| Comment Number: | OL-10503205 |
| Received: | 3/4/2005 11:57:43 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:
Our Commanding Officer invited this shipyard to review and comment on the NSPS documentation. Since only one in six employees here have a computer, I felt more obligated to reply as those on the waterfront -- ship fitters, welders, electricians, pipe fitters and others do not have this privilege. My review: “Where is the BEEF….” in this NSPS? The first 24 pages is a commentary introduction to the next 29 pages, which looks to me to be an outline of NSPS rather than a policy on managing people working for the government. The real meat of this new NSPS is to be in the unnumbered multitude of “DoD implementing issuances” and all other directives yet to be issued which mostly likely will be changed and re-issued frequently for the next several years. Change is great and stability is dead for our government’s personnel system. Now for reality: I am an electrical engineer working with nuclear program. Last year our small group of 38 engineers had 4 people leave for positions outside of the government, 2 retire and 3 moved to different jobs within this shipyard. This was a little more than our normal turnover. We have 10 engineers with three years or less of experience. My impression is that the managers here have done an impressive job with many changes taking place just within our area of our work. They are going need some “real “ help to implement this new personnel program. During my day, (I am soon to retire) I considered my shelf to be civil servant. Like a domestic servant, I have enjoyed the known salary schedule and high stability of government service. I have the “golden handcuffs” of the CSRS, which is another great stability item that was lost in 1984. These younger men and women that I am helping to train have higher job expectations with a desire to have a continuation of their education and have a portable retirement that I did not have. If management here or in Washington DC fails them, they will leave this government I love to serve. May NSPS have Fair Winds and Smooth Sailing.