| Assignment Incentive Pay Policy Posted |
| On 8 September 2008, the Assistant Secretary for Health signed Commissioned Corps Instruction 631.02 of the electronic Commissioned Corps Issuance System (eCCIS) authorizing a pilot project regarding Assignment Incentive Pay (AIP) for officers of the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service who are serving in hard-to-fill assignments. Authorized under Title 37, sections 303(a) and 307(a), the purpose of AIP is to provide an additional incentive that organizations can use to help with recruitment and retention for designated Critical Public Health Assignments (CPHA). The Department of Defense (DOD) has used this pay in various ways. One example is Korea Area Incentive Pay (KAIP) which provides additional monthly pay to soldiers who elect to extend their tour in South Korea an additional year. Another example is AIP offered to sailors who serve on aircraft carriers. In each case, the Service decides how much and for which assignments it wishes to offer AIP.
Whether to offer AIP and to which assignments is a decision made by the Head of the organization. Assignments must first be identified by the organization. The organization Head may choose to convene an AIP Board to assist in the selection process. Once identified, the organization must submit form PHS-7080, “Request for Designation of a Critical Public Health Assignment (CPHA) Billet Qualifying for AIP,” along with any supporting documentation, to the Office of Commissioned Corps Force Management (OCCFM) per the instructions on the form. Assignments will be evaluated based on four criteria:
Once the organization receives written notification from OCCFM (form PHS-7081) that the assignment has been approved as a CPHA, the organization can enter into a written agreement with the officer. However, just because an assignment is designated a CPHA does not mean that AIP has to be offered or paid. The officer must commit to serve at the assignment for at least 12 months and form PHS-7065, “AIP Contract Request,” must be signed and notarized by the officer no later than 31 December 2009 (see Personnel Policy Memorandum 09-001, “Assignment Incentive Pay Extension,” dated 29 October 2008 – available at http://dcp.psc.gov/eccs/documents/PPM09_001.pdf). The organization then submits the signed written agreement and a completed form PHS-1662, “Request for Personnel Action,” to OCCFM since AIP requires an official personnel order for an officer to receive the pay. Officers who receive AIP are expected to meet force readiness standards, meet appointment standards and perform at a satisfactory level. AIP can be terminated without the consent of the officer or organization if at any time congressional authorization is withdrawn. AIP may also be terminated for misconduct, separation, disability retirement or less than satisfactory performance on the Commissioned Officers’ Effectiveness Report. AIP is a 2-year pilot program and officers who receive AIP will be contacted by OCCFM to evaluate the program through confidential surveys. The AIP policy and forms are posted on the Commissioned Corps Management Information System (CCMIS) at http://dcp.psc.gov (click on Services, and then Official Forms). In addition, a link for further instructions is available on CCMIS in the “What’s New” section. For further information, you may e-mail CAPT Plasencia, Director of the Division of Program Evaluation and Oversight in OCCFM, at carlos.plasencia@hhs.gov or call 240-453-6054. You may also contact LT Tracy Powell, the AIP Coordinator, at tracy.powell@hhs.gov or call 240-453-6083. |
| Current Issue Front Page |