| Comment Number: | OL-10512199 |
| Received: | 3/16/2005 11:34:31 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:
This is a flawed system for DoD personnel management. No matter how often the leadership team at DoD tries to believe they are a component of a Fortune 500 company...the reality of national defense is far, far different. Government in general, and DoD in particular is not driven by the profit margin. DoD doesn't have qualifying metrics to measure employee contribution, and they do not produce a measurable, quantifiable product. It seems NSPS is leaving the question of performance, retention, promotion and pay increases entirely in the hands of supervisors and/or reviewing officials who don't effectively manage the decades old General Schedule/Merit System currently in place. In a perfect world it would work great, but in reality this system will simply lift the sub-surface good Ole' Boy way of business which is clearly evident in the Merit System to the forefront as it was in the Federal government before the Merit System was enacted. The NSPS proposal is NOT specific about checks and balances when it comes to this area. Some of the regulations are very, very subjective in nature which means that if one does not agree with supervisors, one can and most probably will be graded lower on performance appraisals, there by receiving a smaller or no merit increase or even being fired. Is this really what DoD's leadership envisions to improve the department's flexibility and responsiveness in the global war on terror. I mean, it is absolutely galling that our young men and women are fighting and dying in Iraq, Afghanistan and other fronts around the world to secure democracy while the very men and women who service,supply, procure, and provision America's warfighters are losing our hardwon proctections, rights and benefits under the law. I firmly believe NSPS will be a full blown disaster for DoD. We as employees most assuredly will not have a voice to air our grievances under this new system. However, thank God we will all still have that most wonderful of all options.....to vote with our feet. Thank you for opening my eyes so that I am now HIGHLY motivated to complete my doctorate degree and leave Federal service for the private sector. Adios!