Military Sealift Command (MSC) sets its employees up for success. One way we do is through the Human Resources Office (HRO). The HRO collects resources and communicates vital information CIVMARs need, such as recognizing achievements, continuing to encourage CIVMAR growth. Whether you are a new CIVMAR or are climbing the ranks within the Command, the HRO can help.
End of the Year Retirement
Many employees elect to retire at the end of the calendar year because the retirement annuity will begin the day after retirement and any lump sum payment for accrued annual leave will be paid in the next tax year.
If you plan to retire 31 December 2017 – 3 January 2018, you should submit your retirement application to the Civilian Benefits Center (CBC) by 30 September 2017. This allows the CBC adequate time to resolve any issues that may affect retirement eligibility or annuity and ensure timely processing of the retirement application. Employees are encouraged to use the Employee Benefits Information System (EBIS) to generate their retirement application. Information on using EBIS can be found in the checklists below.
Retirement Checklists
Comprehensive retirement checklists are available on the Office of Civilian Human Resources (OCHR) portal to help employees submit their retirement application. To access the portal, employees must use a government computer; have a .mil, .edu or .gov email address and a Department of Defense (DoD) Common Access Card (CAC). While not all-inclusive, these checklists answer many questions about topics such as the best day to retire, how to apply for retirement, military and civilian deposits, insurance, Thrift Savings Plan and what to expect after retirement.
CSRS Voluntary Retirement Checklist (Must be on a CAC enabled system to access)
FERS Voluntary Retirement Checklist (Must be on a CAC enabled system to access)
Retirement Counseling
Once a retirement application has been received by the CBC, a retirement specialist will contact the employee within seven business days from receipt of the application. Employees should carefully read the appropriate checklist referenced above. The retirement specialist will answer any questions and provide counseling at this time.
Additional Assistance
Employees can access additional assistance services by phone or email 0730 to 1930 Eastern, Monday – Friday, except on federal holidays.
Benefits Line: 888-320-2917
TTY: 866-359-5277
Email: navybenefits@navy.mil (Please include full name, pay plan, grade, contact telephone number and the best time to call. Please do not include Privacy Act or other Personally Identifiable Information such as date of birth or social security number.)
USAJOBS Landing Page
Forwarded on behalf of the Director for Civilian Human Resources, Donna Ann Johnson.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released a major design change to its USAJOBS landing page at www.usajobs.gov. The new (and highly colorful) USAJOBS landing page encourages job seekers to create a USAJOBS account, introduces them to general hiring processes, and explores job opportunities based both on government needs (e.g., Mission Critical Occupations) and unique hiring eligibilities (e.g., military spouses). The attached file contains a brief summary of new features.
NOTE: The CIVMAR promotion application process remains unchanged. If you are interested in federal positions with other activities, USAJOBS is the application method.
In the past 20 years, USAJOBS has evolved into a heavily visited site with:
- 11 million job seeker accounts
- 16 million resumes
- 1 billion searches per year
- 22 million applications started per year
- 14,000+ jobs available every day
Please take a moment to check out the updated site. Questions regarding USAJOBS should be directed to the USAJOBS online Support Desk.
OPM USAJOBS Landing Page Update
Your Bi-weekly Leave & Earnings Statement
Your Leave and Earning Statement (LES) is an important document that you should view each payday. It provides valuable information in regards to your earning, leave and deductions. Employees of the Department of the Navy are responsible for reviewing their bi-weekly Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) to ensure their benefit deductions match their current benefit elections. It is crucial to identify incorrect deductions and avoid future indebtedness.