The Civilian Personnel Management System Of The US DOD

The US Department of Defense (DOD) earlier used a 50 year old Civilian Personnel Management System (CPMS) for the management of the approximately 700,000 civilian personnel who work for it. In the year 2004 it was modified vide the passage of a law to better address the US national security needs of the 21st century. Since then it is known as the National Security Personnel System (NSPS).

The erstwhile CPMS laid stress on seniority in the civil rank to award promotions. The new NSPS lays stress on performance for increase in compensation rather than on length of service. It also puts in place a system of broad pay bands to replace the earlier GS (General Service) ranking system.

It enables the DOD to establish new rules relating to the recruitment, deployment, recompensation, assessment, promotion, and the removal of DOD civilian employees. The system has been put in place to ensure that civilians deployed for DOD duty receive the requisite personnel services and are properly accounted for.

The CPMS also ensures that Defense Appropriations (DA) funded civilian personnel and their families are treated at par with soldiers and their families. This is to ensure that the civilians who work for the DOD are entitled to the same privileges and benefits as are made available to the soldiers, unless restricted by a specific statute. Furthermore, the CPMS provides a forum for civilian employees' unions to air their grievances.

The EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) program of the DOD has been integrated into the CPMS. The objective of the program is to provide equal opportunity to minorities, women, and people with disabilities in recruitment as civilian employees in DOD.

The civilian personnel management system procedural guidance and additional policy are regulated by several Army Regulations (ARs). The system reports the strength related information in respect of civilian staff. It also updates command data bases.

In the case of battalions for which civilian system is not available, the US military system is used for the tracking and the furnishing of civilian employees related data to the senior civilian personnel cell. The system controls the processing and departure of civilian personnel to deployment theaters. It is also the key to the accountability of civilians in operational areas.

The civilian personnel management system is also used by its managers to manage casualty reporting, civilian replacements, and all sundry civilian personnel information. The provision of health services to civilian personnel is also controlled by the system.

The Civilian Personnel Management System protects the rights of civilian employees of DOD. It continues the use of the merit system principles policy. It also helps in accommodating veterans' preference and respect for bargaining.

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