EPME Study Guide and Website

[BMCS Burt Ford]

I am studying for the new EPME test and ran across something I find ludicris. Here is a copy paste right off the website for the E7/E8 study guide, EOCT for E8;

Headquarters

Coast Guard Headquarters, located in Washington, DC, is the administrative and operational command and control center for the Coast Guard.

The senior officer at headquarters and of the Coast Guard is the Commandant.

And;

Coast Guard Commandant

The Commandant, a four-star admiral, plans, supervises, and coordinates the overall activities of the Coast Guard.

The Commandant directs the policy and administration of the Coast Guard under the general supervision of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

The Commandant provides immediate direction to Headquarters Units, although he is not actually the Commanding Officer of Headquarters.

To view the responsibilities of the Commandant, select the Commandant flag.
Then, select Next to continue.

Then I can click the flag to learn the Commandants resposibilities. :eek:

By God if I have not learned it by now, take my Anchor please!

[BMCS R. Scott Pugh]

Hey Burt - I think that question was on one of the tests... Answer "C" was get coffee for the MCPO-CG. I think I got it right!

Scott

[BMCM Deane Smith]

Burt...that sounds like a joke, but sadly its not. I'm just as confused as you are. How could the course writer let this make it to print? Is this what the course writer really thinks we need to know?

[BMCS Dennis Endicott ret]

What's a Commandant?

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

You know Dennis. He was the guy on Hogan's Heros.
For JP3, Hogan's Heros was a TV show that us OLD guys might have watched as kids. ;)

[BMCS Burt Ford]

At least we aren't asked how the President got his job!

[BMCS Roland Ashby]

That was mean, but funny Jim :D

[BMCS Ian McVicker]

I know what you mean Burt... Studying it right now, and cannot believe some of the material. :confused:

First part of the E-8 section is Leadership Competencies. Little late in the game to be requiring that for advancement knowledge.

After reviewing the study guide the first mention of Leadership is not until
E-6, and then that same section is presented again in E-8, just in a slightly different format.

One of these days I would really like to see official and organized leadership training requirements for our junior enlisted, instead of just what we as Chiefs require from them, or those road shows.

[DCCS Todd Holcomb]

For the requirement to the Prac. of reviewing and submitting changes to the EPME Manager, I asked the question about several of the items being required for 8 as I believe they should be done earlier in ones career. Anyway I'm just looking to see how everyone is fairing on the AQE for 8, I had to take it twice but I passed, for it only being 25 questions I found it rather difficult :eek: . I have the feeling the lists for all rates for 8 will be slim for this SWE, ;) which will probably be a good thing for most.
Todd

[DCCS Brett Wickett]

I had to take the thing twice also. Didn't look at the book the first time. really didn't figure it was going to be the trivia test it was. Missed it by one. Took it again, after looking at the book and passed with a 100%.

Todd, I am kinda like you in that I see alot of chiefs out there thinking it is a cake walk and waiting till the last second to take it and then not passing. Or forgetting about it, or simply saying I am not going to take it. But then again, I think that if you already have taken the SWE for 8 you should have been grandfathered in. I guess we will see. Cuts are gonna have to be better than 0 or it wont matter anyway.

[DCCS Keith Wilbee]

If both of you "Chips" guys are taking SWE, Good Luck. More 8's will be made next year. I'll see you guys on the list.

[DCCS Brett Wickett]

Yea, I'll be taking it again.......and again, and again probably, with the way the numbers are. Good luck to you guys also. May we all hit a birdie on this hole.

Brett

[DCCS Todd Holcomb]

Brett/Keith same to you. I agree if you have already taken the SWE you should be grandfathered, but it didn't work that way. I hope we have a lot better cut than "0" for this one, because as Brett said it wont matter if it's 0.
Oh well we'll give our best shot and see how it goes.
Todd

[DCCS Keith Wilbee]

well I knew they wouldn't make 9,17,24. GL fellas. They are probably going to make 2, this current year, would be my guess even with cut at zero.

[BMCS Jim Madsen]

That must be terribly disappointing for you guys. Work hard, study your @$$ off, take the SWE and the cut is "0"?
I was lucky, I will make 8 off this years list. Didn't have to do the EPME thing. Probably retire prior to competing for 9 so I figure that is one change I was able to dodge.

