DISTRIBUTION – SDL No. 170
NON-STANDARD DISTRIBUTION:
COMDTINST 5420.1
02 OCT 2020
COMMANDANT INSTRUCTION 5420.1
FLEXIBLE PAL (FLEXPAL) FOR SELECTED RESERVE (SELRES) POSITIONS
(a) Coast Guard Personnel Allowance List (PAL) Manual, COMDTINST M5312.14 (series)
(b) Office of Boat Forces Reserve Management Plan
(c) Shore Forces Reserve Management Plan
(d) Title 14 United States Code, Section 309
1. PURPOSE. This guide provides the procedures to execute a Flexible Personnel Allowance
List (FlexPAL) for Selected Reserve (SELRES) positions.
2. ACTION. Commandant (CG-R), Commandant (CG-1), Commandant (CG-5P),
Commandant (CG-5R), Commandant (CG-7), Commandant (CG-8), Reserve Personnel
Management Branch (PSC-RPM), CG Recruiting Command (CGRC), and Director of
Operations Resource Management (DCO-8) will comply with the processes defined in this
Instruction and any changes to this Instruction must be adjudicated between these
stakeholders. Internet release is authorized.
3. DIRECTIVES AFFECTED. None.
4. BACKGROUND. In July 2019, the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard (CCG)
directed the Reserve Component (RC) be restored to its authorized strength of 7,000
SELRES members by the end of FY22. FlexPAL is one of the many initiatives developed
to support this direction. FlexPAL is a tool to create geographic stability for SELRES
members by aligning SELRES training positions to individual members assessed to regions
with demonstrated recruiting and training capacity. This will make it easier for members to
join, affiliate from other Components, and remain in the Reserve Component. The Reserve
PAL Training Capacity Tool which is updated annually and as needed by Programs is
published and updated at: https://cg.portal.uscg.mil/units/CG-
R/FlexPAL/Forms/AllItems.aspx
5. DISCLAIMER. This guidance is not a substitute for applicable legal requirements, nor is
itself a rule. It provides operational guidance for Coast Guard personnel and is not intended
to, nor does it impose legally binding requirements on any party outside the Coast Guard.
United States Coast Guard
2703 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE
Washington, DC 20593-7721
Staff Symbol: CG-R
Phone: (202) 475-5443
