Comment Number: OL-10511972
Received: 3/16/2005 7:03:37 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'm a DOD Civilian with the Air Force, at base level. I believe this program was flawed from the start. It is nothing more than legalizing theh "good ole boy" scheme. I have no faith that Management will be able to use the "pay for performance" plan. All of my Supervisors have been Military members whom most don't believe that Civilians are equals. In 5 years, I have only once received a mid-year review (as required), even though I have always asked for them. All the information I've seen come out from the DOD puts the pay for performance and pay banding in a great light. But, not a single person that I've talked to believes in either system (nor do they want NSPS). Every person I've talked to that has been in a pay band system has horror stories. I believe the DOD will loss some of their brightest people if this system actually in put in place. It amazed me that the DOD didn't bring OPM into the process until the system was well under way, and hasn't shared much information except for propaganda. The DOD is ready to start the program with different "spirals", but they haven't even been through the legal processes (such as this). Pay Banding- there is nothing wrong with a system that pays people for the dedication to stay within the Federal system. How is pay banding supposed to compare to the Military (for example, as a GS-11, I should be equal to a Captain... per DODI 1001). But again, in my experience with the AF, Civilians are NOT treated as equal partners. Pay for Performance- this is the part that worries people most. And the words that ALWAYS come up are: "good ole boy". The is currently performance awards, time off awards, etc that high performers can receive. I have no faith in this what so ever. No automatic Cost of Living increases- this makes me wonder what the DOD is thinking, other than to save money at the expense of the Civilians. In the most recent NSPS Newsletter from the Air Force (Volume 2, Number 3), it states "NSPS is designed to create a Total Force work environment by helping DOD Civilians gain an equal footing with their Military counterparts in accomplishing the DOD mission". And this would be by stripping the Civilians off their pay??? Equal??? The Military members (and most of the country) has a personnel system that is, in part, based on longevity. The Military also gets annual cost of living increase, not so in NSPS. The Military has a multi-tiered system, not so in NSPS. NSPS is flawed and should be scrapped. This is a complete waste of time, money, and effort. Thank you for your time. Kevin M Stowell