Message from the Director

Greetings, NOAA Corps,

We are rapidly closing in on the Chapter 16 (Physical Fitness and Body Composition) compliance requirements due date (3/1/2025). We’ve heard concerns both directly and indirectly on how the program works, and how it might impact individual officers. In particular, some officers suspect it will be used for worst-case scenarios, as many have heard stories from other services about how physical standards are used to usher members out the door. I’m writing today to assure you that (1) these kinds of applications are not at all the intent of this program, (2) compliance truly is different from meeting standards, and (3) our program development and implementation is designed to both help us better ourselves and ensure that we are mission-ready in an open and achievable way.

For me, I can’t remember the last time I actually met the BMI standards (maybe when I was a freshman in college), and consistent with my family history plus an upbringing with dessert served at just about every meal, I’ve always struggled with a sweet tooth and battled with unwanted body composition. To say the least, I was nervous about how things might turn out. I took a deep breath and reached out to our Dietitian/Nutritionist.

“Okay, Rachel, what do I do?” I said. She asked me, “What is your goal?” I laughed nervously, saying, “To fit into my pants.” She said,”How would you feel about a goal to exercise 180 minutes a week and try consuming more protein?” “That’s it?” I said. “Yep!” she replied, and feeling a bit better, I pulled together a Physical Fitness Plan (PFP) with the goal of exercising 180 minutes/week, neither intimidating nor unachievable, and uploaded it to my OPF after getting my supervisor’s approval. I also learned from Rachel how to incorporate more protein into my daily diet and came up with a high-level eating plan. I knew my height and weight and entered them into my OPF; I am indeed out of BMI standards [sad face emoji]. “Don’t worry!” said Rachel. “Let’s get your BCA and see what that says.” “I really don’t have time to find a BIA machine today, can I do something else?” I asked. “Of course, do you have a tape measure?” “Yes, I do!” Rachel then walked me through the process of taking measurements with my $2 tape measure, and I used those with the table at the end of Chapter 16 to get a BCA number. I entered it into my OPF, and just like that, I was compliant and have a plan to better myself. [Woo!]

Then I asked, “What if I wasn’t within BCA standards?” Rachel told me that I would email her, per an automated message in OPFOnline, and she would send me a form with lots of good health/diet/etc. questions, and then she and I would meet and come up with a Body Composition Plan (BCP) together. As long as I follow the BCP, and/or if I come within the BCA requirements anytime after the BCP is put in place, I would also be compliant. “Well, that’s not too bad at all, thank you!”

On that note, make sure you get your information entered into your OPF by the approaching deadline if you haven’t already, and all will be well. If you need to, take a deep breath first - you’ve got this!

All the Best,

Captain Chris van Westendorp, NOAA
Director, Commissioned Personnel Center

BOTC 145: Officer Candidate Update

BOTC 145 and REFTRA 98 at USMRC. PC: LCDR Duffy, NOAA

BOTC 145 after completing USS Buttercup Training. PC: MM1 Ghika, USN

BOTC 145 recently completed Basic Seamanship, Compass and ATONS, and Navigation 1 courses and have learned the basics of damage control through practical exercises at USS BUTTERCUP at Naval Station Newport, RI. BOTC 145 also had the opportunity to attend a social event at USMRC with REFTRA and were able to meet some of their future OPS, XOs, and COs. BOTC 145 is busy studying for ROTR as they eagerly wait for the results of Billet Night on Thursday, February 27th.

Call for Applications - 2025/2026 ACO Scholarship

The National ACO Scholarship committee is issuing its annual call for high school seniors and college undergraduates to apply for scholarship awards for the 2025/2026 academic year. The application form is available here, with instructions here. These links will also be available on the “News” page of the DC ACO website. Applications are due no later than 5 pm EDT on April 15, 2025.

For questions about or issues with the application form, or for more information, please contact the Executive Committee of National ACO Scholarships at NationalACOScholarships@gmail.com.

Note: Active duty NOAA Corps officers who choose to contact an advocacy organization, do so in their personal capacity, and although they may use their rank/affiliation in such communications, they must clarify that they are speaking in their personal capacity. This information is provided for awareness and does not endorse any particular advocacy organization or convey a position on any particular legislative effort.

Call for Nominations: National ACO Annual Junior Officer of the Year, Science, and Engineering awards

The National Association of Commissioned Officers (ACO) administers the annual Junior Officer of the Year (ACOJ), Science (ACOS), and Engineering (ACOE) awards. Through these awards, the ACO recognizes the wide range of accomplishments and contributions of NOAA's uniformed personnel, and encourages all commands to consider nominating officers for these honors.

The National ACO will review all calendar year 2024 nominations and select the awardees. The ACOJ award winner's name will be submitted to the Reserve Officers Association as the ACO selection, and the individual will be honored at this year's NOAA Corps Dining Out. Nominations for all ACO awards are due by May 1, 2025.

• Who is Eligible?
  • Officers in the ranks of Ensign through Lieutenant (O-1 to O-3) are eligible for nomination for the ACOJ award.
  • Any officer may be nominated for ACOS and ACOE awards.
• Who can nominate an officer?
  • For ACOJ, any supervisor (not limited to immediate supervisor) under whom the nominee is serving, or any NOAA Corps officer senior in rank to the nominee.
  • For ACOS and ACOE, any commissioned officer, or any supervisor under whom the officer is serving.
  • More than one nomination may be made by each supervisor or senior officer.
• How do I nominate someone?
  • Each nomination must be at least two pages.
  • First page: Cover memo addressed to the National ACO containing the nominees:
    • Officer's name;
    • Officer's grade;
    • Officer's duty title; and
    • Job description of the nominated officer.
  • The second and any following page(s) shall be the personal comments of the nominating supervisor or officer, which reflect the basis for the nomination.
  • Nominations must be submitted to NOAACorpsDCACO@gmail.com, by COB Thursday, 1 May 2025.
    • In the nomination email please ensure supporting files are attached in .PDF format.
    • Email Subject line should be "Junior Officer of the Year Nomination," "Science Award," or "Engineering Award," as appropriate.

