COMDTINST 12335.4B
02 AUGUST 2019
COMMANDANT INSTRUCTION 12335.4B
Subj: COAST GUARD MERIT PROMOTION PLAN
Ref: (a) 5 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 300 Employment (General)
(b) 5 United States Code (USC), § 2301 Merit Systems Principles (MSP)
(c) 5 USC § 2302, Prohibited Personnel Practices
(d) Restrictions on the Employment of Relatives and Advocating for the Employment
of Relatives, COMDTINST 12310.3 (series)
(e) 5 CFR part 335 Promotion and Internal Placement
(f) 29 CFR part 1614 Federal Sector Equal Employment Opportunity
(g) DHS Merit Promotion Directive 255-05 (series)
(h) DHS Merit Instruction 255-05-001 (series)
(i) Administrative Grievance Procedures, COMDTINST 12771.1 (series)
(j) The Employee’s Guide to Career Transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) Office of
Personal Management (Office of Personnel Management, March 2017)
1. PURPOSE. This Instruction establishes the Coast Guard’s policy for merit promotion.
It provides guidance on References (a) through (j) governing the staffing of General
Schedule (GS) positions at grades GS-15 and below and the Federal Wage System
(FWS) positions in the competitive service.
2. ACTION. All Coast Guard unit commanders, commanding officers, officers in charge,
deputy/assistant commandants, and chiefs of headquarters staff elements shall comply
with the provisions of this Instruction. Internet release is authorized.
3. DIRECTVES AFFECTED. Merit Promotion Program and National Merit Promotion
Plan,
COMDTINST 12335.4A is cancelled.
4. DISCUSSION. This Instruction applies to personnel actions resulting in
promotion or selection in the competitive service. It does not apply to personnel
actions in the excepted service, such as Administrative Pay Systems (lamplighters,
