Upcoming Training Opportunities
- We have many educational and leadership opportunities available in the near term. Our updated Acquisition Education, Training, and Experience Catalog provides in-depth information on all training and developmental opportunities. Please view the catalog on the U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center (USAASC) website at https://asc.army.mil/career/pubs/aete/default.cfm for information on all training opportunities available to acquisition civilian and military workforce members. Eligible and interested applicants may apply for all of our programs by using the Army Acquisition Professional Development System tab within the Career Acquisition Management Portal/Career Acquisition Personnel and Position Management Information System (CAMP/CAPPMIS) at https://apps.asc.army.mil/camp.
- The School of Choice (SOC) announcement is open until May 2. SOC is a highly competitive 18- to 24-month full-time degree-granting program that provides civilian Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (AL&T) Workforce members GS-11 through 15, or broad/pay band equivalent, an opportunity to keep their acquisition position while completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree during duty hours. For more information, visit the SOC website at https://asc.army.mil/career/programs/soc/default.cfm.
- The Naval Postgraduate School Master of Science in Program Management (NPS-MSPM) (distance learning) announcement runs through June 17. NPS-MSPM is an eight-quarter, 24-month part-time master’s degree program. The program requires students to take two courses per quarter over a 24-month period. For more information, visit the NPS-MSPM website at https://asc.army.mil/career/programs/npsmspm/default.cfm.
- The announcement for the Congressional Operations Seminar runs through May 6. This five-day seminar on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, offers civilian AL&T Workforce members a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the U.S. Congress as they relate to the performance management of the defense acquisition system and policy. For more information, visit the Congressional Operations Seminar website at https://asc.army.mil/career/programs/ConOps/default.cfm.
- The announcement for the Acquisition Tuition Assistance Program (ATAP) will be open July 15 through Aug. 31. ATAP offers an opportunity for civilian AL&T Workforce members to complete an undergraduate or graduate degree or fulfill the certification of U.S. Army Acquisition Corps membership business-hour requirements. For more information, visit the ATAP website at https://asc.army.mil/career/programs/atap/default.cfm.
Defense Acquisition University Highlights
- Registration for FY12 Defense Acquisition University (DAU) classes begins May 18. Students may apply through the Army Training Requirements and Resources Internet Training Application System (AITAS) at https://www.atrrs.army.mil/channels/aitas.
- The DAU course cancellations timeframe has changed from five business days to 30 calendar days from the date the student receives a reservation. Cancellations for a confirmed reservation must be received at least 30 calendar days before the class starts or the reservation cutoff date, whichever is earlier. Cancellations submitted after that deadline must have general officer or Senior Executive Service member approval per Department of the Army DAU Training Policy and Procedures signed April 18, 2011.
- On March 28, the Director for Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy released a memorandum on “Upcoming Changes to the Contracting Curriculum in Fiscal Year 2012.” The changes affect the certification requirements for acquisition workforce members in contracting-coded positions. The Deputy Director for Acquisition Career Management provided supplemental guidance for the FY12 contracting changes. Please view the changes and recommendations at https://asc.army.mil/career/programs/dau/changes.cfm.
- DAU has successfully procured a commercial-off-the-shelf New Student Information System to replace the current distinct DAU registration systems for the four services. The system, named PORTICO, is Web-based and will interface with DAU and DOD systems, AITAS, and CAMP/CAPPMIS. Army workforce members will be able to authenticate via a DOD common access card. PORTICO will standardize functionality and capability for all services. It will allow more transparency and up-to-date status information for students when applying for DAU courses. The initial operating capability date is targeted for June 2012.
- To address the shortfall in Level II contracting classes, there are six commercial vendors and four universities that offer CON 215, 217, and 218 equivalent classes. For more information on equivalencies, please visit DAU’s website at http://icatalog.dau.mil/appg.aspx. Please email the program execution point of contact at usaascweb-ac@conus.army.mil if you are unable to obtain CON 215, 217, and/or 218 this fiscal year and would like to use Section 852 funds to pay for an equivalent provider. USAASC plans to offer this to individuals who need these courses and are unable to get an FY11 reservation. DAU continues to work to offer more Level II contracting courses in the current fiscal year.
- To address the shortfall in Level II business, cost, and financial management (BCFM) courses, the Army is placing only first-priority students into available BCFM classes. DAU is well aware of the backlog and is working to expand classroom size for current and additional course offerings. The demand is due to a temporary surge of BCFM certification requirements. For experienced BCFM personnel, fulfillment of the course is recommended. Fulfillment information can be found at http://icatalog.dau.mil/DAUFulfillmentPgm.aspx.
