August 26 - September 9, 2005
The Army Incentive Awards Board is seeking nominations for the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service and the Secretary of the Army Award for Valor. The awards will be presented at the Secretary of the Army Annual Awards Ceremony scheduled in March 2006. Additional information about the awards is listed below.
Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service
This is the highest-level medal that may be awarded by the Secretary of the Army to Army career civilian employees who have established a pattern of excellence and achievement which normally have been recognized by previous awards up to and including the Meritorious Civilian Service Award. The medal is comparable to the military Distinguished Service Medal.
Eligibility:
- Accomplished assigned duties of major program significance to the Department of the Army (DA) in such a way as to have been clearly exceptional or preeminent among all persons who have performed similar duties.
- Developed and improved major methods and procedures, developed significant inventions, or was responsible for exceptional achievements that effected large-scale savings or were of major significance in advancing the missions of the DA, Department of Defense, and the Federal Government.
- Provided outstanding leadership to the administration of major Army programs resulting in highly successful mission accomplishment or in the major redirection of objectives or accomplishments to meet unique or emergency situations.
- Exhibited great courage and voluntary risk of life in performing an act resulting in direct benefit to the Government or its personnel.
Secretary of the Army Award for Valor
This medal may be awarded by the Secretary of the Army to career civilian employees who perform an act of heroism or sacrifice with voluntary risk of personal safety in the face of danger either on or off the job.
Eligibility:
- The nominee must have distinguished himself or herself by exhibiting great courage or sacrifice involving heroism or bravery.
- The performance of the heroic act must be evidenced by voluntary action above and beyond the call of duty. Awards will be made only to recognize single acts of heroism or bravery and will not be made in recognition of activities or conflict with an armed enemy.
- The nominee must have been in a situation involving personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life, on or off the job. Awards will not be made solely on the basis of having saved a life
Award Selection. The Army Incentive Awards Board will review nominations for these awards. Approved nominations will be held for presentation at the Annual Secretary of the Army Awards ceremony in March 2006.
Nomination. Award nominations must include the following:
- Endorsement by a Commander of a major Army command (MACOM).
- Biographical data (information on employment, education, and previous recognition).
- Justification (summary of achievements and benefits, including dates).
- Proposed citation and an official photograph.
Suspense Date. Submit nominations thru the MACOM to Executive Secretary, Army Incentive Awards Board, ATTN: DAPE-CP-ES, Room 2C453, 300 Army Pentagon, Washington, DC 20310-0300. The MACOMs will establish their own suspense date. The Department of the Army deadline is December 30, 2005.
For additional information, see Deputy Chief of Staff G-1 Memorandum in the Management- Employee Relations Messages and Memorandum section of the library.
The Army Benefits Center-Civilian reports that the majority of the 15,626 Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Open Season changes made last year will become effective on September 4, 2005 for those employees that meet the pay and duty status requirements. The open season was held during September 1-30, 2004 and allowed federal employees to enroll or increase the amount of life insurance coverage without a life event or physical examination.
The current figure for the number of positions converted from military to civilian that have been filled and committed as of September 1, 2005 is 5,212 which represents 74 percent of the FY 2005 target of 7,066 positions to be converted. Currently, there are 1,480 recruitment actions in various stages of the recruitment process.
On August 26, 2005, the Civilian Human Resources Agency (CHRA) Training Management Division staff briefed the Deputy Assistant G-1 for Civilian Personnel on the use of the Civilian Human Resources Training Application System (CHRTAS). CHRTAS is currently used to manage training applications for CHRA CP-10 training courses as well as HR Regional Courses. As a result of the briefing, the Deputy Asst G-1 (CP) decided that all upcoming National Security Personnel System training class applications will be processed thru CHRTAS.
A recent change in the logon process used to access the Defense Civilian Personnel Data System (DCPDS) (the Army's database of record for civilian employees) were documented by the CHRA TMD staff in the DCPDS Desk Guide. The guide is a step-by-step guide for managers, supervisors, resource management officers, administrative officers, personnel liaisons, training coordinators, and other DCPDS end users. Additionally, the computer training video covering the logon process for DCPDS and other human resources applications was updated. Both resources are located on our website: http://cpol.army.mil.
We continue to monitor civilian accountability in the disaster area. The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Mississippi Valley Division; USACE, Mobile District; USACE, Engineer Research and Development Center, Mississippi; United States Army Recruiting Command, and Military Entrance Placement Station (MEPS) in Jackson have accounted for all of their employees. USACE, Vicksburg District, has accounted for 99.9 percent of its employees. USACE, New Orleans District, has accounted for 92 percent of its employees. MEPS in New Orleans has accounted for 18 of its 21 employees.
There are five USACE General Officers leading 1,085 USACE employees providing hurricane relief in the affected areas. The Corps is rapidly reemploying retired civilian employees. The Reemployed Annuitant Cadre is expected to reach 200-400. Total hurricane-related personnel requirement is estimated at 3,000 and will be met by volunteers from within the USACE, other commands or Federal agencies, and temporary appointment of non-government employees. The Installation Management Agency and the United States Army Materiel Command are identifying volunteers in the following fields: logistics, construction, engineering and contracting to augment Corps assets.
Army employees impacted by Hurricane Katrina may direct their questions to the central help line operated by the Corps of Engineers: 1-800-522-5672 (toll free) or 1-601-631-5335. Civilian annuitants who require information may contact OPM at 1-888-767-6738. Employees who need information on their FEGLI Program may call 1-800-633-4542. Employees who need information on their Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) should contact their individual health care provider. (We are currently compiling a list of the various providers to be placed on our website). Civilian employees who need a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) loan as a result of the Hurricane may call 1-877-978-3778 for assistance.
AG-1 (CP) is working closely with OSD (P&R) on all issues in support of Hurricane Katrina. Civilian employees who were ordered to evacuate their official duty station in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, due to Hurricane Katrina, by their commander are now authorized to select an alternate safe haven within the United States. Hurricane-related information/guidance for managers and employees was posted on CPOL on September 2 and on Army Knowledge Online on September 6. The website contains information on CONUS Evacuation allowances, TDY, employee insurance and health programs, long term care insurance, Office of Workers' Compensation Program, leave donations, pay, how to document time and attendance, TSP loan information, and retiree checks.
To assist with the recovery effort, the Office of Personnel Management has provided authority to hire additional employees on a temporary basis for up to one year into positions affected by or needed to deal with the devastation.
This section of the bulletin is dedicated to providing information regarding retirements, promotions, deaths, etc. of those in our civilian personnel community. If you have information of this nature you would like included, please contact the editor at the address below.