[CWO Chris Sparkman (BMC)]

Well...40 BMC's so far have taken the EPME test. The question is, how many have passed it and/or will pass it in time to take the SWE.? Only time will tell. I believe last year there were only 50+ who took the SWE. 49 is a pretty high number, considering the cut and those who do not have to take it. Good luck to all.
Sparky

[MSTCS Jerald P. Motyka]

I have the feeling the lists for all rates for 8 will be slim for this SWE, ;) which will probably be a good thing for most.
Todd
No fooling, Todd. I was just talking to our ESO, and we are both guestimating that the lists will be at BEST 50% of the size of the last several lists.

My recommendation for changes was to fix the wording on the awards section, where they talk about people "winning" Medals of Honor and Navy Crosses. Sorry, but that crap really upsets me. You "win" something where there can be only ONE recipient (Munro Award)... all else is "awarded" or "earned".

My second choice for recommendations was to get rid of that stupid commentary on the "E-10" of the Coast Guard. That's something else that just burns my bottom.

That being said... I blew my first attempt (64%), and have one try left on January 30th. I've been ripping the book apart in hopes that I will be on the GOOD side of that 50%...

[BMCS Burt Ford]

I passed the EPME. I took it twice. First time I got a 70 something. Second time 92. On the island here only three Chiefs have passed the test. I am sure I am the only BM since the other 15 or so arent OINC qualified and dont want to be.

[BMCS Roland Ashby]

From the study guide, it states you must have the tasks signed off before you take the test. Is anyone seeing this enforced?

[DCCS Brett Wickett]

Chris, just currious how you knew that only 40 BMC's had taken the EPME. I obviously am currious how many DCC's have taken it.

Brett

[CWO Chris Sparkman (BMC)]

Brett...looks like around 19. But again, no idea how many passed.

As for the numbers, who know exactly how accurate they are. It shows how many took the test and that's it. They are coming from DA. Accomplishment Query. Within that realm you will find hundreds of accomplishment query create by coasties. I was reviewing some of my members advancement packages and was verifying that they had passed their EPME test, and low and behold, someone had already create a query for EPME 6 and EPME 8. Of course when I click on it I got every rate out there, lock up the computer and had to reboot. When I got back in, I inquired to the EPME, put in just BM and got a condensed list.

It was actually interesting, this is for some of the OIC's out there. I clicked on a OIC ashore qual query, and the list came up with only 15 folks with that particular qual. :confused: Now...I know there are a few different OIC qual codes out there, but which one should you have?, which one do you need? Something to think about. Who's entering in your quals, someone at your unit? Someone at the Sector, Group? Keep a close eye on them. Query your PDIF out of DA sometime and verify all the quals, awards, education, training, you think you have, and ensure they are all in there. The first time I had done this was when I was preparing for the board. Well needless to say, I ended up sending about an inch thick package back to HQ to be put in my records. Good thing I listened to my Senior Chief when I was a young 3rd class and kept a personal PDR of my own.
Chris

[DCCS Brett Wickett]

Thanks for the info Chris. You are right in that who knows what is actually accurate. But I do suspect that the poeple competing this year will be considerably less than past years. I also feel this will be across the board. I guess in time we will find out.

[CWO Chris Sparkman (BMC)]

Brett...I agree 100%. I think it will be lower across the board. Waiting and watching.
Chris

[DCCS Keith Wilbee]

Chris,
Was that the EPME E8 tests for Dc's?

[DCCS Brett Wickett]

Keith, I believe that was the EPME #'s for 8 for the DC's. I also know that very few have done the prac that has to have the RFMC's signature. I know in past I have seen SWE's terminated because someone did not get his signature that said they were fully qualified. I guess when you are the only one that can sign something it is pretty easy to say who got the prac done and who didn't.

[DCCS Todd Holcomb]

I guess when you are the only one that can sign something it is pretty easy to say who got the prac done and who didn't.
Amen to that Brett, The word I got was that as of 01Jan there were 8 Dc's who had passed the EPME AQE, but who really knows. I know that I got both pracs that required confirmation from the respective MCPO's done a while back, I would be curious to know how many have actually completed that as well. Oh well, I will study some and see how it goes.

