Message from the Director

Happy Friday, NOAA Corps,

Spring is in full effect with seasonal holidays (and allergies) around us. You may very well know that April is one of the busiest times of year for the CPC team, and that has never been truer than this year. As about one third of the NOAA Corps is highly aware, CPC is busy working with officers and ensuring that personnel files are up-to-date before facilitating the annual NOAA Corps promotion Officer Personnel Boards (OPBs). Additionally, we held successful OPBs earlier this month in support of selecting the upcoming Fall 2025 Basic Officer Training Class (BOTC), as well as graduated 21 BOTC 145 ensigns who are now in their post-BOTC training pipeline.

While all of these activities within the span of a few weeks require a great deal of effort from the entire staff, I am pleased to report CPC’s successful onboarding of BOTC 146 earlier this week as well! Truly a team effort, every corner of CPC has contributed to this and indeed every accession of new officer candidates (OCs). But as emphatically suggested to me by the BOTC 146 OCs this past Wednesday, I wanted to highlight the CPC team members whom they have been closest to over the past year - our recruiters.

Our elite and mighty recruiting team consisting of LCDR Reynaga and LT Walker provide or facilitate nearly 100% of the service’s contact with thousands of prospective NOAA Corps applicants: attending recruiting events, answering emails, taking phone calls, and holding video meetings; ultimately thousands of interactions every year. They provide critical guidance to aspiring NOAA Corps officers in the application process, interview preparation, and arranging logistic arrival and pre-training details. When “on-the-ground” for the OCs’ pre-indoctrination week, they shuttle the OCs to and from airports, training center rooms, and uniform & ID appointments; while also arranging lodging, ordering & delivering meals, processing initial service documentation, and providing critical pre-BOTC training.

I, along with BOTC 146 OCs and the rest of the CPC staff, salute our NOAA Corps Recruiting Branch, and thank them for their ongoing outstanding work and jobs very well done. Please join me in gratitude for their direct role in bringing on the next generation of NOAA Corps officers - Bravo Zulu, Andy and Collin!

Best Regards,

Captain Chris van Westendorp, NOAA
Director, Commissioned Personnel Center

P.S. If you are interested in joining our hardworking CPC team while having a direct impact on NOAA Corps growth in a highly exciting and fulfilling assignment, please contact chief.noaacorps.recruiting@noaa.gov and/or assignmentbranch.cpc@noaa.gov for more information!

P.P.S. Last reminder - there’s only a couple of more weeks left to submit your ACO Awards nominations (due NLT Thursday, 5/1/2025)!

BOTC 146 Reporting for Duty

On Thursday, 16 April, BOTC 146 took the oath of office near the NOAA Corps Officer Training Center and United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT.

Over 50 friends and family virtually attended the ceremony for the 21 new officers. The new officers officially start BOTC on Monday, 21 April, and are expected to graduate in July. Thank you to all who had a hand in facilitating BOTC 146!

Daniel Acevedo	Aguada, Puerto Rico
Jacob Arnold	College Station, TX
Alexander Banh	Lynnwood, WA
Laura Beckett	Wilmington, NC
Ngedikes Benedict	Melekeok, Palau
Alaina Dawson	Columbus, OH
Matthew Dion	Plant City, FL
Noah Faiq	Stoneham, MA
Paige Fary	New Orleans, LA
Kim Giraldo	Angeles City, Philippines
Connor Harrell	Virginia Beach, VA
Nattie Marshall	Port Angeles, WA
Andrew Moretina	Kansas City, MO
Joseph Orlando	Marlton NJ
Kassidy Pate	Lorton, VA
Kendra Piros	Riverside, RI
Eli Schoenike	Fort Atkinson, WI
Larissa Sperk	Kent, Ohio
Trey Summers	San Diego, CA

BOTC 146 Brown Bag

NCOTC is once again looking for volunteers from all ranks and career paths to hold 45-minute professional development sessions with the upcoming BOTC class. Topics covered will primarily focus on the various career paths available in the NOAA Corps. NCOTC staff would like to expand the students’ exposure to other NOAA Corps officers so they can meet and learn from as many people in the fleet as possible.

Please use this Google form to view the list of topics and sign up for a session.
https://forms.gle/NB8b623g6kmK6vnG6

While not guaranteed, CPC may have funding to support travel for those interested in an in-person visit and presentation. Due to the dynamic nature of the BOTC program, these dates are the best estimate we have in advance for when the students will be available, but they may be subject to change. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility.

Please email ops.ncotc@noaa.gov or deputychief.ncotc@noaa.gov with any questions.

BOTC 145 Update

145 practicing navigating into ports and responding to emergency situations in thesimulators. PC: OC Peck

BOTC 145 is underway at USMRC, training in preparation for their upcoming careers in the fleet. They spent the first week learning RADAR, getting comfortable taking fixes and using Parallel Indexing (PI) lines and Variable Range Markers (VRM) to navigate in and out of multiple ports. They’re currently learning about Automatic Radar Plotting Aids (ARPA) systems, while slowly adding in more layers of navigational technology. 145 has also had a few days of simulator time practicing in the different bridge watchstanding roles and getting a feel for driving a NOAA Ship.

