Good afternoon, fellow NOAA Corps officers,
Today's Cyberflash may appear light however please look for two rather large announcements that each deserve their own respective dedicated message. The first one will be regarding our new Active Duty Service Obligations (ASDO) which are set to go 'live' on June 24th. I won't go into details of how they will work here but know that a significant amount of work has gone into getting the legislation implemented within DOC, NOAA, and the NOAA Corps. These new service obligations now bring us in closer alignment with the other Services and will work as force stabilizers; aiding in our staffing challenges and providing much needed stability for our workforce planners. It has been quite some time since new regulations have been written for our service and it is exciting to see such progress for the NOAA Corps!
The second announcement will be the notification of officers who have been recommended for promotion to the next higher grade. I don't want to steal my own thunder so please standby (don't worry, all officers have already been notified prior to this and the forthcoming official announcement). I bring this up, though, to illustrate another large accomplishment for OMAO. A lot of hard work goes into setting up and successfully executing these Officer Personnel Boards (OPBs), and the CPC staff is to be commended on ensuring these boards run smoothly, efficiently, and effectively. Additionally, I am always heartened by the level of professionalism and dedication shown by the officers chosen to serve on these OPBs; Bravo Zulu!
OPBs are the way in which the NOAA Corps administers itself and are a testament to the trust and respect that the Agency and the Nation have in us. Prior to beginning any deliberations in an OPB, officers are required to take the oath:
I solemnly swear that I will, without prejudice or partiality, having in view both the records of the officers and the efficiency of the NOAA Commissioned Corps, perform the duties imposed upon me.
This oath is not to be taken lightly. Board members are tasked with rising above their own innate biases or predilections. "Sea stories" or personal opinions have no place in an OPB - it is the written record that is reviewed and what serves as the basis for recommendations of an OPB. The Director always provides guiding principles and instructions via a precept letter to the OPB; however, the Chair of the board has discretion over how an OPB is run. The passing of the NCAA in 2020 now allows for officers above the rank of those being reviewed to serve on an OPB. This, combined with the extraordinary success of virtual boards, has resulted in a significant increase in the diversity of OPB composition, including assignment histories, gender, and geographic locations, to name a few. With the wide pool of potential officers available to serve on an OPB, it is likely that you, or an officer close to you, will be serving on an OPB soon. And that can only be a good thing as, while the deliberations are administratively sensitive, the process should be well known by all. The OPB is the defendable and repeatable process that keeps the NOAA Corps running smoothly. When selected to serve on an OPB, bear in mind the responsibilities being given to you by the Director and recall our core values: Honor, Respect, and Commitment.
Stay healthy,
CAPT Douglas MacIntyre, NOAA
Director, Commissioned Personnel Center
| 26 Jul 2022 | BOTC 140 begins |
| 03 Aug 2022 | Officer Assignment Board |
| LCDR Rebecca Shaw | 14 Jul 2022 |
| LT Alyssa Thompson | 31 Aug 2022 |
| CDR Nicole Manning | 01 Oct 2022 |
| LCDR Francisco Fuenmayor | 01 Oct 2022 |
| LT Ricardo Rodriguez Perez | 01 Oct 2022 |
| LTJG Hillary Fort | 31 Oct 2022 |
Since BOTC 136, CPC has been supporting the NJAC-proposed BOTC Junior Officer Sponsor program. The goal of this program is to provide BOTC candidates access to another resource similar to the BOTC Flag sponsor, but at a more approachable level. The program has been a success thus far, and we are continuing to carry it forward for future BOTC classes.
CPC is soliciting applications for the next BOTC Junior Officer Sponsor. The selectee will serve as BOTC JO Sponsor for the next 2 BOTC classes. Please see the link below for a description of the program, and instructions for how to apply.
BOTC Junior Officer Sponsor Program Information.
Junior Officers between the grades of O-1 to O-3 may apply. Applicants must have graduated from the current USCG and NOAA Corps Joint Service Officer Training program. CPC will fund formal mentorship or coaching training for the selected Junior Officer.
Submit your application package to LT Diane Perry at diane.m.perry@noaa.gov by COB 24 June 2022. Applicants will be notified of their selection status via e-mail on or around 08 July 2022. Supervisors are encouraged to support Junior Officer participation in this program.
Please contact CDR Ryan Wattam at chief.careermgmt.cpc@noaa.gov for questions.
As a reminder, whenever an officer changes their duty station (PCS) they should be informing Tricare. This is so Tricare can approve coverage for you in a new geographic area, and 'map' you to the most appropriate medical facility. Sometimes a PCS means an officer will be mapped to a Military Treatment Facility (MTF), and sometimes a PCS means an officer will be on a special Tricare plan called "Tricare Remote." The Tricare remote plan means you can see private, civilian providers for care and Tricare will pay for that so long as you utilize in-network providers.
If you are mapped to an MTF, or if you are in a remote location using civilian care, in both of these cases you need to establish a Primary Care Manager (PCM). A PCM is the person who manages your referrals and ensures you are routed to the right person, and the right service. It is VERY important to have referrals in place from your PCM. If you do not have them originate from the right person (your established PCM on file with DEERS), you may be burdened with the cost of a specialty visit.There are a couple of ways to inform Tricare of your PCS, and change your enrollment status:
Online:
Your enrollment transfer will be effective on the date the request is received.
By Phone:
Tricare can be tricky to navigate, but there are multiple points of contact available to you on the above websites. If you have any questions specific to your care as it relates to your readiness, illness, or injury, please reach out to medical affairs at noaacorps.medical@noaa.gov.
NESDIS/NCEI is looking for a dynamic motivated officer to take on the inaugural duties of the newly designed billet, “NCEI Climate Services Liaison Officer.” The officer will be at the forefront of climate science, engaged with the premier science and services center in NOAA for climate science applications, data management, assessment, and stakeholder engagement. This billet provides an exciting opportunity for an officer to work at the leading edge of Climate Services by helping to provide data, tools, and information that helps organizations, decision makers, and the general public address and mitigate the effects of climate variability and change. Located in the recognized climate hub of Asheville, NC, the position is ideal for establishing a career trajectory that emphasizes environmental science engagement.
Additionally, this officer will have the opportunity to gain experience with NOAA's COOP plan and operations (as Asheville is NOAA's devolution site and NCEI takes point in this effort during drills and emergencies), as well as gain exposure to and engage with the USAF 4th Weather Squadron co-located in the Veach-Baley Federal Complex in Asheville.
This assignment is currently vacant. Officers interested in this assignment should review the billet description and update their assignment preferences. Additionally, interested officers can contact Jeff Privette, Deputy Division Chief, NCEI/CSSD at Jeff.privette@noaa.gov or 828-271-4091, or the NESDIS Liaison Officer, Captain Todd A. Bridgeman, todd.a.bridgeman@noaa.gov or 202-819-2501.