Serving on a selection Board or Panel is a key duty that shapes the future of the Service and offers invaluable professional development for officers and leaders.
The Personnel Service Center (PSC) – Officer Personnel Management (OPM) Division seeks high-caliber officers to serve as voting members or non-voting recorders on various boards and panels.
These personnel boards are convened according to law and policy to accomplish vital tasks, such as recommending officers for promotion, determining continuation on active duty, assigning designation in particular occupational fields, and revoking commissions. Panels are convened for assignments, postgraduate and advanced education, flight school selection, and senior education or fellowship opportunities.
For general guidelines on Active-Duty Promotion List (ADPL) Board and Panel Membership, check out ALCGOFF 023/25 PY26 Active Duty Officer Boards and Panels Volunteer Solicitation Announcement (CAC required).
Volunteering
You can volunteer by filling out the OPM Board Volunteer Form on OPM-1’s SharePoint site.
When you volunteer, you are offering to participate in any board or panel based on PSC’s needs. Requests to serve on specific boards will not be considered as the Service’s requirements take priority. Your name will be added to a volunteer list, which will remain active for two years.
If selected, and you confirm your availability for the designated dates, you commit to participating. Should operational or personal circumstances prevent your participation, you must notify PSC through your first O-6 or flag officer (for O-6 volunteers) in your chain of command.
Member Selection
OPM follows strict statutes and policies that guide board member selection, considering factors such as rank, recency, member count, and, in some cases, specific qualifications.
Desired members are officers who embody the Coast Guard’s Core Values, demonstrate sustained strong performance, and exercise superior judgment to shape our workforce and ensure mission success. These officers not only set the foundation for command positions, special assignments, and advance education, but they also provide due process through fair and objective review of officer records during the Special Board process.
Broad representation is vital when forming boards and panels. Volunteers are selected based on a comprehensive review of their records, ensuring a well-rounded mix of backgrounds, including assignment history, specialty, competencies, commissioning source, and time in service.
Selected members must exhibit effective communication and teamwork. Board members must quickly build trust and respect among themselves, fostering an environment where each member’s experience contributes to informed, sound decisions.
After reviewing individual records, OPM creates candidate pools and selects primary and alternate members. The final list is vetted by representatives from various communities and paygrades. Availability requests are then sent to selected officers.
Boards and panels are critical to the success of the Service. They not only recognize our dedicated officers but also ensure adherence to our Core Values. Selecting the right officers for these positions is equally important.
The PY26 Schedule of Officer Personnel Boards and Panels can be found in PY26 PSCNOTE 1401.
We look forward to seeing you in the boardroom!
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