Comment Number: OL-10501152
Received: 2/23/2005 6:51:58 PM
Subject: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Request for Comment
Title: National Security Personnel System
CFR Citation: 5 CFR Chapter XCIX and Part 9901
No Attachments

Comments:

Firstly, I have a college degree - a B.A. in Political Science - and so I do know quite a bit about the federal government I work for. I also am a veteran and worked in the field of supply in the Navy for 11 years (I'm a "downsized/RIF" veteran) before I was employed by my current employer. Secondly, I work for a civil service organization called Military Sealift Command (MSC). It is a component of the DON and DOD. I am gainfully-employed federal civil service mariner. Thirdly, I'm currently working in the deck department on my ship which is on an extended deployment to the Persian Gulf. I have some serious and tough questions concerning NSPS. When I started working for MSC, I worked in the field of supply on the ships they operated. But, something funny happened to my career. I was "involuntarily" transferred to the deck department - and that transfer WAS NOT DUE TO POOR PERFORMANCE ON MY PART. In fact, my evaluations in my first 1 1/2 years in working in supply were to good to excellent - a point which my employer can't argue with. In fact, they were good enough that my employer sent me to a supply school - which I successfully completed. After I successfully completed my employers supply school, I was transferred to the deck department and I've been working in the deck department of the various ships my employer operates since Feb 1998. What has upset me is not only that personnel action taken against me but also what my employer has said and written to me. And now we're going to get to the heart of the issue and how will NSPS change things and address my employers' negative comments concerning me, my college degree, and my veteran experience. I've been told by me employer that they don't care what I did in the Navy. How would the NSPS address that remark? I've been told by my employer that it's disgraceful of me to bring up my prior military service. How would the NSPS address that remark? I've been told by my employer that my college degree isn't a factor. How would the NSPS address that remark? I've been told by my employer that by being a veteran that I give my employer a bad name. How would the NSPS address that remark? I've been told by my employer that it was a mistake to hire me. How would the NSPS address that remark? I've been told by my employer that my veteran status isn't a factor. How would the NSPS address that remark? My employer has maintained that they have never made any disparaging remarks against me. I'll let you be the judge of that assertion on the behalf of my employer. As I said, my change in career was not prompted by bad performance but by the needs of my employer. 7 years ago, a ship that was ready to go on deployment to the Persian Gulf was one person short in their deck department. Somehow, I was "chosened". Do you realize that my permanent employment rating was made in the deck department? (after 1 year of employment with MSC and after 1 1/2 years working in supply in MSC and my prior 11 years of service in the Navy in the field of supply) How would the NSPS resolve personnel action as I just described? Why did I accept that change in rate - because my employer threatened to have me immediately terminated if I didn't follow their order. Yes, I did file grievances with my employer over the personnel action that they took against me. I also filed grievances with the Department of Labor (for possible vet pref violations), Office of Personnel Management (for possible Civil Serive/MSPB violations), and with the DON/DOD (for possible waste, fraud, & abuse violations). Nothing ever came of those complaints. My employer's reaction to the complaints & grievances I filed can best be described as: YOU CAN'T FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST US. You can E-Mail a response to this letter at ab09.spica@mscafloat.msc.navy.mil and/or at kenhjerpe@yahoo.com. I would like to receive a response to this letter and I thank you for your cooperation in this matter.