Comment Number: OL-10502204
Received: 3/1/2005 11:14:06 AM
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:

I am very skeptical of this process and its timing. I have heard and read from a wide variety of sources that the Dept of Homeland Security has many problems with its System. Why not spend the resources and energy to get that program on its feet and functioning smoothly and then adopt that program for other agencies? I think its because DoD doesn't care that there are going to be major problems with implementation. They have been directed to march on and they are going to do so regardless of the impact it has on employees and services. One argument for the needed change is to be able to move people as needed to respond to service needs. There is no reason why that can't be done gradually with employment agreements requiring mobility agreements. That is available under our current system. I have some knowledge of the challenges of recruiting college graduates and seniors to come work for the government. It is becoming increasingly difficult to get bright students to come work with us. This is especially true of those who have someone they know and respect who is currently in government. They are being encouraged by these people to go look elsewhere because of the erosion of benefits, security, willingness to desire a good faith relationship between employee-employer. When the Civil Service Reform Act was put in place, it was to ensure that government services would be able to provide steady uninterrupted service without the upheaval that occurs every time there is a change in the political climate. From all appearances, this new system is going to make it so much easier to allow for these disruptions to take place. Recent news from high in DoD tells us that our leaders are not all above being self serving. People and positions will come and go at the wishes of a few, contracts will be able to be let much easier because people will be able to be moved or "transformed" to another position, place, program. And more often than not the government will move from one expensive effort to the next. Has anyone looked at the history of the Civil Service Reform Act to see if we are forgetting expensive lessons from the past in hopes that we will fall into a better system? The political climate is dictating that this system is coming and its coming now. I am saddened that this is the end of an era. We are losing sight that civil service has been a great supporter and provider to our active duty personnel. We have sacrificed much and continue to sacrifice to make our missions successful. For the most part, civil service has been a team meeting a mission. Now I am already seeing the first signs of individuals worrying about their own measurement standards (which are often data driven rather then mission driven) than on ensuring team success. I have co-workers who are making work for themselves because the data looks good even though I can accomplish the work easier with 1/6 the data generated. Who is the performer in this example? The co-worker looks like the performer, but I am providing more service to accomplish the mission. Because the data is DoD driven, I could play the false data game and spend much more time and energy to create a false picture of performance or I can trust my leadership that what they are asking me to do is more important than the data. I am being told that they are well pleased with me. But what happens when a new supervisor comes in? Will he/she have the same agenda or will he/she be more interested in his/her career than in our mission. So my resolve: I will continue to support my mission, my country, and DoD in trying to implement this system to the best of my ability. But I do not believe that the time or method we are currently pursuing is the best solution for DoD. The best solution is to work diligently with Homeland Security to get a system that is effective, efficient and then to adopt it. Thank you for letting us respond. Do not take form letters lightly. They send a message too.