Enlisted PERSCOM notes

Greetings from the Engineer Branch. I appreciate the opportunity to update you on the health of the enlisted engineer force and trends I've observed since I assumed duties as Branch Chief this past summer.

Health of the Regiment

The Engineer Regiment, as a whole, is healthy. Today our Regiment is manned with 14 of our 21 military occupational specialties (MOSs) at 100 percent or better (see Table 1). I've been on the job now for more than 6 months, and I can tell you that no other branch enjoys this level of fill.

In the field, most units are filled at close to 100 percent. Typically, we see units filled with more skill-level-one soldiers and fewer sergeants and staff sergeants than authorized. The shortage of noncommissioned officers (NCOs), particularly sergeants and staff sergeants, is an Armywide issue caused, in part, by increased requirements for drill sergeants and recruiters. We also have several MOSs (00B, 51K, 51M, and 62F) that need more promotion-eligible specialists and sergeants to be boarded.

Despite our overall good health, we continue to experience shortages in a few of our low-density MOSs--00B, 52E, and airborne 62E/J. To address these shortages, we're bringing more soldiers into those MOSs, pushing for incentives to help retain more of those currently serving, and closely monitoring monthly promotion allocations. We also continue to accept reclassifications into these MOSs. Many of them offer attractive reclassification bonuses under the Bonus Extension and Retraining (BEAR) Program. Call this office if you're interested in reclassifying.

As a branch, we've accessed and retained well in recent years. Our recruiting successes can be attributed to the enlistment bonuses offered for some of our MOSs and to the fact that we offer challenge and variety for potential recruits. At this point in FY02, I'm pleased to report that we exceed the Army recruiting averages in all three of our career management fields (CMFs)--12, 51 and 81. Fortunately, we've been able to recoup the 12B accessions we missed earlier this year by adding enlistment bonuses and by increasing recruiter emphasis on the MOS. We see similar trends with retention. Reenlistment is strong in the 81 series, but CMFs 12 and 51 are retaining at levels slightly below the Army average. Again, we expect targeted incentives to help us meet our retention goals for the year.

The long-term projections for the Regiment are good, though we'll see our strength levels decrease slightly in those MOSs (12B, 12C, 51M, 51R, 51T) that are currently manned at better than 100 percent. This is necessary so that other MOSs, mostly nonengineer, can be brought up to strength. For every soldier in excess of authorizations in one CMF, there's a corresponding shortfall in another.

The Assignment Process

When I arrived, I was amazed to learn of the many factors that impact our ability to select soldiers for assignment--the Army Chief of Staff's manning guidance for units, individual qualifications and preferences, a soldier's permanent-change-of-station (PCS) eligibility (time on station, stabilization), and many more. I was impressed by the challenge our assignment managers and professional development NCOs (PDNCOs) face as they attempt to ensure engineer unit readiness while balancing a soldier's (and family's) preferences, professional development needs, and tour equity concerns.

Given these considerations, you may wonder when you should speak with branch about your professional development needs and career aspirations. The answer, quite simply, is often and whenever you're eligible for reassignment. I recommend that you periodically call your assignment manager to initiate a dialogue and, when appropriate, follow up by submitting Department of the Army Form 4187, Personnel Action. More importantly, I encourage you to use the newly implemented Assignment Satisfaction Key (ASK) System which enables you to input duty preferences and locations directly to our database via the Internet. Our assignment managers now have the software to use your preference data when they fill requisitions-a great improvement to how we make assignments.

To better understand when you should speak with your assignment manager, it's important to know the timelines he works with and the factors he considers when making an assignment. Around mid-January, our assignment team started working assignments for fall 2002, more than 6 months out. Our standard is to place soldiers on assignment instructions (AT) at least 150 days before the report date at the next duty location. Assignment managers typically begin to work the preliminary paperwork several months before placing a soldier on Al. They need this time to screen records for nominative positions (drill sergeants, recruiters, observer-controllers, ROTC, AC/RC), obtain PCS/time-on-station waivers, research the availability of medical services to meet Exceptional Family Member Program needs, and so on. We usually fill drill sergeant and recruiter nominations 8 months before the anticipated report date.

