1. No New Pay, No New Thresholds.

   Because the Executive Branch has been placed in a pay freeze for 2011 and 2012, the 2011 statutory thresholds of certain ethics provisions (including outside earned income and employment restrictions) that rely on the General Schedule or the Executive Schedule remain unchanged and are as follows:

   • 120% of the minimum rate of basic pay payable for grade 15 of the General Schedule is $119,553.60.
   • 15% of the annual rate of basic pay for level II of the Executive Schedule is $26,955.
   • 86.5% of the annual rate of basic pay for level II of the Executive Schedule is $155,440.50.

   Model forms reflecting the changes are available on the SOCO Handouts Index.

2. File Those Training Plans.

   Remember that all DAEOs should have their Annual Training Plan on file by the end of the calendar year for the next year's training cycle. This requirement is found in 5 CFR 2638.706 and JER 11-302. A sample can be found on the SOCO website here.

   Please note: The training plans do not have to be forwarded to SOCO.

3. Reminders of Upcoming Important Ethics Dates.

   January 1st marks the beginning of both the Public and Confidential Financial Disclosure reporting periods. [Reminder: All requests for - and approvals of - an extension of the filing deadline must be in writing and be placed with the individual's file. (5 CFR 2634.201(f))]

   The 2010 Agency Ethics Program Questionnaire is due to OGE NLT February 1st.

   OGE provides a handy list of calendar year events on their website here.

4. Message from the Deputy Secretary.

   On December 21st, the Deputy Secretary of Defense issued a memorandum stating DoD is committed to promoting an ethical culture in the workplace and encouraging its personnel to lead by example, provide ethical decision-making, and do the right thing. The memo is a result of work by a Subcommittee to the Panel of Contracting Integrity in the area of "Sustained Senior Leadership," and SOCO providing a drafting service. Please distribute appropriately throughout your organizational channels.

5. OGE FORM 278 and Annual Post-Employment Certification.

   The New OGE Form 278 and the 2011 Annual Post-Employment Certification are now available on the Forms Index of the Ethics Resource Library.

DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this advisory is to disseminate relevant information and sources of general guidance, policy and law on Government Ethics issues to the Department of Defense ethics community. Advisories are not intended to be and should not be cited as authoritative guidance, DoD policy, or law.