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                         November 16, 2001

USMA CPAC director urges civilians to update information

By Irene Brown
Editor

The U.S. Military Academy’s Civilian Personnel Advisory Center received guidance from the Army secretary’s civilian personnel policy office on how to handle emergency situations. The need for such guidance, said Michael Heller, USMA’s director of civilian personnel, came in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.

"The ability of some agencies to promptly notify civilian employee emergency contacts was hampered by outdated or nonexistent data," Heller said.

In response to the need for updated information, CPAC issued a bulletin Nov. 2 called Emergency Notification Information. On the back of the bulletin was a form.

"We would like all employees to take the time to fill out that form, give a copy to their supervisors and send a copy to CPAC," Heller said. "The form is also available in the public folders."

The Army is currently developing a web-based emergency contact data bank, but Heller said employees should not wait for that system before submitting contact information.

"Employee accountability is paramount," he said. "Managers and supervisors must be able to verify the whereabouts of their employees, keep them informed in the event of an emergency and recall employees to work as appropriate."

He also said supervisors must do their part to ensure employees know who to reach and how to reach them in case of emergency.

"Supervisors should put procedures in place that let employees know how to reach them or someone else in their chain of command and the CPAC or CPOC," Heller explained. "They should maintain a roster of employees, complete with home phone numbers or other effective means of contact."

Another important form for civilian employees is designation of beneficiary, but Heller said a lot of employees do not keep that information up-to-date either.

"All beneficiary forms for retirement (CSRS and FERS lump sum payments), life insurance and unpaid compensation can be accessed electronically at OPMs Web site (www.opm.gov/forms) and at www.tsp.gov for Thrift Savings," he explained. "Each form includes detailed instructions for its completion.

NAF employees, Heller said, should contact the NAF personnel office at 938-2822 to make sure all their beneficiary forms are completed and witnessed.

Copies of the Emergency Notification form and the Designation of Beneficiary forms will also be available at the Benefits Fair Tuesday, he added.

"It is imperative that employees act on this information quickly," Heller said. "Should any new crisis occur, we will have the capability to quickly account for all our employees’ whereabouts and pass on instructions, reach their designated emergency contact and, if necessary, process your civilian benefits according to your current wishes."

For more information on what forms to fill out and where to obtain them contact CPAC at 938-3943.