I’m above the cut for E-8 and will be frocked in 2 weeks as I PCS out to my new unit. I am one below the cut for appointment to CWO on the new list. The message states:
“PER ARTICLE 5.C.13.D. OF REF (A), THOSE WHOSE NAMES APPEAR AT OR ABOVE THE CUTOFF ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ADVANCEMENT TO CHIEF, SENIOR CHIEF, OR MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER. THEIR NAMES WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY REMOVED FROM THE ENLISTED ADVANCEMENT ELIGIBILITY LIST 60 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THIS MESSAGE UNLESS THEY HAVE NOTIFIED THE COAST GUARD PERSONNEL SERVICE CENTER (CGPSC-OPM AND CG PSC-EPM) THAT THEY DO NOT INTEND TO ACCEPT APPOINTMENT TO WARRANT GRADE.”
I have a few questions concerning this. First, if the cut gets revised this fall and I’m already frocked and filling an E-8 billet, will I still get the actual pay raise in December when I’m predicted to actually make E-8? If not, will I remain a frocked E-8 without the pay raise until I promote to CWO2? And lastly, if I turn down my appointment to CWO due to a billet choice my family is unwilling to accept, will I go back on the E-8 advancement list? These issues are not clearly defined in the Personnel Manual. Has anyone else been in this situation?
I don't have any personal experience with this... but this is how I read it...
Since you are below the cut, you are not guaranteed an appointment to CWO and you will continue to be on the advancement list for E-8. Now, if a new list comes out and you are above the cut, you then have 60 days to make your decision and notify CGPSC-OPM & CG PSC-EPM. IF you decide to turn down the appointment, you will still remain on the advancement list for E-8. If you accept the appointment, then your name is removed from the E-8 list.
1. Haven't thought it through. 2. Don't understand how your remaining timeline affects your pension through both routes. 3. Are looking for the answer you want to hear so that you can continue to live with indecision.
It's an easier decision than you think if you would only squarely apply logic to it.
I understand the money aspect of it. The truth is I'm not simply in it for a pay check. And, since I am still one below the cut, I have time to think about things if I so desire. With that said, I do plan to go the route of CWO and am happy to have a choice. The question I simply posed is; does a frocked E-8 get pulled from the advancement list if already filling an E-8 billet? I know what the messages say and what the manual states. I have talked to other E-9s, E-8s,and CWOs. None had a clue as to whether or not I would be pulled from the advancement list to E-8 if I've already been frocked to that position. I believe I would and am fine with that, but others hold a different opinion. Again, there is nothing written on the subject. The reason I pose the question here is to draw upon the vast experience in our Coast Guard community. If the answer isn't out there, no big deal.
As other have said, you will have 60 days to say you don't want to be a CWO. Then your name comes of the list. As for the frocking part of it, I would suggest that the Command contact EPM for direction when it comes time. It would seem the thing that is in the best interest of the CG would be to allow you to stay frocked at Senior Chief until your appointment, even though you will never become an E-8. Frocking is NO GUARANTEE of advancement at all. It gets you a pretty new collar device and if in DOD housing, a little bit bigger house, that's it.
Originally posted by Mightyz90_93: As other have said, you will have 60 days to say you don't want to be a CWO. Then your name comes of the list. As for the frocking part of it, I would suggest that the Command contact EPM for direction when it comes time. It would seem the thing that is in the best interest of the CG would be to allow you to stay frocked at Senior Chief until your appointment, even though you will never become an E-8. Frocking is NO GUARANTEE of advancement at all. It gets you a pretty new collar device and if in DOD housing, a little bit bigger house, that's it.
From the Personnel manual:
Under the authority of Section 632, Title 14, U.S. Code, the Commandant has the authority to frock Coast Guard enlisted personnel. Enlisted members above the cutoff on the current Advancement Eligibility List may be considered for "frocking" when:
So if the requirement for frocking is to be above the cut for advancement how is frocking not a quarantee of advancement? If you are frocked you are being advanced early due to needs of the service and you guaranteed advancement if you are above the cut.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: fenestron,
No, you are not advanced early. You are allowed to wear the collar devices and get a VERY VERY small amount of the benifits, but you are not advanced. The OPs ID card says SCPO/E-7. They stay an E-7 until they advance. Even a frocked person must maintain their eligibility throughout their frocked time to get advanced.
For example - say an E-6 gets frocked to CPO. All it takes for the LTJG CO to remove the anchor is to say "I no longer recomend her for advancement to E-7" and bye bye goes the anchor. Once they ADVANCE from CPO/E-6 to CPO/E-7 only an Admiral (O-7 and above) may take that anchor away at mast.
I understand how frocking works. I have never heard of anybody that was frocked not make it to their offical advancement date. Yes in theroy it could happen.
Any number of things could happen that would render the person no longer eligible for advancement. Accepting an appointment to an officer grade is just one of them.
When originally established in 1958, the intent for pay grades E-8 & E-9 was to provide a career path for those in the 20 to 30 years of service time. E-7 was considered to be the 20 career mark. E-8 & E-9 were not precluded from competing for appointment to Warrant grade, but were expected to be their own career path. There was some move to eliminate the Warrant Officer grade. The USAF did eliminate it, the USN started to eliminate it but reversed the decision in the very early 1960s.
