| Comment Number: | OL-10510325 |
| Received: | 3/16/2005 8:54:46 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:
Staffing and Employment- Subpart E. There is no doubt that the current system needs changes. However, when you make changes, it should correct at least the major deficiencies within the current system. It is no secret that over 80 -90% of promotions happening in the current civil servicesystem is based on “who do you know” and NOT “what you know”. You can’t bring efficiency in the public sector in the current model. You can’t simply copy a private sector business model to the public sector hoping that it will work. The model that is working in the military has to be looked at it before we make changes to the current system. We have a similar model in the SES selection process. Department wide Review Board should be established at least for GS-14 and GS-15 level selections and Agency wide Review Board should be established for GS-12s and 13s. This is the only way to eliminate favoritism and bring in the best and talented people to the higher level. Also need to emphasize the importance of education and continuous learning. How many commissioned officers are there without degrees? Also when commissioned officers are looked at for further promotion; performance, continuous learning and advanced education are also taken into consideration. What about in the civilian sector? Please look at that model. How many SESs and GS-15s are there without advanced degrees or continuous learning? How do you correct that in the NSPS or is going to be a like a failed DLAMP. We need the competition more competitive. We need to eliminate the 52 weeks specialized training or needs to be in the particular series for 52 weeks. People who work in smaller agencies or in a series that have less promotion potential should be able to compete for positions with skills that they can’t get from the current jobs, but with advanced education and training. There are so many people in smaller agencies who are highly educated and good performers, but failing to make at the top in the current civilian system because of “Who do you know” requirements. We can’t create a perfect system. But we should be able to correct at least basic issues with the current system. When we make changes, we loose some but we gain more.