Civilians to Experience Personnel Changes, Job Opportunities
By John A Emmert
Army News Service
November 04, 2004
WASHINGTON - The Army's civilian workforce will soon experience shorter hiring times, personnel actions based on performance and increased flexibility for conversions and lateral movements, according to the program executive officer of the National Security Personnel System.
Mary E. Lacey spoke about the plans and implications of the NSPS at the Association of the United States Army annual meeting Oct. 27.
Another senior Defense official told the audience that 5,000 military billets will convert to civilian positions.
Initial implementation of NSPS
Initial implementation (Spiral One) of NSPS is scheduled for July 2005. The Spiral One process will test NSPS at select agencies before implementation throughout the Department of Defense.
Nominations and recommendations for organizations to be included in the Spiral One process are underway, according to the NSPS Web site. Announcements of organizations selected for the first spiral are anticipated by year's end.
Civilian personnel system
The current system needs to change to manage Department of Defense civilians effectively, Lacey said. Issues with the system include slow hiring practices, inadequate accountability, limited reassignment flexibility, and set pay regardless of performance.
NSPS was established to make the civilian personnel management system more flexible and to make the Department of Defense a more competitive employer. NSPS will change how civilians are hired, compensated, promoted and disciplined, Lacey said.
Personnel changes
The NSPS will include changes in staffing:
- The hiring time for emergency and hard-to-fill jobs will be shortened.
- Reduction in Forces will be based upon performance and not longevity.
- There will be increased flexibility for conversions and for lateral transfers.
The pay system will also change, Lacey said, adding that there will be significantly less than the 150 pay grades currently in the system.
Pay banding will combine similar occupations and positions into groups to simplify job classifications and broaden pay ranges. There will be no fixed step rates and pay will be throughout a range and based on performance, not time-in-grade.
Remaining the same
The following will remain the same under NSPS:
- Merit systems principles
- Veterans' preference principles
- Rules on employee training
- Safety and drug abuse programs
- Health insurance and retirement benefits
- Leave and attendance rules
- Anti-discrimination laws
- Travel and subsistence rules
- Rules against prohibited personnel practices
Lacey said the following principles are guiding the work: put the mission first; respect the individual and protect rights guaranteed by law; value talent and commitment to public service; be flexible, understandable and responsive; ensure accountability; balance Human Resources interoperability with unique mission requirements; and be competitive and cost effective.
Military to civilian conversions
David S. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, announced at the AUSA annual meeting that the Army is converting about 5,000 military billets to civilian positions. The positions will be located on garrison and headquarters staffs.
Examples of positions converting include:
- Supply technician
- Administrative support assistant
- Lead Human Resources assistant
- Operations assistant
- Information technology specialist
- Paralegal specialist
While the Army is currently in the process of identifying military positions to be converted, those interested in applying for these positions as they become available can view them here: http://cpolwapp.belvoir.army.mil/mil-civ/
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