Stand-To!- National Security Personnel System-July 25-2007

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TODAY'S FOCUS
National Security Personnel System

What is it? Congress authorized the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) in the fiscal year 2004 National Defense Authorization Act, signed by President Bush on 24 November 2003. The law allows the Department of Defense (DoD) to establish new rules for how civilians are hired, assigned, compensated, promoted, and disciplined, within the framework of merit principles, accommodation of veterans' preference, and respect for employees' right to bargain.

What has the Army done? The new personnel system is being implemented in phases. Each phase is known as a Spiral, and each Spiral may have multiple increments. DoD implemented the human resources management system to approximately 11,000 non-bargaining unit employees effective 30 April 2006 as part of Spiral 1.1. This included approximately 2,350 members of Army’s Civilian Human Resources Agency.

On 12 November 2006, over 2,600 Army civilians converted to NSPS as Army implemented the first phase of Spiral 1.2. Elements of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Army Materiel Command, Medical Command and Military District of Washington were among those converting to NSPS.

What continued efforts does Army have planned for the future? Training will be paramount to prepare over 40,000 Army civilians converting into NSPS between January and April 2007. Robust training efforts will continue between May and September to train the remaining 180,000 Army Civilian Corps worldwide expected to convert into NSPS in Fiscal Year 2008 and includes the following:

• All military leaders supervising Army civilians must also be trained in order to appraise the performance of civilian employees.
• Army will conduct Continuing Collaboration on Army NSPS policy guidance with union representatives beginning in early 2007.
• Senior leadership support will be the key for Army to successfully transition to NSPS.

Why is this important to the Army? The National Security Personnel System represents a landmark transformation of civilian personnel management. NSPS will forever change the way the Army attracts, retains, rewards, and develops civilian employees. NSPS ambitiously reshapes the old rules governing civilian employees and offers an environment where employees are encouraged to excel, challenged with meaningful work and rewarded for their contributions.

• This topic was taken directly from the 2007 Army Posture Statement. To continue reading this topic in its entirety, click here.
INFORMATION YOU CAN USE
•2007 Strategic Communication Guide - Be Army Strong, and Army Smart. Read the 2007 Army Strategic Communication Guide.
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