Enlisted Workforce Management Voluntary Separation VOL SEP P

1. Enlisted Workforce Management Voluntary Separation (VOL SEP)  Program

2. Driving Factors BUDGET The President's 2011 budget proposal has not yet been approved by Congress, and while we value each Coast Guard member, we must prepare now to match the number of people in our active duty workforce to the number of funded billets. TOO MANY PEOPLE The active duty workforce is above the funded level. UNIT/BILLET LOSES Looking ahead to Fiscal Year 2011, the President's budget for the Coast Guard projects billet losses that will exacerbate the overage in our active duty workforce.

3. Separation Authority Art. 12.B.12.a.6, PERSMAN - Convenience of the Government To provide members� early separation under various authorized programs and circumstances. Character of service: Honorable RE Code: RE-1 Eligible for reenlistment, allowing affiliation CG reserves or with another service; if otherwise eligible.

4. Educational Benefits Impact General A break in service will impact education benefits. Members wanting to affiliate with the reserves should contact CG RC before requesting early separation to avoid a break in service.

5. Educational Benefits Impact POST 9/11 EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS Benefits under this program are based on a percentage, as determined by service member�s length of qualifying active duty: 36 months, 100% 30 months, but less than 36 months 90% 24 months, but less than 30 months 80% 18 months, but less than 24 months 70% 12 months, but less than 18 months 60% 6 months, but less than 12 months 50% 90 days, but less than 6 months 40% Be mindful of the fact that if aggregate service is less than 24 months, initial entry training (boot camp) does not count as qualifying active duty. The Coast Guard will revoke any approved request to transfer educational benefits to dependents under the Post 9/11 GI Bill for all members approved for early separation. Obligated service required for transfer of Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to dependents can not be waived provided member is retirement eligible.

6. IMPACT ON BONUSES Members who are discharged prior to completing the period of service for which they were paid a bonus shall have the unearned portion of the bonus recouped. PPC will calculate the unearned bonus amount and deduct from final pay. If final pay does not cover the indebted amount, an out-of-service debt will be generated. The member must work with PPC to establish repayment.

7. Separation Entitlements The member is entitled to a travel allowance and HHG shipment to home of record, place of entry on active duty, or last duty station. Members who complete less than 90% of their service obligation will incur travel allowances IAW JFTR par U5125-A5. Separation pay is not authorized for enlisted members. An approved voluntary separation under this temporary policy change will not be entitled to transition assistance.

8. NOT AN EARLY RETIREMENT No TERA (Temporary Early Retirement Authorization) in affect for CG at this time. Members who wish to retire must have 20 or more years of creditable active service. In order to manage the enlisted workforce, EPM-1 will consider waiving time in grade (TIG) requirements for voluntary retirement, based on service needs. Example: An who E6 has recently advanced to E7 is required to obligate two years of service. Those two years of service may be waived.

9. Requesting Voluntary Separation All requests must be submitted via standard CG memo with a command endorsement addressing unit impact and/or ability to gap the position. Submit separation requests to CG PSC (epm-1) by mail or electronically. Link to memo sample may be found at: http://www.uscg.mil/psc/epm/docs/Vol_Sep_Memo_Template.pdf

10. Approval The approval process takes 7 working days. If a request is approved, the discharge date will be 30 days from the date of approval; 90 days for voluntary retirements. Members requesting separation under this temporary policy change are not eligible for the Temporary Separation Program (temp sep) detailed in Article 12.F of the Personnel Manual. The temp sep program provides an automatic mechanism to return to the CG, this program does not. Members wanting to rejoin the CG at a later date must see a recruiter.

11. FAQ�s WHO IS ELIGIBLE? Everyone in the Coast Guard is eligible to apply for early separation IAW ALCOAST 165/10 and ALCGENL 046/10. HOW LONG IS THIS PROGRAM AVAILABLE? This temporary policy is effective until 30 December 2010. WHAT IS THIS POLICY REALLY SAYING? This policy allows any member wishing to separate early from the Coast Guard to request to do so before their normal end of enlistment. IS THIS AN EARLY RETIREMENT OPPURTUNITY? No. This is not an early retirement. Members wishing to retire must still have 20 years or more of creditable service.

