R 022015Z MAY 25 MID120001912964U
FM COMCOGARD PSC WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCGENL
BT
UNCLAS
ALCGENL 037/25
SUBJ: ENLISTED PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (EPM) ASSIGNMENT YEAR 2026 KICK OFF
A. Military Assignments and Authorized Absences, COMDTINST M1000.8 (series) 
B. ACN 050/20, PROMULGATION OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAM
C. SCREENING FOR OVERSEAS DUTY, PSCINST 1300
D. ALCGPSC 068/23, AY24 ENLISTED ASSIGNMENT PRIORITY SYSTEM REVIEW RESULTS
E. ALCGENL 176/23, UPDATE: ADVANCE-TO-POSITION (A2P) BETA TEST FOR CALENDAR YEAR 
2023 (CY23) 
F. ALCGENL 242/24, ADVANCE TO POSITION (A2P) BETA TEST UPDATED PROCEDURES FOR 
ASSIGNMENT YEAR 2025 (AY25)
G. ALCGENL 028/25, ASSIGNMENT YEAR 2026 (AY26) ENLISTED PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT 
(EPM) BOARDS AND PANELS KICK-OFF
H. ALCGENL 015/25, AY26 SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS KICK-OFF
1. This message kicks off Assignment Year 2026 (AY26) for the enlisted workforce, describes the 
AY26 timeline, and presents informational resources available to all members. This message 
is primarily for enlisted members who are tour complete or otherwise anticipating transfer 
in AY26, but it also includes important information for commands and supervisors. 
2. A complete listing of all enlisted boards and panels, including timelines and eligibility 
criteria, can be found at: EPM-1 Boards and Panels (sharepoint-mil.us). 
3. Per Ref (F), in AY25, due to Service Wide Examination (SWE) delays, PSC-EPM delayed the 
release of the official shopping list and implemented A2P in lieu of all revisions. In AY26, PSCEPM will return to standard AY timelines and will use revisions and A2P, as necessary to fill 
positions.
4. AY26 timeline: Any changes to the dates below will be published SEPCOR via ALCGENL 
message and on the EPM SharePoint Site. This is the general timeline for all ratings. 
Members must review their rating’s kickoff message for more specific guidance.
A. 01 May - 01 Aug 2025: EPM Assignment Officers (AOs) are available for assignment
counseling and eResume guidance. 
B. 01 May - 01 Aug 2025: Commands/AOs conduct Personnel Allowance List (PAL) validation.
C. 01 May - 31 Aug 2025: AOs and Central Assignment Coordinators (CACs) conduct EPM 
roadshows.
D. 01 Aug 2025: Command Concerns (COMCONs) and Operational Commander Priorities due.
E. 08 Sep - 26 Sep 2025: Unofficial shopping list published/commands validate shopping list.
F. 30 Sep 2025: Official shopping list published.
G. 31 Oct 2025: Deadline for all PAL Reprogramming Review (PRR) billet creation or
modifications to be shopped and filled with candidates competing for assignment in AY26. 
Billets created, including the use of Temporary Emergent Required Billets (TERBs), after this 
date will be treated as off-season fills and will not be guaranteed to be filled in AY26. 
H. 01 Nov 2025: PCS eResumes due for most ratings.
I. 02 Nov 2025 - 31 Mar 2026: AOs slate members and issue orders.
5. EPM-2 will publish supplemental timelines for specific ratings, command positions, special 
assignments, and detached duty assignments as necessary. Refer to rating-specific SITREPS 
and EPM-2 AO SharePoint pages for additional guidance and deadlines.
6. Special assignments, detailed in Ref (H), will be shopped earlier than general assignments. 
Application timelines related to special assignments can be found at: Special Assignments 
(sharepoint-mil.us). 
7. Assignment (EPM-2) and Career (EPM-4) Counseling: 
A. Members expecting to rotate in AY26, those taking the May 2025 SWE or above an existing 
cut for advancement, and those double-encumbered in a billet are expected to contact their 
respective AO for assignment counseling. Any member may request counseling from their 
AO, even if not tour complete. Direct communication with the AO from 01 May to 01 August
2025 will increase members' awareness of professional development opportunities and 
provide the foundation for crafting a realistic eResume. Members seeking co-locations 
should understand policy pertaining to co-location assignments contained in Ref (A). The 
best way to assure co-location is early contact with the AOs for advice on crafting a realistic 
eResume. Please visit your respective AO’s SharePoint Page for guidance on how to schedule 
assignment counseling. Counseling for members who appear above a new or revised cut are
also available throughout the year. Members are encouraged to contact their AOs within two 
weeks of the published SWE cut or revision message. 
B. EPM-4 conducts year-round career counseling for all members. Members can request career 
counseling and view additional career guidance information on the PSC-EPM-4 SharePoint 
Site: EPM-4 Enlisted Career Advisory Branch (sharepoint-mil.us). 
8. Command Engagement and Responsibilities: 
A. Command Concerns: Commands should evaluate readiness impacts and prepare command 
concerns for AY26. Commands should validate their PAL using the Command Information 
page in Direct Access on a routine basis to ensure position numbers reflect where members 
are actually assigned. Commands may report PAL discrepancies via COMCONs. For detailed 
guidance on the procedures to validate your unit's PAL and submit COMCONs, refer to the 
job aid and template posted on the EPM SharePoint Site in the "Command Concerns" folder 
located at: EPM Command Concerns (sharepoint-mil.us). COMCONs are due NLT 01 Aug 
2025. 
