Ladies and Gentlemen - it has come to our attention that we must immediately begin to include a privacy act statement when collecting information from any individual concerning an Ombudsman Case. 

We need State Chair assistance in disseminating this message. 

Please use your state communication channels to inform your PSS, ED, Ombudsman Coordinator (s), and individual Ombudsman (and anyone who may be keeping any records concerning individual cases). 

This requirement is NOT retroactive. 
It should be applied before any case is open directly by an individual other than the CSC Agents. 
The CSC agents have already implemented this policy and so any case assigned as of 2 August 2005 from the CSC has already cleared this requirement and the assigned Ombudsman may proceed.

1)  over the phone in person read as follows:

  "Before you provide any information in response to my questions, I must advise you that I am soliciting the information pursuant to the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act for the principal purpose of assisting you by providing informal mediation efforts to resolve potential issues involving your rights under the Act.  Any information collected may be disclosed to a Federal, States, and local governmental agency in furtherance of such mediation efforts and to the Department of Labor and the Department of Justice in connection with any litigation stemming from potential violations of the Act.  Disclosure of the information is voluntary.  However, failure to furnish the information may hinder or preclude appropriate assistance being provided to you on your specific claim or concern." 

Do you have any questions?
Do you want to proceed?

2)  via e-mails, send back the statement (cut & paste) and await response before gathering any additional information.

As this is a new procedure that we must quickly implement,
please send questions/suggestions via e-mail to
Major Smillie, rhonda.smillie@osd.mil so that we can capture.  Thank you.