R 211335Z MAR 25 MID120001808245U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC TO ALCOAST
BT UNCLAS
ALCOAST 132/25 SSIC 7220
SUBJ: FY26 SPECIAL DUTY PAY (SDP) AND ASSIGNMENT PAY (AP) PANEL
A. Special Duty Pay (SDP), COMDTINST 1430.1Q
B. Coast Guard Pay Manual, COMDTINST M7220.29D
C. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 251544Z SEP 24/ALCOAST 373/24
1. This ALCOAST announces the convening of the FY26 SDP/AP Panel. The SDP/AP Panel will convene 
22‐23 April 2025.
2. SDP and AP are special pays intended to encourage officers and enlisted personnel to consider 
career fields or assignments of particular importance to fulfillment of Coast Guard missions. SDP 
and AP funding resources are limited and must compete for the scarce funding available to the Coast 
Guard for this purpose. Requests for SDP or AP will be evaluated on the following basis:
a. SDP: Authorized as an incentive to retain members who perform duties requiring special 
qualifications and having difficulty and arduousness of a greater degree than that expected of the 
majority of the Coast Guard personnel.
b. AP: Authorized as an inducement for members to pursue assignments that are extremely demanding 
of time and impose a greater degree of responsibility than that expected of other members of 
similar grade and experience.
3. In accordance with REFs (A) and (B), and considering the
FY25 SDP and AP authorizations announced by REF (C) for precedent and context, the SDP/AP Panel 
will:
a. Evaluate all FY26 SDP and AP requests, and recommend FY26 authorizations based upon received 
requests and Coast Guard Headquarters program manager (CGHQ PM) endorsements.
b. Consider continuation of FY25 AP authorizations in FY26, with no submission required by the 
appropriate CGHQ PM. FY25 AP authorizations may be reduced or eliminated in FY26 based on Service 
needs.
c. Consider continuation of FY25 SDP authorizations in FY26, based upon revalidation by the 
appropriate CGHQ PM. FY25 SDP authorizations may be reduced or eliminated in FY26 based on Service 
needs.
d. Consider requests to change an FY25 SDP or AP authorization for FY26. Such requests must include 
appropriate justification from the requestor and positive endorsement from the appropriate CGHQ PM.
4. All SDP and AP authorization requests must be validated and affirmatively endorsed by the 
appropriate CGHQ PM and include a list of position numbers prior to panel consideration. Commanding 
Officer assignments will not be considered for SDP or AP. All FY26
SDP/AP requests, including CGHQ PM revalidation of FY25 SDP and

requests to change FY25 SDP/AP authorizations for FY26 must be
submitted by email, via CGHQ PMs, and received by COMDT (CG‐1M12) at 
smb‐comdt‐compensation@uscg.mil NLT COB on 14 APR 2025.
Submissions arriving after the deadline, without the list of position numbers or lacking CGHQ PM 
endorsement will not be considered by the panel. Waivers of the SDP/AP request submission deadline 
will not be considered.
5. CGHQ PMs must provide effective oversight for all requests and revalidations under their 
purview. All FY26 SDP/AP requests and FY25 SDP revalidations must utilize the appropriate 
memorandum template located in the Templates folder at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)
https://uscg.sharepoint‐mil.us/sites/CG‐1M12/Shared%20Documents/ 
Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2FCG%2D1M12%2FShared%20Documents
%2FGeneral%2FSDP%2DAP%20Request%20Templates&p=true&ga=1
6. Questions regarding this ALCOAST may be directed to Division of Military Compensation Policy 
(CG‐1M12) at: smb‐comdt‐compensation@uscg.mil.
7. CAPT Ryan P. Matson, Acting Assistant Commandant for Military Personnel (CG‐1M), sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.