For senior NCOs (sergeants first class and above), we work assignments even further out. Our goal is to place you on assignment instructions 12 months before your report date. This is a recent change on making assignments, so we're working toward the 12-month standard.

It's also important to know when your assignment manager will look at you for reassignment. If you're returning to CONIJS, you can rely on the timelines described above to gauge when your next assignment will be worked-we seldom curtail soldiers before their DEROS. For those serving in CONUS, it's not uncommon to PCS with 24 months time on station, sometimes less. This occurs frequently for NCOs selected for drill sergeant and recruiter duty. Senior NCOs should expect that we'll work a follow-on assignment that coincides with their completion of 24 months in a leadership position (platoon sergeant or first sergeant). This doesn't mean they'll automatically PCS at this point, but we do consider them PCS eligible once they've filled the leadership positions necessary for their professional development. That way, they'll stay competitive for promotion.

The bottom line concerning the assignment process is that we need to communicate with you frequently. Periodically call your assignment manager or PDNCO to review your assignment eligibility, preferences, and family circumstances. When you call, be realistic in your expectations. We can only send you to locations where your MOS is authorized, overseas assignments are a possibility if you haven't been stationed overseas in several years, and we probably won't send you on back-to-back assignments to TDA units. NCOs, at some point, you should expect to be asked to serve as a drill sergeant or recruiter or in an Active Component/Reserve Component (AC/ RC) assignment. These are nominative assignments that our best NCOs are asked to fill-they are challenging assignments and are recognized by selection boards as being career enhancing.

Promotions and Training

Promotions and training are subjects that interest all soldiers. Two related areas that have recently received considerable attention are conditional promotions and NCOES attendance. As a reminder, conditionally promoted soldiers may lose their promotion if they don't attend the appropriate NCOES course (PLDC, BNCOC,ANCOC) when scheduled, typically within 1 year of being conditionally promoted. We can make exceptions for operational or hardship reasons; however, soldiers need to attend NCOES courses as soon as possible. Call this office if you have questions about NCOES attendance or conditional promotions.

Table 2 shows the latest projections for upcoming selection boards and release dates. Remember, it's up to you to review your Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) and get a current photograph submitted well in advance of your next board. Visit the PERSCOM Web site (www.perscom.army.mil) for the latest on selection boards and for procedures to request your OMPF.

Contacting Us

The Engineer Branch exists to support commanders and soldiers in the field. I encourage you to contact your assignment manager, PDNCO, Branch SGM, or me with any questions you have about your assignment or professional development-that's why we're here. The PERSCOM Web site has information on how to contact us. Remember, the best way to influence your future assignment is to tell us your preferences before we make your assignment.

Table 1.

Engineer Regiment MOS Strength

       Authorized  Strength
 MOS    Strength   (percent)

 12B     8,167        101
 12C       658        116
 12Z       228        100
 00B       138         93
 51B       881        119
 51H       434        104
 51K       115         96
 51M       241        104
 51R       128        159
 51T       257        130
 51Z       116         93
 52E       185         82
 62E     1,339        107
 62F       280         94
 62H        99         97
 62J       705         97
 62N       459        103
 81L       247        119
 81T       456         95
 81Z        19        100
 82D       110        115

Total   15,262        100
Table 2.

Selection Boards and Release Dates

Board                          Date         Target Release

CY01 CSM, SGM, and SMC   2 Oct - 24 Oct 01   Late Jan 02
CY02 MSG                 5 Feb - 1 Mar 02    Late Apr 02
CY02 SFC                29 May - 27 Jun 02   Late Aug 02
CY02 CSM, SGM, and SMC   1 Oct - 23 Oct 02   Late Jan 03

Lieutenant Colonel Taylor is the branch chief for Engineer Enlisted Assignments.

COPYRIGHT 2002 U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center
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