Todd

[DCCS Brett Wickett]

Yea Todd, I got my MC signatures also. Actually just got email conformation from them. I printed them and they are as safe as my oc spray letter......LOL

[BMCS Roland Ashby]

OK. I feel like an idiot. Which Prac do we need to have the RMFC's signature? With some of these changes, it difficult to get to the bottom of things from a non-CG computer.

[DCCS Brett Wickett]

Roland,
12-8.02-P goes to Comdt (G-WTL-2) for signature I will help a bit
that is MCPO Diane LaCumsky

12-8.03-P goes to your RFMC for signature.

Hope that helps.

[DCCS Todd Holcomb]

Roland, Just make sure to get a delivered receipt and a read receipt, in case you don't get a reply before 01Feb06. :eek: It say's "submit " recommended changes to the RFMC via your COC.

[MSTCS Jerald P. Motyka]

Master Chief Lacumsky sent a "nastigram" out saying that it was just supposed to be "submitted" and that it wasn't intended that HQ sign our pracs. When your memo goes through your command for endorsement, your command should be signing off your stuff. I will post a snip of the e-mail sent tomorrow.

Oh, and tomorrow I take the E-PME for the second time... here's hoping I can spend three months this summer worrying about how I did on the SWE...

[DCCS Brett Wickett]

I guess the one to Comdt does say via your chain of command.
But the other one states to submit to your RFMC.
I took it to mean route them to the final destination. I Guess MC LaCumsky got tired of receiving hundreds of change suggestions. I guess I sent mine early enough that I got a thank you and not a nastigram. For those that sent them out after I gave MC's name, and then got a nastigram, sorry about that. Maybe one of the reccomended changes should clearly state "Do not send this to (G-WTL-2)" just pretend to.

[MSTCS Jerald P. Motyka]

Oh, no!! She is getting her hundreds of suggestions - and I have heard scuttlebutt that she is jumping to get the suggestions turned into actual changes. It is the actual E-PME PQS that she didn't want responsibility for.

I will post the letter in the A.M.

[MSTCS Jerald P. Motyka]

As promised: This is snipped from a longer e-mail. The emphasis is mine.
From: LaCumsky, Diane MCPO
Sent: Friday, October 14, 2005 2:32 PM
To: lst-All-Rating-Managers; lst-GoldCMC; lst-All CDA
Cc: Robinson, Dave MCPO; Alicea, Alberto MCPO; Simpson, Steven CPO; Campbell, William DCCM; Jeffries, Robert DCCS
Subject: E-8 EPME Requirements

Hello Everyone,

The intent of the E-PME Requirements 12-8.02-P and 12-8.03-P are for CPOs to review the full spectrum
(A-J-M) of qualifications for advancement and make professional recommendations for improvement to the HQ representative offices that publish the qualifications. This is a field/fleet analysis of how well the requirements serve the workforce.

The process of accomplishing the E-PME Requirements 12-8.02-P and 12-8.03-P is outlined in the study guide: For both--Send email/memo listing modifications and include supporting documentation for deletions/additions. After submission of recommendations to HQ it's appropriate for the supervisor of the CPO making the recommendation to sign-off that requirement as completed. We never intended to have HQ representatives sign-off the E-PME. Section 3.D of CIM1510.2 explains the administration of the E-PME Performance Requirements.

[DCCS Brett Wickett]

So the way that I read this is that personnel still send to MC LaCumsky and the respective RFMC, but the signature comes from the unit level.

[BMCS Roland Ashby]

I am sure many of you are in this same boat. But who do you have sign-off your E-8 Pracs? The OIC of my unit is also a BMC. Can I have any E-8 sign-off these pracs as long as there are completed?

[BMC Ralph Williams]

Yes,

Section 5.C.7.a of the PERSMAN states that any commissioned, warrant or senior petty officers can sign them off.

have fun,
Ralph

[DCCS Keith Wilbee]

Brett, Todd,
Good luck to you both. With me, that makes three of the eight taking the test. Back in December a FSC friend of mine (Networking) Sent me a email from the MC's stating that people would be pulled off advancement list for failure to complete the quals. I got right on them, and also put the email confirmations within a guarded and locked file cabinet! That cabinet is located right next to my Benelli SBE II. I'm looking forward to getting back home to Missouri Brett.

