Comment Number: OL-10505677
Received: 3/11/2005 2:32:37 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:

One of the statements used to justify this change was that DoD Civilians "are being asked to assume new and different responsibilities, take more risk, and be agile, and accountable than ever before". This is really a true statement. I do not know of any workforce in America that is expected to stay late and work on their own time and receive no compensation for the support because the Military Command either doesn't have the funding to pay over time or the Command does not want to show that they are requiring more manpower to accomplish the mission by providing "Documented Comp Time" on the employees time sheet. DoD Employees are expected not just to keep their own work area clean, they are expected to clean, the halls, the bathrooms, behind cabinets and furniture. Special Cleaning days are held to impress visiting Generals or other guests, and the grounds cleaning and upkeep with in 100ft of their building to show that they are "Combat Proud". They are required to do this even though there are Contracts in place paying companies to perform these services established buy the A76 studies, which were supposed to save money, but only serve to frustrate Generals who see leaves falling from trees, or paper on the ground, when they can't immediately order Soldiers, Sailors or Airman to get that area cleaned up they have to wait or are supposed to wait for the contractors to clean up or have DoD civilians do it under the guise of "and other duties as assign" in their job description. Now we are going into a reorganized promotion/career system. Under the guise of "Homeland Security" (already used to weaken American civil rights) The National Security Personnel System is going to be used to take away existing compensation to the DoD Civilian Workforce. One of the best benefits of the existing plan is that the so called "Glass Ceiling" experienced in most of Corporate America was mostly removed. The "Good olde Boy" system for the most part doesn't exist. Oh yes we still have situations where Military Personnel with no college degrees and minimal experience are brought into the Civilian system at GS-11 and 12 levels and are promoted above Civilian personnel who have a Bachelor's and a Master's Degree plus 20 years experience in the Career Field. However, women, minorities, and others for the most part were advanced because "Everyone" with in their pay grade advanced on a scheduled basis. One can argue that this provided "deadwood". In some cases I would agree, however for the most part DoD civilians out work and are more dedicated to the Mission, the job and providing for our Soldiers than any worker in any industry in America. The stereotypical "Government Worker" does not exist here. This new National Security Personnel System, from my point of view is just an excuse to cut monies and pay from the workforce. I believe it will re-install the "Glass Ceiling" and make the "Good olde Boy" system the law on the land. The President failed to honor the government workforce this year when he minimized the pay increase to civilians and Maximized the increase to Active Duty personnel. Advancement and pay increases under the new system will be given on the basis of who's brown nosing who and I am sure that DoD may sometimes hand out NO promotions "Because the promotion money was needed to buy a Tank this year, or the General needed a slush fund for High priority meeting". One final issue, I am a retired Senior Chief Submariner, I volunteered and I have done my time in America's war zones. This system provides that the government can send me again and if I refuse to go then fire me. If this is what America wants then start a program like Germany. All citizens, male and female serve two years either in the military and or organizations supporting hospitals etc. Make it a College entrance requirement.