The Coast Guard is centralizing the Administrative Separation Boards (ASBs) process. This means Personnel Service Center (PSC) in Washington, D.C. will now handle most ASBs, taking a significant workload off your unit and speeding up the entire process. While your unit retains important responsibilities, this centralization will make ASBs more efficient, consistent, and transparent.
Historically, the Coast Guard holds an average of 45 ASBs every year for enlisted members who:
- Have more than eight years of service and facing involuntary separation for unsatisfactory performance, unsuitability, or misconduct;
- Have more than eight years of service and are eligible but not recommended for reenlistment; or
- Recommended for an Other than Honorable characterization of service.
What centralization means
- Faster ASBs: PSC handling ASBs will shorten timelines for completion.
- Less admin burden: Your unit will have less administrative work related to convening and conducting ASBs.
- Consistent application of policy: Centralization promotes consistent application of regulations across the Coast Guard.
- Continued unit involvement: Your unit still plays a key role. You'll still work with PSC-EPM-1 (active duty) or PSC-RPM-1 (reservists) before initiating an ASB. Units are also responsible for travel expenses for the respondent, recorder, legal advisor, and any command-approved witnesses.
How it works
- Forms: Units issue the Notice to Respondent (ASB-1) and Exercise of Rights (ASB-2) forms. You can find these forms here.
- Simplified notification: Command designated representatives with by-direction authority, and any Officer in Charge E-7 and above, can now sign the ASB-1. You no longer need a Commanding Officer who is a court-martial convening authority to issue the ASB-1.
- Required extensions: Members with less than 12 months of service remaining on their contract must voluntarily extend for up to 12 months to have an ASB. This extension requires approval from PSC-EPM-1/RPM-1 before it's signed. Without this extension, separation may be processed under the Coast Guard’s Military Separations Instruction.
- Local ASB requests: While PSC will conduct most ASBs, you can request to convene an ASB locally. Submit your request to PSC-PSD-ASB.
- Other accountability tools: Remember to use the full range of accountability tools (administrative remarks, NJP, etc.) as appropriate. ASBs determine continued Coast Guard employment and should not be the primary method of addressing misconduct.
PSC support
- PSC stood up the Administrative Separation Board Branch (PSC-PSD-ASB) to manage and execute all ASB processes to include scheduling boards, requesting defense counsel, and soliciting board members.
- Pending ASBs: PSC reserves the right to take over any ASB not yet convened as of the date of this message.
- Assistance available: PSC-PSD-ASB is ready to help your unit with any pending or future ASBs.
Questions? Contact SMB-HQS-CGPSC-PSD-ASB@uscg.mil.
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