Commandant
United States Coast Guard
2100 Second Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20593-0001
Staff Symbol: G-WPC
Phone: (202) 267-1704
COMDTINST M12430.6B
AUG 10 1998
COMMANDANT INSTRUCTION M12430.6B
Subj: EXCELLENCE, ACHIEVEMENT, AND RECOGNITION SYSTEM (EARS)
Ref: (a) Public Law 98-615
(b) Title 5, U. S. Code, Chapters 43, 45, 53, 55, and 71
(c) Title 5, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Parts 293, 430,
451, 530, 531, 536, 540, and 550
(d) Departmental Personnel Manual Letter 430-4
1. PURPOSE
. This Instruction establishes the Excellence, Achievement, and Recognition
System (EARS) to manage the performance of the Coast Guard's civilian employees paid from
Appropriated Funds and employed in the General Schedule (GS/GM) or Federal Wage System
(FWS) pay plans.
2. ACTION
. Area and district commanders, commanders of maintenance and logistics
commands, commanding officers of Headquarters units, assistant commandants for
directorates, chief counsel, and chiefs of special staff offices at Headquarters shall ensure
compliance with the provisions of this directive.
3. DIRECTIVES AFFECTED
. Commandant Instruction M12430.6A will be canceled once all
Performance Management System employees have been placed on EARS, on or shortly after 1
April 1999.
4. COVERAGE
. The EARS shall apply to all GS/GM and FWS employees. The following
employees are excluded:
a. Senior Executive Service employees;
b. Administrative Judges appointed under 5 U.S.C. 3105;