Congratulations to the following new Ensigns for their performance during BOTC 145:

• Noel Anderson : NOAA Health and Physical Readiness Award
• Camille Cube : USAA Leadership Award
• Sabrina Dahl : NOAA Distinguished Honor Graduate Award
• Gabriel Kuntz : NOAA Academic Award
• Jesus Rodriguez : NOAA Professional Mariner Award

PCS Travel Voucher Submission Update

CPC's PCS Travel Voucher submission process has been updated. In response to recent changes in NOAA Finance Office processes, PCS Vouchers and all attachments must now be uploaded as ONE pdf document, and multiple separate attachments will no longer be accepted. PCS Voucher submissions must include the following documents, preferably in this order:

• Travel Voucher (DD Form 1351-2)
• Receipts
• Endorsed PCS Orders

For additional information please see Step 4: Submission and Processing of Travel Voucher on the CPC PCS Intranet webpage.

Discounted Life Insurance Premiums for Service Members, Spouses, and Veterans

Life insurance is an important service member benefit, offering income replacement, covering end-of-life costs, and providing financial flexibility for families. Starting July 1, 2025, Service members, their spouses, and Veterans covered under VA life insurance programs will see lower monthly premiums, reinforcing VA’s commitment to making life insurance more affordable.

Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI)

SGLI provides low-cost group term life insurance coverage, up to $500,000, in increments of $50,000, to eligible Service members. The new premium rate is decreasing from $0.06 to $0.05 per every $1,000, making the monthly premium for maximum $500,000 coverage $25 plus $1 for SGLI Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI).

• Who is eligible? All active duty, National Guard, and reserve Service members are automatically enrolled in SGLI.
• Do you need to take action? No. Premiums are deducted from Service members’ pay, and the new discount will automatically apply.

Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (FSGLI)

FSGLI insures dependent children at no cost and offers optional spousal coverage for spouses up to $100,000, not to exceed the amount of the Service member’s SGLI coverage.

• Premium rate discounts will vary by age, ranging from 11% to 22%, with an average discount of approximately 13%.
• No action is required--new rates take effect automatically.
• Service members can review their SGLI and FSGLI elections through the SGLI Online Enrollment System (SOES) on milConnect.

Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI)

VGLI allows Veterans to continue their life insurance coverage after separating from military service, ensuring long-term financial protection. Starting July 1, 2025, monthly premiums for VGLI will be reduced for all ages.

• What’s changing? The VA Secretary has approved a discount on VGLI premiums, ranging from 2% to 17%, with an average reduction of 11%.
• Who’s eligible? All Veterans insured under VGLI.
• How will you be notified? The Office of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (OSGLI) will notify insured Veterans through direct mail, email, online accounts, and premium bills.
• Do you need to take action? No action is required. However, depending on your payment method, you may need to adjust your payment amount.
• What’s changing? Premiums for all ages will be discounted.
• How does this help? Lower premiums allow Veterans to retain coverage longer and provide financial security for their families.

Why life insurance matters Life insurance provides essential financial protection covering:

• Funeral costs
• Mortgage payments
• Education expenses
• Lost income

As life circumstances change, it’s important to review your coverage regularly and ensure your beneficiary information is up to date.

For more details on the new premium rates:

• Active duty, national guard, reserve members and covered spouses visit:
  https://www.benefits.va.gov/INSURANCE/spring2025discount.asp.
• Veterans please visit:
  https://www.benefits.va.gov/INSURANCE/vglispring2025discount.asp.

By ensuring both Service members and Veterans receive lower-cost life insurance, VA is reinforcing its commitment to long-term financial security for those who serve and their families. More information can be found online at www.va.gov/life-insurance/

2024 DC ACO Awards Nominations (Last Call!)

Just a reminder that nominations for the ACO awards are due by May 1, 2025. Eligible awards cover the 2024 calendar year and are for Junior Officer of the Year (ACOJ), Science (ACOS), and Engineering (ACOE) awards. 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 Decoration, or refer to the initial Cyberflash announcement from 2/21/2025.

Nominations must be submitted to NOAACorpsDCACO@gmail.com. In the email please ensure the subject line has "Junior Officer of the Year Nomination," "Science Award," or "Engineering Award," as appropriate. The supporting file attachment needs to be signed and in .PDF format.

Call for Snow Survey Sensor Operators!

The NOAA National Water Center is inviting junior officers to the Soil Moisture and Snow Survey Program. As a sensor operator on the King Air N67RF, you'll handle and maintain remote sensing equipment, playing a key role in environmental monitoring and analysis. No aviation experience is required! There is one position still available to support the program from April 25th to May 10th (some flexibility due to aircraft hours and weather). This opportunity is funded by the National Water Center.

If you are interested, please contact carrie.olheiser@noaa.gov. If you are selected, reach out to the assignment coordinator, assignmentbranch.cpc@noaa.gov, for the process of getting a detail letter.