| Comment Number: | OL-10511929 |
| Received: | 3/16/2005 6:32:27 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:
While I have not read through the entire document, I am concerned about the potential political characteristics and career impacts this new restructuring will cause. First, I feel the DoD did not do a good job in explaining to its employees just what they intend on changing. We do all kinds of surveys, training, Commander’s Calls, but had no meetings for this—to the very people who need an explanation on what exactly will change. Having a lengthy document in the Federal Register does not make it easier to sell to the average GS worker. Secondly, a performance awarding system seems great on paper, however, having 21 years experience in the military as an officer, I have seen many brilliant officer careers thwarted by the “performance awarding” PRF rating system in which (basically) a commander has to make a judgment on his subordinates and rate them in an extremely limited number of “definitely promote(s)”, less limited number of “promote(s)”, or “not promote” system. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn’t. Finally, many of us in the Civil Service, Department of Defense, have made life decisions based on the current structure of the GS system I have turned down numerous non-government jobs many years ago because, after weighing pros and cons, the job in the GS system was better for my family. A sudden change to that projection could be detrimental not only to me, but my family. I am a little old to be starting over. Don’t get me wrong, I am not against a change to the system. As far as I can tell, there are many good aspects—especially being able to quickly hire able people, but I am inclined to think a performance awarding system will become too political and hurt morale in the DoD’s civil service. Perhaps DoD should consider holding off on anything until they show every DoD GS employee just what it is they want to do. Who knows, it may get a whole lot of support!