Starting in Promotion Year 2027, the Coast Guard is revolutionizing how it promotes Reserve officers. In the biggest change to Inactive Duty Promotion List (IDPL) promotion selection boards (PSBs) in history, the service will begin using In-Zone Reordering (IZR) and Below-Zone Selection (BZS) to ensure our best and brightest get to the top faster.
Why this is a game-changer
This is a major shift in how we manage talent, in line with our Force Design 2028 initiative. The new system is designed to formally recognize and reward sustained superior performance and proven leadership. It allows the Coast Guard to advance its highest-performing Reserve officers at a pace that matches their potential and meets the needs of the service.
What's Changing in PY27?
Going forward, PSBs will make use of two powerful tools:
- In-Zone Reordering (IZR) – PSBs are now required to use IZR to the maximum extent authorized by law to identify officers with records of “particular merit” and move them to the top of the promotion list. This will affect those competing in IDPL PSBs to the grades of O-3 through O-6. IZR selection will reorder those selected officers' overall precedence order on the IDPL, enabling those selected for IZR to go in zone quicker in the future on PSBs to the next higher paygrade.
- Below-Zone Selection (BZS) – For the first time, a limited number of exceptionally performing officers competing in IDPL PSBs to the grades of O-4 through O-6 can be selected for early promotion from below the promotion zone.
How it works: a real-world scenario
Imagine the PY27 IDPL promotion board for Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) with three officers:
- LT Alpha: The most senior officer in-zone with a strong, sustained record.
- LT Bravo: Junior to LT Alpha, but has a record of exceptional performance, including top-tier OERs and major operational impact.
- LT Charlie: Currently below-the-zone but consistently performing at the level of the next higher rank.
Under the new policy, the following outcomes could occur:
- The board uses In-Zone Reordering to place LT Bravo at the top of the promotion list because of their exceptional record.
- The board then uses Below-Zone Selection to select LT Charlie for early promotion.
- The result: LT Bravo is placed at the top of the list of selectees for promotion, ahead of LT Alpha. LT Alpha is still recommended for promotion and will be promoted in sequence. LT Charlie will be placed at the bottom of the list of selectees for promotion and assigned a running mate equal to that of the most junior in-zone selectee. The system rewards the highest performers while remaining fair to all.
What you need to do
The key for Reserve officers is to show sustained superior performance. Here’s what you should focus on:
- Documented performance: Your Officer Evaluation Reports (OERs) demonstrating consistent high performance, not just one-time accomplishments, are more critical than ever.
- Leadership impact: Seek out and excel in roles with significant responsibility.
- Professional development: Align your training and education with the future needs of the Service.
- Keep your record updated: Ensure your military record in iPERMS is always current.
For more detailed information, refer to ALCOAST 013/26. Policy questions can be directed to HQSPolicyandStandards@uscg.mil, while questions about Reserve Boards and Panels can be sent to HQS-SMB-CGPSC-RPM-BoardsPanels@uscg.mil.
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