Streamline the process of applying for your Officer Specialty Code by Lt. D. W. Holden, RPM-1 OSMS Although the Officer Specialty Management System is entering its third year, we still get quite a few questions about the process. As one of two offices that review these requests, we get many packages that aren’t 100% complete, and unfortunately, it slows the timeline for approving the right OSC as quickly as we can. Officer specialty codes, or OSCs, are applicable to officers from O-1 to O-6. All officers, other than warrants, which already have a specialty, are identified solely by their rank. The Coast Guard began using OSMS to better align member skillsets with billet requirements, to help deploy the correct skillsets in emergency situations, and to help with career planning. This list of officer specialty and sub- specialty codes is also used to assist in managing the supply and demand of the officer workforce to optimize management decisions. Having your OSC identified early does two things. One, it shows your proficiency and initiative, but two, and more importantly, it helps identify you as having a skill in a certain field the Coast Guard may be looking for. Each specialty has multiple competencies that need to be met to qualify for the OSC. Specialties have a defined career path up to the O-5/O-6 level, and sub-specialties are defined to the O-3/O-4 level. There are currently 15 specialties (each measured using the apprentice, journeyman, master system) and 32 sub-specialties (measured in levels I-IV). Each is maintained by a specialty manager (the office with the subject expertise) and coordinated by a program manager (OPM-3). The specialty manager, with the program manager, creates and manages the officer specialty requirements. RPM-1 and OPM-3 are the approving authorities for all specialties, but they will refer to the specialty manager for questions or changes to the requirements. � Process for Member: 1. Determine your eligibility for an OSC through the OSMS website. Cross-reference your employee summary sheet in Direct Access to ensure you meet the qualifications. Work with your admin staff to make sure DA is current with all your quals. 2. Complete appropriate application. Specialties are requested using form CGHQ-5319A (noting the level [apprentice, journeyman, master]), and sub-specialties are requested using CGHQ-5319B (noting the level requested [I-IV]). 3. Download and highlight ESS and OSR to show qualifications. (CGHQ-5318/ -5320) 4. Submit the application through your chain of command for signature. 5. Send the signed application, a highlighted copy of your ESS/OSR and any additional documents needed to meet the specific requirements of the OSR to: [email protected] 6. If all is complete, DA will be updated and the application will be returned to the email address used to submit the document. The member should receive the final signed copy and should validate that it appears on their ESS. The specialty will populate in CGBI about five business days after approval. Total time from submission to return is roughly 90 days. Note that during certain times of the year, the process may take longer. Know Your Role: User access requests for reservists By Cmdr. Brian Wm. Dudley and David Cota, Pay and Personnel Center Ever wondered what access role you need in Direct Access? What access level should you have? Are you PCSing to a new command or have new duties that require different access? Well, wonder no more… we’ve heard you! The Coast Guard’s Pay and Personnel Center, with input from across the Reserve force, has simplified user access by creating a set of common “functional roles.” These functional roles provide predefined access to capabilities that are frequently needed by the Coast Guard workforce on a daily basis. The most common functional roles for reservists are displayed in the table to the left. Simply follow the step-by-step instructions to make a “user access request” any time your duties change. All Reserve members can initiate a self-service “user access request.” At this time, it is not possible to make this sort of request on behalf of someone else. For more information visit the PPC Portal page. � 30 RESERVIST � Issue 1 • 2022
