued construction of ships with the latest technology and the best crew habitability. Our cutter fleet is in demand globally, and I can see our cuttermen continuing to explore new locations as our ship operations are dedicated to the highest priority missions.”

– U.S. Coast Guard

By Professional Mariner Staff

ALCGENL 088/23 - AY24 RECRUITING SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS SOLICITATION

R 211426Z APR 23 MID200080920404U FM COMCOGARD PSC WASHINGTON DC TO ALCGENL

ALCGENL 088/23 SUBJ: AY24 RECRUITING SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS SOLICITATION A. Military Assignments and Authorized Absences, COMDTINST M1000.8A series B. https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/USCGPortalOnline C. ALCGENL 080/23, AY24 Special Assignment Kick-Off 1. All members are highly encouraged to pursue at least one Special Assignment (SA) during their career. These career broadening assignments provide members valuable opportunities to represent their ratings, network, and learn about other operational and mission support activities. Furthermore, serving in a SA increases your selection potential for future highly visible leadership and management positions (e.g. Silver Badge, OIC, and School Chief). 2. The selection, motivation, and training of Recruiters is a top priority to meet the Coast Guard's human capital needs. In an effort to best shape our future military workforce, we are seeking candidates who demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, infallible character, professionalism and a spirited focus on building a stronger Coast Guard. As the Coast Guard grows in resources and capability, it is imperative that Coast Guard Recruiting meets the demand. In this competitive position you will be responsible for recruiting applicants in the following programs: Enlisted Active Duty and Reserves and all non-Academy accessions. Visit www.GoCoastGuard.com to see Coast Guard Recruiting in action. a. Production Recruiters (PR) make daily decisions on how to attract applicants most suitable to become a shipmate in our Service. Recruiters visit schools, colleges, clubs, community centers, etc. to advertise Coast Guard opportunities, identify prospects, and develop relationships. Recruiters often engage influencers such as family members and community leaders to garner support for an applicant's decision. Recruiters must be creative to find new ways to gain accessions. Additionally, recruiters conduct the screening, processing, and accession paperwork necessary for enlistments and commissionings. Recruiters frequently work irregular hours to conform to civilian schedules and perform travel to accomplish their mission. b. Recruiters in Charge (RIC) lead one of 65 Recruiting Offices (RO) across the nation and require robust leadership skills. In addition to all Production Recruiter duties, RICs are responsible for mission planning, training, and administrative oversight of their RO. They supervise up to 10 Production Recruiters as well as scholarship program Officer trainees recruited by their RO. 3. Members are reminded RIC & PR positions come with Special Duty Pay and increased Assignment Priority (AP4) upon successful completion of recruiting tour. 4. Mandatory Informational Coast Guard Recruiting Webinar: a. Date: 1 May 2023, 1000 and 1300 EST and 2 May 2023, 1300 EST b. Register: Email MKCM Michael Dioquino (subject: Recruiting Webinar) [email protected] NLT COB 30 Apr 2023. 5. Eligibility: a. Special Assignment criteria per Ref (A) Art. 1.E.2 and 1.E.7. b. Tour complete in AY24, AY25, or AY26. c. Production Recruiter positions: E5-E6, E4 above the cut for E5 d. Recruiter in Charge positions: E7 (not above the cut for E8), E6 above the cut for E7 e. Members with folliculitis are eligible to apply. 6. Process/timeline: a. NLT 02 JUN 2023: Standard applications are emailed to CGRC at [email protected] b. OOA 13 JUN - 08 JUL 2023: CGRC interviews all RIC applicants. c. 17-21 JUL 2023: CGRC reviews packages for best qualified applicants. d. OOA 15 AUG 2023: Results released via email. e. The expected report date is 01 JUL 2024. 7. Standard Applications: Members and Commands should pay close attention to the requirements listed in the standard application found at Ref (B). Incomplete or improperly formatted applications will be returned. Deadline extensions will not be granted to correct errors. 8. The Special Assignments Officer will coordinate the release from rating process. Applicants should not contact their detailer asking if they can be released from rate. 9. Points of contact: a. CG Recruiting Command: LT Noel Garcia or [email protected] b. EPM-2 Special Assignments: CWO Derek Hardy, (202) 795-6587 or [email protected]. 10. Released by: LT S. E. Grell, (202) 795-6584. 11. Internet release authorized.

For more Coast Guard news, visit our online newsroom here.  

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Baltimore bridge collapse Crane arrives at crash site to aid cleanup

A crane described by officials as one of the largest on the Eastern Seaboard arrived in Baltimore on Friday as efforts got underway to clean up the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge , which collapsed earlier this week after it was struck by a cargo ship. Officials have emphasized that reopening the Port of Baltimore, where vessel traffic is suspended indefinitely, is their top priority. Before the bridge wreckage can be removed, authorities are assessing its mangled metal above and below the water’s surface to determine where it can be cut into pieces.

Here's what to know:

Here's what to know, live coverage contributors 14.

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