12. FAQ�s (continued) HOW DO I REQUEST THIS EARLY VOLUNTARY SEPARATION?All requests must be submitted via CG memo with a command endorsement addressing unit impact and/or ability to gap the position. WHAT IS THE APPROVAL OR PROCESSING TIME?The approval timeframe is 7 days. WHAT IF I RECENTLY TRANSFERRED AND HAD TO OBLIGATE SERVICE?Obligated service requirements may be waived based on needs of the service. WHAT IF I HAD TO OBLIGATE SERVICE TO TRANSFER BENEFITS TO MY DEPENDENTS?Obligated service from Post 9/11 GI BILL benefits transfer to dependents is not waiverable.

13. FAQ�s (continued) CAN I REQUEST A DISCHARGE DATE? Yes. However discharge dates will be based on service needs taking into account unit impact and the ability to absorb a gap in the position. If approved, discharge date will be 30 days from the approval date. WILL THIS BE AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE? Yes. This is an honorable discharge under the PERSMAN Article 12.B.12.A.6.- Convenience of the Government under various authorized programs and circumstances. Members will receive a reenlistment code of RE-1; eligible for reenlistment, allowing affiliation with the CG reserves or another service, if otherwise eligible. HOW WILL THIS AFFECT MY BONUS? All reenlistment, enlistment, critical skills, and career status bonuses will be recouped for any unearned active duty obligation which is waived or not served due to an early separation. WILL I GET TO KEEP MY POST 9/11 EDUCATION BENEFITS? Yes. A percentage of all MGIB/Post 9/11 education benefits that have been paid into will be retained based on creditable active service performed, 36 months of creditable service is needed to retain 100% of the benefits.

14. WHAT IF I TRANSFERRED MY EDUCATION BENEFITS TO MY CHILDREN OR SPOUSE? The Coast Guard will revoke any approved request to transfer educational benefits under the Post 9/11 GI BILL for all members approved for early separation. IS SEPARATION PAY AUTHORIZED? No. Enlisted members approved for voluntary separation under this temporary policy change will not be entitled to transition assistance. IF I REQUEST VOLUNTARY SEPARATION UNDER THIS PROGRAM, CAN I RETURN TO THE CG AT A LATER TIME, LIKE A TEMP SEPARATION PROGRAM? No. Members requesting separation under this temporary policy change are not eligible to return to active duty without going to a recruiter for re-entry. The temp separation program detailed in Article 12.F of the Personnel Manual allows for guaranteed return to active duty after 24 months; this program does not. FAQ�s (continued)

15. IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF HIGH YEAR?No. HYT is NOT at the forefront of options being considered. IF I AM ON AN 8 YEAR CONTRACT (4 ACTIVE & 4 RESERVE) AND I COMPLETE 3 YEARS OF ACTIVE DUTY BEFORE DECIDING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS VOLUNATRY SEPARATION, HOW WILL THIS AFFECT MY 1 YEAR REMAINING? If approved for early separation, any remaining active duty and reserve obligation will be waived. CAN I TAKE SOME TIME BEFORE DECIDING TO AFFILIATE WITH THE RESERVES? Yes. However, remember a break in service will impact education benefits. If a member thinks he/she might want to join the reserves after separation, they should contact CG RC before requesting early separation to get proper guidance. IF MY COMMAND WON�T POSITIVELY ENDORSE MY REQUEST, DOES IT STILL COME TO EPM? Yes. All members have the right to request separation under this policy. A negative command endorsement does not stop the process. The request shall be forwarded. FAQ�s (continued)

16. Questions and Concerns All questions related to the early separation policy, Post 9/11 GI BILL eligibility, and Tuition Assistance should be directed to YNC G. Benekin at (202) 493-1667 or your Education Services Officer. Specific questions related to the impact on eligibility under this new policy change should be directed to CWO2 J. Satterfield at (202) 493-1724 or the members Servicing Personnel Office. EPM-1 Branch Chief: LCDR E. Soriano (202) 493-1240. ALCOAST 165/10 ALCOAST 046/10 ALCOAST 045/10 ALCGENL 046/10