Junior officers with civilian supervisors are encouraged to forward them this information. For more information on the awards, please refer to the NOAA Corps Directives: Chapter 12, Part 7 - Awards, 12704 - Unit Awards and Non-Military Decorations.

Payroll Reminder: Leave Forms (NF 56-12)

When submitting a Request and Authorization for Leave form (NF 56-12) to Payroll thru an HR Action Request ticket, all officers are reminded to ensure EACH block (1 thru 15.c and 16, if you have Remarks) in the form is completed. The Leave Address block (5.) should be complete including the Zip Code and Phone Number. Signatures in blocks 12-15 should be readable with Name/Title/Signature of the Approving Official/Departure Authority as applicable, or Digitally signed. If any blocks are not completed and legible, an officer’s leave form will be REJECTED and returned for proper submission.

Direct Access Update from NOAA Corps Payroll

Due to a detected breach in some members’ information in Direct Access (DA), the system was placed in and has now been restored from Limited Access Mode, and is fully open and accessible to all users. Officers who have not already been contacted by CPC and/or the USCG Pay and Personnel Center (PPC) directly were not identified as being impacted by the breach. Please review ALCOAST 074/25; as a security precaution the passwords for all users with elevated roles, which is pretty much everyone at PPC, have been reset and those individuals will need to use the Forgot Password function on their next entry into DA. A number of users may be resetting their passwords, so the reset email response time may be a little bit longer, and we ask for your patience. As always, please check your Leave and Earnings Statements regularly, and notify NOAA Corps Payroll via HR Action Request ticket if you identify any pay problems or have any other related questions.

Blended Retirement System (BRS) Continuation Pay email notification from USCG PPC

Many officers have received emails recently from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Pay and Personnel Center (PPC) with the subject “BRS Initial Email - Over 8 less than 12,” notifying them of their eligibility to receive Continuation (CP) between 8 years and 12 years of service with a 6x multiplier. The guidance in the USCG PPC email was for USCG service members only, and not applicable to NOAA Corps. CPC is working with the USCG PPC team to ensure the correct multiplier of 2.5x and eligibility timing of 12 years of service are restored for NOAA Corps officers.

CP Highlights:

• A major benefit of the BRS, CP is designed to encourage retention.
• CP rates, timing, and service commitment are set annually in the Officer Corps Management Plan.
• Continuation Pay is taxable as ordinary income.
• Payment can be received as a lump sum, or in installments over 2, 3, or 4 years.
• A Continuation Pay election form MUST be filed with USCG PPC prior to reaching 12 years of service. Failure to submit this form on time will result in forfeiture of this benefit.

NOAA Corps officers enrolled in the BRS who receive CP upon completion of 12 years of service do so in exchange for an additional 4 year service obligation. If an officer elects to receive CP, but fails to complete their service obligation, the U.S. Government will seek prorated reimbursement for the unfulfilled commitment.

As a reminder, it is very important for all officers to verify their email in Direct Access to ensure proper notification receipt. Approximately 6 months in advance of an officer’s 12-year mark, USCG PPC, in close coordination with CPC, will contact the officer via their DA email address advising them of their options and inform them of the process to either elect or decline CP. The form used for CP is CG-7430A, and USCG PPC will send it to the officer pre-filled. The officer must verify the form information is accurate, and their Commanding Officer must sign as a witness. For NOAA Corps officers with a civilian chain of command, the first NOAA Corps Officer up the chain shall serve as witness. For officers with no NOAA Corps officer in their direct chain of command, the Line Office Liaison Officer will serve as witness. Again, CP election (including completion of the election form including signatures and submission to the notification email address) must be made before the officer reaches 12 years of service, so please engage with the NOAA Corps Payroll staff via HRMS Action Request ticket (Payroll → Continuation Pay) if you are approaching 12 years of service and have not been contacted by USCG PPC or have any other BRS CP questions.

More information is available on the USCG Continuation Pay fact sheet.

From the Assignments Desk: Billet#: 7212 - Navigation Manager, Alaska

• Officer Grade: Post OPS tour
• Duty Station: Anchorage, Alaska
• Rotation Date: Feb 2026 or later

We are seeking an Officer to fill the role of Alaska Navigation Manager, representing the Office of Coast Survey in a state with more coastline than the rest of the US combined. This billet offers a unique opportunity to work across multiple Coast Survey and NOAA program areas, gaining a comprehensive understanding of regional navigation products and services, and enhancing NOAA-wide collaboration with agencies such as the USCG, USACE, DoD, and the state. The Officer will also play a key role in advancing NOAA’s charting efforts and fostering relationships with maritime and Tribal communities in Alaska. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential for success, as this position involves frequent outreach, problem resolution, and supporting Coast Survey projects while representing stakeholder interests. The candidate will need to work mostly autonomously, managing tasks with minimal supervision while staying connected with teams and stakeholders outside of Anchorage or Alaska. The position involves frequent travel to remote and coastal Alaska. Previous experience in Alaska or Office of Coast Survey is preferred, but not required.

Please reach out to the incumbent officer, LCDR Caroline Wilkinson (alaska.navmanager@noaa.gov), or the Coast Survey Line Office Liaison Technical Assistant, CDR Bart Buesseler (bart.o.buesseler@noaa.gov), if you would like to learn more about this exciting opportunity.