ANSBACH, Germany -- A new policy that targets many overseas Installation Management Command employees is set to take effect Nov. 3.
Known as the IMCOM Enhanced Placement Program, the policy targets appropriated-fund IMCOM employees, General Schedule 9 level and above, who serve overseas and who are enrolled in the Department of Defense's Priority Placement Program.
Ahead of this change, U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach appropriated-fund employees gathered Oct. 31 at Katterbach Theater for an all-hands session.
The DoD Priority Placement Program, or PPP, is intended to minimize the impact on employees who, through forces outside their control, are facing job displacement. The program matches them and moves them into new positions. According to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, the program has successfully transitioned more than 250,000 employees to new positions.
Nevertheless, there exists a backlog of IMCOM employees who have completed their overseas tours and must now return to the contiguous U.S.
That's where the IMCOM Enhanced Placement Program, or IEPP, comes in.
Leading the all-hands session was Col. Christopher M. Benson, USAG Ansbach commander; Dr. Kevin Griess, deputy garrison commander; and Damon K. Wilford, USAG Ansbach's director of Human Resources.
Because IEPP is expected to accelerate the process by which overseas IMCOM employees transition and fill the vacancies that exist stateside, Benson and Griess stressed that USAG Ansbach employees treat the situation seriously and with urgency.
Effective Nov. 3, non-IEPP hiring actions for applicable CONUS positions are frozen and a 90-day surge period will begin.
"IMCOM will look to see where the vacancies are and look over here at where that talent is, and then try to match those up," Wilford said.
This means that the longer employees wait to understand the program and act, fewer positions will be available as positions are filled. If employees wait too long to prepare, they may be facing hardships such as a limited number of desirable positions waiting for them stateside.
Fortunately for USAG Ansbach employees, Benson, Griess and Wilford want maximum clarity so employees are equipped to make the best decisions they can as early as possible.
"What we're trying to do," Griess said, "is to give you the information so you can own this program rather than the program owning you."
In "in-house" review of resumes is a required part of the IEPP process, but Griess advised employees to take it seriously and not to wait.
Benson, Griess and Wilford answered questions during the session, and made it clear that more questions will continue to be welcome through several avenues during the IEPP process. These avenues include familiarization on the policy itself through the IMCOM Sharepoint (refer to the "Related Links" section above); through the USAG Ansbach Civilian Personnel Advisory Center at (DSN) 468-7897 or (commercial) 0981-183-7897; through a supervisor; or through IMCOM Human Resources at (210) 466-0416.
"Together we'll fight through it, and we'll get through it," Benson told the group. "We're going to do everything we can to close ranks and keep marching."
Related Links:
USAG Ansbach Official Homepage
IMCOM revises overseas tour policy to enhance development opportunities
IMCOM Enhanced Placement Program policy memo on IMCOM Sharepoint
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