| Comment Number: | OL-10505587 |
| Received: | 3/10/2005 6:32:55 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:
I respectfully request that those lawmakers reviewing the proposed NSPS regulations for final issue, give due consideration to the following points and revise these regulations accordingly to reflect these important facts. The core premise of Civil Service is objectively held in its very name: Civilians (who) Serve. Those serving in the interest of their country and their government are directly charged with the Mission to serve their country’s directed tasks and goals. Civilian Service has a group dynamic built upon the premise of cohesion intended to serve a common good: The well-being and health of our Republic, The United States of America. Civil Servants are not in their positions to make a profit for a company. Their “value added” comes from this very special group dynamic that strives to achieve the goals of our nation. We serve in a multitude of capacities, yet the goal is the same: to maintain the common good of the citizens and uphold the laws of our country. While change can be beneficial in bringing about enhancements to existing paradigms, the core paradigm of a common goal orientation within the Civilian Service is unique in its ability to meet the needs of our country, and should be sacrosanct. It may be tempting on its face to model an “improved” Civil Service along lines of private enterprise. However, consider the change in-group dynamic when, instead of a sense of commonality and shared goals, individuals are now in direct competition with their co-workers for salary and recognition. Certainly the incentive of financial reward works well to fuel competition among employees in the private sector. However, anyone who’s been in the private sector knows quite well how truly ruthless and self-serving this competition can be. Left unrevised, the proposed regulations in NSPS will degrade the fabric of Civilian Service. Instead of “backing-up” a co-worker, answering his or her phone, helping resolve day-to-day problems, pooling resources for quick resolution to a single problem, employees will be forced into a role of completion with those around them. This is not conducive to meeting a common goal. This changed group dynamic inherent in the implementation of NSPS is in direct conflict with the premise of “Civilians (who) Serve their Country.” Having fully read the proposed rules of the NSPS, it is readily apparent that the net effect of many of these changes will be to foster a working environment which puts individuals in a position of competition with each other and breaks down the cohesive structure which puts ships to sea on time, planes in the air to monitor and defend our air-space and boots-on-the-ground to carry out our mission. The productivity of our Civil Service is the envy of many other countries. Preserving the very unique and important charter of the Civilian Service is key to its continued success. I respectfully implore those who pass the final draft of these regulations into law carefully consider these points and amend these regulations accordingly.