Comment Number: OL-10505584
Received: 3/10/2005 6:29:26 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:

First, let me state that I have worked for the US Army since October 1974. I think that the new National Security Personnel System is not going to benefit those of us who are in lower graded positions, even though we have worked for the Federal government for many years. There are a lot of us who do not have college educations, even though we have been through the "school of experience." It seems to me that this new system will ensure that cronyism or the "good old boy system" is alive, well, and thriving. In the military, our directors (the ones that will do the selection for hiring) are either active military or retired military. They will most likely take care of their friends and compatriots. This happens now. Instead of selecting a highly qualified DAC (who has never served in the military-but has worked for the military for many years) the selection goes to an officer that is getting ready to retire from the military. As for the pay bands and raises, I have a sinking feeling that those in the high pay bands will get the lion's share of the money as bonuses (promotions??) and those of us in the lower pay bands will get the crumbs, no matter how hard we perform. In the current system, there is a big disparity in pay, with the admin people in the lowest grades. Even when you get a 2% bonus after a good performance rating, it doesn't begin to compare with what higher graded employees get. I have always maintained that the admin people work just as hard or sometimes harder, and get substantially less recognition. The class system is alive and well. With the new system, I don't look for it to change, but probably get worse. Thanks.