NEO Checklist

CA Military Department On-Boarding Checklist

Welcome Note

Welcome to the California Military Department (CMD)!  At the CMD, we:

(1) Value our PEOPLE as our greatest asset

(2) Are a RELEVANT, interconnected force composed of resilient service members, employees, families, and retirees

(3) Are READY to respond to missions at anytime and anywhere

(4) Are MODERNIZED and postured to adapt to future missions and changing needs of California and the Nation

Each employee accomplishes work in service of that mission, and we are proud to welcome you to our team!  Please carefully read through the below checklist as it contains important pay effecting information and provides important information about your employment.

General Information
  • Trial Period: Excepted service appointees are subject to a 1-year trial period.
    • Employees who have not completed one (1) year of current continuous service without a break in service; and, in an Executive agency; and, in the same or similar position, are subject to a one (1) year trial period.
    • Appointees serving a trial period do not have full procedural rights for removal/adverse actions under 5 USC 7513.
    • Point of Contact for questions on Trial Periods: ng.ca.caarng.list.j1-hro-lrs@army.mil
  • Union Representation:  Check Block 37 of your Appointment SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, to determine if you’re represented by a labor union.  
    • NG5013:  Laborers International Union of North America - LIUNA (Army); www.local1776.org; 1-800-569-5861
    • NG5008, NG5009, NG5014, or NG5015:  Association of Civilian Technicians - ACT www.chooseact.com; 703-843-2157
    • NG5013:  National Air Traffic Controllers Association – NATCA; www.natca.org; 331-447-9619
    • 8888 or 7777 – Employees not represented by a labor union.
  • The Agency informs all employees of their right to union representation ((IAW 5 USC §7114(a)(2)(B)) via the annual rerelease of the Weingarten Right which states that an employee has the right to have a union representative present during any investigatory interviews that could lead to disciplinary action.

First Day

First Two Weeks
  • Building Access: Contact your supervisor or unit representative to request a building access badge.
  • Building Tour:  Your supervisor or unit representative will conduct a meet and greet with employees in your office and a tour of the facility.
  • SF-50: You should receive your SF-50 Appointment Action from your supervisor within your first week of employment. Please carefully review your SF-50 upon receipt.  Please note, if you are an appointee with previous federal service, your SF-50 may require corrections upon receipt of your Electronic Official Personnel Folder (E-OPF).
  • New Employee Orientation Videos:  For important agency policies, please review our New Employee Orientation Videos here: Onboarding Training Recordings

First 30-60 Days
  • Benefits Enrollment:  Federal employment offers a host of excellent benefits! New employees have a limited eligibility window for enrollment. Other changes to elections may be done during Open Season periods.
    • Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB): You have 60 days from the date you were appointed to enroll in FEHB via Government Retirement and Benefits Platform (GRB): https://platform.chra.army.mil/account/security-notice?license=1120
    • Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP): You have 60 days from the date you were appointed to enroll in FEDVIP via the Benefeds website: https://www.benefeds.com/
    • Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI): Permanent and Indefinite employees are automatically enrolled in Basic life insurance unless they choose a different election. Temporary employees are not eligible. To make an election other than Basic, you must make the election via GRB within the first 60 days of employment: https://platform.chra.army.mil/account/security-notice?license=1120
    • Thrift Saving Plan (TSP):  New employees are automatically enrolled you in the TSP, and 5% of your basic salary is deducted from your paycheck every pay period and deposited into the traditional balance of your TSP account. You receive Agency/Service Matching Contributions on the first 5% of pay you contribute every pay period.  Visit the GRB platform: https://platform.chra.army.mil/account/security-notice?license=1120 to change your TSP or ROTH contribution elections. To change your TSP fund investment, you will visit the TSP website: https://www.tsp.gov/
      • For an Intro to TSP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu8IxKhnSsY
      • If you have any issues using GRB, you can call the Army Benefits Center -Civilian and make a telephonic election 877-276-9287 (select NG option) Mon-Thurs 0600-1400 PT
    • The National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) is the Guard’s primary advocated in Washington, educating Congress on the roles, capabilities and requirements of the National Guard. National Guard technicians (both T32 & T5) are eligible via NGAUS for group disability and life insurance programs that help protect one’s income as well as the financial futures of those they love.
    • For more information on NGAUS, please go to: NGAUS on Vimeo
  • Leave: Federal employees receive various types of leave.
    • Annual Leave:  Annual leave may be used for things like vacations, rest and relaxation, and personal obligations or appointments. Fulltime employees with 1-3 years of eligible federal service earn 4 hours per pay period; employees with 4-14 years of eligible federal service earn 6 hours per pay period; employees with 15 or more years of eligible federal service earn 8 hours per pay period.
    • Sick Leave: Sick leave can be used for things like your personal medical needs, family care or bereavement, care of a family member with a serious health condition. Sick leave is earned at 4 hours per pay period for a fulltime employee.
    • Temporary employees do not accrue annual or sick leave until they have been continuously employed for 90 days.
    • Military Leave: Permanent and Indefinite employees will receive 20 days of military leave every October for active duty, active-duty training, and inactive duty training.  Temporary employees are not eligible for Military Leave.
    • Disabled Veteran’s Leave: A newly hired employee who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more is entitled to up to 104 hours of disabled veteran leave for the purposes of undergoing medical treatment for such disability. The employee will have a single, continuous 12-month eligibility period, beginning on the “first day of employment” in which to use the leave.
    • For questions on all other types of leave contact the HRO.
  • MyBiz: Log in to MyBiz!  MyBiz is our personnel data application and is used for receipt of personnel actions, to update emergency contact information, and accomplish appraisals.  Your SF-50 should be available here within your first two weeks of employment.  Link to MyBiz: https://compo.dcpds.cpms.osd.mil/
  • Position Description: Your supervisor will provide you a copy of your position description. Position descriptions provide a general description of the major duties of the position but do not prescribe how the work is done. Take a moment to review your PD and contact your supervisor with any questions.
  • Appraisals: Within your first 30 days of employment, your supervisor will sit down with you to set performance expectations and initiate a performance plan.  Employees are rated on an annual basis using a three (3) tier evaluation method: Outstanding, Fully Successful or Unsatisfactory. Employees serving in a trial period do not receive an official performance appraisal until after completing the required 12 months of Federal service.  Appraisals are accomplished via the MyPerformance Application on MyBiz: https://compo.dcpds.cpms.osd.mil/
  • Defense Travel System (DTS): Employees who are required to travel, must travel through use of DTS.  Self-Register for a DTS account: https://dtsproweb.defensetravel.osd.mil/dts-app/pubsite/all/view/
  • ARNG Employees: Do you have a DTS Account?
    • Yes: Make sure your accounts hierarchy is updated to your new work center by initiating a ticket with USPFO. First time users will need to register for a MAVRIK account.
    • No: Register for a MAVRIK account. Log in; Select “Travel Pay,” select “Submit a Ticket,” for further DTS support. A specialist will further assist.
    • ANG Employees: Please refer to your local base’s procedures.
  • Government Travel Card: Employees are required to accomplish travel through use of a Government Travel Charge Card (GTCC).
    • ARNG Employees: Do you have a GTCC?
      • Yes: If you are transferring from another agency, please verify your account was transferred over. You will need to submit a ticket using the MAVRIK system to confirm.
      • No: New Employees without a GTCC will need to complete the Travel Card Program (Travel Card 101) on the TraX Portal. Once you have completed the training, you will need a copy of your certificate to upload to your support ticket. Support tickets are initiated by using the MAVRIK system. Register for a MAVRIK account. Log in; Select “Government Travel Card,” select “Submit a Ticket,” for further GTCC support.
    • ANG Employees: Please refer to your local base’s procedures.

