U.S. Air Force Volume 5, Issue 16
Hurlburt Field Civilian Personnel News
16 Nov 2015
Quick Shots - Nov - National American Indian Heritage Month; theme - Growing Native Leaders: Enhancing Our Seven Generations ‐ 9 Nov to 14 Dec ‐ Federal Bene its Open Season - 26 Nov - Thanksgiving Day - 27 Nov - Native American Heritage Day - NLT 28 Nov - Schedule all use or lose leave and use before the leave year ends on 9 Jan 2016 - Elective Deferral Limit (TSP contributions limit) will remain at $18K for 2016; Catch-up limit is $6K - All job announcements are posted to www.usajobs.gov - When resigning, retiring, or PCSing, contact the Civilian Personnel Of ice (CPO) for an out-processing checklist and applicable fact sheet ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Civilian Personnel Of ice 1 SOFSS/FSMC 212 Lukasik Ave, Suite 217 Hurlburt Field, FL 32544 Request CPO Appointment:
[email protected] Customer Hours: Mon, Tue, Thurs, Fri 0800‐1600 Wed 0830‐1600 CPO Resource SharePoint site: https://eis.afsoc.af.mil/ sites/1SOFSS/FSM/FSMC/ Customers ICE: http://ice.disa.mil/ index.cfm
OPM Cyber Breach Update
Use or Lose Annual Leave
On 30 Sep 2015, OPM and DOD began mailing noti ications to personnel impacted by the second OPM cybersecurity incident. Noti ications are expected to take several weeks. Impacted individuals will only be noti ied by letter and should disregard notices not mailed to their address. Letters will contain a pin and instructions for enrollment, as well as what identity monitoring services and insurance are available to them at no cost for at least three years . DoD is also working to establish a contact center for personnel who want to verify their status. Identity Theft Guard Solutions LLC is providing services for incident 2. Individuals impacted by both incidents may have accounts under both companies. For more info visit https://www.opm.gov/ cybersecurity/stay-informed/ or the AF cybersecurity website at http://www.af.mil/cybersecurity.aspx.
The leave year for Federal employees ends on 9 Jan 2016. The maximum amount of annual leave most employees may carry over from one leave year to the next is 240 hours. Any excess leave above your carry over limit at the end of the leave year is forfeited. Employees need to schedule all use/lose annual leave in writing by the third pay period prior to the end of the leave year (i.e., 28 Nov 2015). Forfeited leave may be considered for restoration when lost due to exigencies of the service (provided it was scheduled NLT 28 Nov 2015), sickness, or admin error. As soon as management knows scheduled leave must be canceled for mission reasons and forfeiture is unavoidable (cannot be rescheduled), the supervisor initiates a request to the designated of icial explaining the exigency, and requesting approval to cancel the leave. Advance approval of an exigency is generally required for leave cancellations being considered for restoration. The supervisor should coordinate the request with the CPO. Note, the use of expiring comp time/credit hours does not meet the requirement for restoration. Consult AFI 36-815 or your Human Resources Specialist at
[email protected] for additional information.
Children of Same‐Sex Partners Based on the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, published 26 Jun 2015, all states are now required to allow same-sex couples to marry. As a result, OPM advises agencies can no longer add children of same-sex domestic partners to FEHB enrollments as no new children are eligible. Stepchildren that are already covered under an enrollment for plan year 2015, based on a domestic partner certi ication, remain eligible family members only until the end of the plan year. For plan year 2016 and beyond, couples must be married in order to cover (or continue to cover) stepchildren under their FEHB and FEDVIP enrollment. OPM highlights that an employee must inform the agency (i.e., BEST) in the event that a stepchild who is currently covered under a FEHB self and family enrollment and who is not a tax dependent, should not be covered for plan year 2016. FEDVIP enrollees are responsible for notifying BENEFEDS directly of a child who loses/gains eligibility.
Marijuana Use Several states and the District of Columbia have decriminalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes and/or for limited recreational use. However, Federal employees are reminded that Federal law on marijuana has not changed. Marijuana is categorized as a controlled substance under the Controlled Substance Act. Possession of marijuana is illegal even if there is no intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense it. Executive Order 12564, DrugFree Federal Workplace, mandates Federal employees refrain from the use of illegal drugs; illegal drugs are contrary to the ef iciency of the service, and persons who use illegal drugs are not suitable for Federal employment. Use of illicit drugs, including marijuana, is subject to disciplinary and adverse action under AFI 36-704 up to and including removal.
Hiring Incen ves Update The Air Force Audit Agency (AFAA) conducted an audit at 20 AF locations of Superior Quali ication Appointments (SQAs) and civilian Recruitment, Relocation, and Retention (3Rs) incentives granted over a two-year period. AFAA concluded that of icials did not properly justify, validate, and support SQAs and associated salary amounts awarded for 43% of employees reviewed and did not properly justify, support, and revalidate 3R incentives for 75% of employees reviewed. Per HQ USAF/A1 memo dated 30 Sep 2015, an annual report on these incentives will be required. Key inspection points include ensuring packages: - Are fully documented and substantiate claims in the justi ication - Document consideration of Federal bene its in determining salary - Document step 1 salary was offered and declined prior to consideration of SQA - Document other candidates were evaluated and considered prior to offering SQA - Are approved by proper designated authority - Are justi ied and recerti ied annually for recurring 3Rs The AF/A1 memo also requires paid incentives be recouped from employees not meeting required service periods. The AF Pay Setting AFI is currently undergoing revision to incorporate these requirements. Local information is being developed for supervisors and will be available on the CPO SharePoint site in the “Staf ing/Recruitment” site library in the very near future.