[DCCS Brett Wickett]

Yea Keith, I wish I could have stayed in Iowa for a full tour. I can sure say that this has been the worst tour at the best location I have had in my career. At least you are comming back home. You got Scott's billet, correct?

[DCCS Todd Holcomb]

Good luck to you both. With me, that makes three of the eight taking the test

Keith, I haven't gotten any word as far as how many people are set and qualified to sit for this years SWE for 8, is your number pretty accurate? if so that would make it one of the smallest I can remember. Anyway Good luck to you both and hopefully we'll have a better cut next year, although you are right they will probably advance 1-2 this year but, hopefully it'll be more for us.
Todd

[MSTCS Jerald P. Motyka]

Well, the results are in. I ended up with a 92 on my retest on 31JAN... so now I get to start re-re-studying for the SWE.

I can't wait to see how many people are able to take the test.

[DCCS Keith Wilbee]

Yes, I am taking Scotts billet. I have 270.15 pts towards MSS. I decided along time ago that I wanted to be a Marine Inspector. Sorry to hear about the job not panning out the way we would like our jobs to be. Where are you off to? todd, that number came from this website previous post from Brett, in January supposedly only 8 DC had passed it. Number 2 from last year is also retaking it. With the cut at 0 I don't blame him. That has got to be disappointing.

[DCCS Brett Wickett]

Keith, I am heading to the Atlantic Strike Team. All is not lost, I have been trying to get a strike team for years. Trying to set myself for retirement. I am trying to find out how many DCC's passed the EPME, I was told 8, but not sure about that. I did find out though that for SKC there were only 12 that passed. So it looks like the 8 list for Sk is going to be a short one. As soon as I find out for certain on DC's I will let you know. Well maybe not for certain, but when I see numbers for myself.

[ETC Pat Kaschube]

Keith, I am heading to the Atlantic Strike Team. All is not lost, I have been trying to get a strike team for years. Trying to set myself for retirement. I am trying to find out how many DCC's passed the EPME, I was told 8, but not sure about that. I did find out though that for SKC there were only 12 that passed. So it looks like the 8 list for Sk is going to be a short one. As soon as I find out for certain on DC's I will let you know. Well maybe not for certain, but when I see numbers for myself.

My ESD takes care of your computer and phones at the Atl Strike Team. Let me know when you get there and we'll get you set up with an account.

[DCCS Brett Wickett]

Will do Pat, thanks.

Brett

[DCCS Todd Holcomb]

Keith I have heard both 8 and 9 as the number, I was just wondering if you "KNEW" someone who had the in detail knowledge. I don't. Either way it'll most likely be a short list. I don't blame #2 from last year, I would probably retake if I was #1, seeing a BIG FAT ZERO as the cut. It will be good to see the list when it comes out after the SWE. You know somewhere, somebody who knows is looking at this thread and snickering. :D
Todd

[DCCS Todd Holcomb]

The word I got from a friend in the know was that as of 31 Jan, 8 people were EPME AQE eligible for the SWE, now that didn't take into account the stragglers who took the EPME AQE within the last week or so because their scores weren't in the system yet, my friend also didn't know how many people had actually completed the RFMC pracs. Hopefully everyone who has completed the EPME AQE did complete those two, I would hate to see someone get pulled from the list because they didn't.

I had also previously heard that people who take the SWE will be taken off the list if those haven't been completed. Making 8 would rock, but not that way. :eek:

I look for it to probably be 12-15 people. That's just a SWAG (sceintific wild a$$ guess) :D . It's study time, and God knows I need to.

[DCCS Brett Wickett]

I/ve got contacts from shore to shore (litterally) looking for the answer to how many qualified to take the dccs test. No one, has been able to find the DC's. They have found many other rates but so far not the DC's. But I am with you guys in that I bet it is far less than 20 that take the swe this time. CWO didn't work to well...lol, so am studying that much more. Good luck