General Principles as a Federal Employee

Public service is a public trust.  Each employee has a responsibility to the United States Government and its citizens to place loyalty to the Constitution, laws, and ethical principles above private gain. To ensure that every citizen can have complete confidence in the integrity of the Federal Government, each employee must respect and adhere to the principles of ethical conduct set forth in our code of regulations as shown below, as well as the implementing standards contained in this part and in supplemental agency regulations.

The following general principles (found here: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-5/chapter-XVI/subchapter-B/part-2635/subpart-A/section-2635.101) apply to every employee and may form the basis for the standards contained therein. When a situation is not covered by the standards set forth within our code of regulations, employees must apply the below principles in determining whether their conduct is proper.

  • (1) Public service is a public trust, requiring employees to place loyalty to the Constitution, the laws, and ethical principles above private gain.
  • (2) Employees shall not hold financial interests that conflict with the conscientious performance of duty.
  • (3) Employees shall not engage in financial transactions using nonpublic Government information or allow the improper use of such information to further any private interest.
  • (4) An employee shall not, except as permitted by subpart B of this part, solicit or accept any gift or other item of monetary value from any person or entity seeking official action from, doing business with, or conducting activities regulated by the employee's agency, or whose interests may be substantially affected by the performance or nonperformance of the employee's duties.
  • (5) Employees shall put forth honest effort in the performance of their duties.
  • (6) Employees shall not knowingly make unauthorized commitments or promises of any kind purporting to bind the Government.
  • (7) Employees shall not use public office for private gain.
  • (8) Employees shall act impartially and not give preferential treatment to any private organization or individual.
  • (9) Employees shall protect and conserve Federal property and shall not use it for other than authorized activities.
  • (10) Employees shall not engage in outside employment or activities, including seeking or negotiating for employment, that conflict with official Government duties and responsibilities.
  • (11) Employees shall disclose waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption to appropriate authorities.
  • (12) Employees shall satisfy in good faith their obligations as citizens, including all just financial obligations, especially those—such as Federal, State, or local taxes—that are imposed by law.
  • (13) Employees shall adhere to all laws and regulations that provide equal opportunity for all Americans regardless of, for example, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, genetic information, or disability.
  • (14) Employees shall endeavor to avoid any actions creating the appearance that they are violating the law or the ethical standards set forth in this part. Whether particular circumstances create an appearance that the law or these standards have been violated shall be determined from the perspective of a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts.

Resources

Please know that there are numerous other benefits and programs available to federal employees relating mental health services, financial advice and childcare assistance.  For more information, you can contact Family Programs at: Family Programs or their Helpline at: (800) 449-9662.

Important Points of Contact
  • Equal Employment Opportunity Office: (916) 854-3177
  • Inspector General: (800) 200-3580
  • Employee Relations: (916) 854-3203
  • Employee Recruitment & Placement: (916) 854-3174
  • Employee Benefits: (916) 854-3034
  • Behavioral Health: https://calguard.ca.gov/bh/

 Please submit a signed copy of this form to ng.ca.caarng.list.j1-hro-hrds@army.mil and keep a copy for your records.
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