Just days before temporary duty (TDY) instructors were scheduled to report for duty at the USBP Academy, the U.S. Border Patrol notified instructors that they will be provided lodging at the Academy. A similar notice was published on the CBP website, but oddly, that notice left off some important details about the lodging. Below are the pertinent parts of the notices:
WEBSITE NOTICE
The Office of Training and Development (OTD) has been successful in parterning with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) to provide lodging to OBP employees on Temporary Duty (TDY) as instructors to the U.S. Border Patrol Academy (BPA) in Artesia, NM. The change in lodging will begin on October 1, 2013.
TDY instructors will be provided on-center lodging for the duration of their TDY assignment.
Each instructor will be provided their own room furnished with a full-size bed, desk, and television. Free laundry facilities are located on-site and maid service will be provided Monday through Friday. Immediately outside the building are picnic tables, charcoal grills, and a swimming pool for shared use.
EMAIL NOTICE
As of October 1, 2013, all anticipated TDY lodging will be provided by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), in rooms similar to those occupied by trainee agents. Rooms will be equipped with television with cable TV. Wi-Fi is available as pay for service.
FLETC currently has a limited number of rooms with private baths. Those rooms will be filled on a first come, first served basis.
Microwaves, refrigerators, coffee pots, coolers, and alcoholic beverages are NOT permitted in FLETC provided lodging.
The NBPC received numerous calls from instructors asking about these changes and their options. The NBPC recommends the following actions for any instructors who do not want to be subjected to overly restrictive, substandard long-term lodging while detailed to the Academy:
1. Immediately notify your chain of command that you are withdrawing your voluntary request for the detail due to the last-minute changes to the lodging that you were not aware of at the time the detail was announced and you volunteered;
2. Notify your chain of command that you are officially requesting to be decertified as an instructor;
3. If you are ordered to go on the detail and your withdrawal is not accepted, you must obey the order, but cite Article 28 O of the CBA, which states:
Except for training courses, details away from the normal duty station will not exceed 35 calendar days, unless the employee volunteers for a longer period.
4. Notify the NBPC if this change had any impact on you so that it may be considered for inclusion in the list of remedies.
