Final answer:
Individuals in lower paygrades of the U.S. civil service may have their reports signed by an enlisted OIC at grade E9 or civilians with positions graded GS-9 to GS-12. These grades are part of the General Schedule, which designates pay and responsibility based on qualifications and experience.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of the United States civil service, personnel at or below certain paygrades are eligible to have their reports signed by an enlisted Officer in Charge (OIC) in the grade of E9 or civilians in command positions holding the grade of GS-9 through GS-12. It is noteworthy that the General Schedule (GS) is a predominant pay scale for federal employees, where the grades reflect the various competencies, educational qualifications, and experience levels required for those positions. Individuals in the lower GS levels may have their performance assessments and other official reports signed by higher-ranking individuals within the specified range of GS-9 to GS-12 or an equivalent military grade such as E9.