B. Operational Commander Priorities: EPM-2 will solicit and consolidate priorities submitted by 
District and Area Commanders to facilitate the effective distribution of junior enlisted 
personnel. For detailed guidance on the procedures to submit District and Area Commander 
priorities, refer to the template posted on the EPM SharePoint Site in the "OP Commander 
Priorities" folder located at: AY26 OPERATIONAL COMMANDER'S PRIORITIES TEMPLATES. 
C. Career Intentions: Commands should counsel tour complete members to ensure they are 
available for assignment per 1.A.5 of Ref (A) in AY26. To prevent unanticipated long-term 
gaps, commands MUST notify EPM if a member articulates their intention to RELAD after 
completing the required re-enlistment interview. EPM-2 will accept Career Intention 
Worksheets (CIW) beyond 6 months to mitigate unanticipated gaps. Commands aware of a 
member who is intending to separate prior to 01 Oct 2026 may use the CIW to notify EPM-2. 
Once the counseling is complete, submit the CIW to the appropriate AO as soon as possible. 
This allows AOs to properly shop the position and avoid a vacancy. Members who change 
their decision to RELAD and desire to remain in service after the signature date of the CIW 
may be issued orders to a service need position, depending on timeline and AO notification. 
The Coast Guard continues to offer opportunities for members departing Active Duty to 
continue serving in the CG Reserve. Active Duty enlisted members with questions regarding 
continued service in the Coast Guard Reserve may contact the Inter Service Transfer Team, 
CG Recruiting Command, via email at CGR-SMB-ISTT@uscg.mil. 
D. Command visits and roadshows: In addition to career counseling, roadshow attendance and 
engagement are critical aspects of the assignment process. An ALCGENL to address the 
process for requesting roadshows during the summer of 2025 will be released SEPCOR. 
9. Afloat Assignments: As described in Ref (A), EPM-2 will focus on filling afloat positions earlier 
in the AY. All members tour complete in AY26, regardless of assignment priority (AP), may 
compete for afloat assignments beginning in November 2025. For applicable ratings, AOs will 
work to slate afloat assignments shortly after the PCS eResume deadline. 
10. Special Needs: Special Needs is a mandatory program. Special Needs Program updates for 
each family member enrolled in the program must be initiated at least 9 months prior to the 
member’s projected rotation date. A categorization system is in place for dependents in the 
program. Commands and members should carefully review Ref (B) to learn how these 
changes could affect their assignment options.
11. Overseas Assignments: All members who desire to compete for or receive orders to an 
overseas billet shall follow the procedures noted in Ref (C). This includes the use of forms 
CG-1300, 1300A, and 1300B for members and dependents, and command endorsement 
prior to eResume submission. Table 2 in PSCINST 1300 outlines participant responsibilities to 
pre-screen before eResume submission while Table 3 outlines responsibilities upon receipt 
of PCS or long-term ADOS orders. Members and departing commands should not delay 
initiation of this process, especially for eResume submissions.
12. Women Afloat: Women are encouraged to apply for any afloat position. In addition to AO 
counseling, women and commands seeking information on afloat assignments are 
encouraged to reach out to the Women Afloat Coordinator listed at the bottom of this 
message. 
13. Assignment Priority: Per Ref (A) and (D), Assignment Priority is reviewed on a triennial cycle. 
The results of the April 2023 AP review panel will be used for AY26. The AP table can be 
found on the EPM-2 SharePoint link below. 
14. Deadlines: It is imperative that Commands and transferring members meet established 
deadlines, review applicable portions of Ref (A) and watch for AY26 assignment SITREPS.
Members who fail to adhere to submission deadlines will not be considered for screening 
panels and special assignments without an approved waiver. 
15. EPM-2 SharePoint: The EPM-2 AO SharePoint pages are the central location for news and 
information within each rating. The AO SharePoint pages are located at: Assignments Branch 
(EPM-2) (sharepoint-mil.us). All enlisted members should frequently visit relevant pages for 
current information. Additionally, members are highly encouraged to subscribe to 
notifications from their rating assignment officers SharePoint page.
16. Points of Contact: 
A. EPM-2 Branch Chief: CDR J. McCarron, 202-795-6596 
B. CAC I (BM/ME/GM): LCDR N. Kenney, 202-795-6593
C. CAC II (MK/DC/EM): LT J. Loewenstein, 202-795-6616 (Through 28JUL25)
LT J. Jordan (After 28JUL25) 
D. CAC III (CS/SK/MU/PA/YN/HS/PATFORSWA): LCDR S. Sekitoleko, 202-795-6578 (Through 
30MAY25) LT J. Janney 202-795-6578 (After 30MAY25)
E. CAC IV (Aviation/OS/IS/DV/Special Assign): LCDR S. Grell, 571-613-2960 (Through 22JUL25) 
LT J. Loewenstein, 202-795-6616 (After 22JUL25) 
F. CAC V (ET/IT/MST/CMS/Nonrates/A-School): LCDR N. Kenney, 202-795-6593 (Through 
01JUL25), LT S. Eaton (After 01JUL25)
G. Women Afloat Coordinator: EMC S. Komen, 202-795-6569
17. CAPT J. Guyer, Chief, Enlisted Personnel Management, CG Personnel Service Center, sends.
18. Internet release is authorized.