CIVILIAN PROGRAMS
A selection of Army acquisition civilian education and training programs
Acquisition Leadership Challenge Program (ALCP)
ALCP harnesses self-awareness as the tool for enhancing leadership, innovation and diversity development by demonstrating how individual preferences and behaviors affect the ways we interact with co-workers and are viewed by others. Program offerings help participants understand how accepting individual differences can produce a stronger group and a leadership corps that’s capable, collaborative and creative.
Competitive Development Group/Army Acquisition Fellowship (CDG/AAF)
Established to enhance the leadership abilities of the Army’s civilian acquisition workforce, this three-year program provides leadership training and developmental assignments within the acquisition community, including program management offices, program executive offices, systems acquisition offices, and senior staff offices. Fellows also attend senior-level leadership courses and conferences, complete the Congressional Briefing Conference on Capitol Hill, and participate in operational experience training.
Eligibility:
GS-12/13 and civilians
Announcement Dates:
*** The CDG/AAF program is being redesigned to better meet the needs of our evolving Army Acquisition Workforce. The redesigned program is expected to launch the summer of 2021. ***
Defense Acquisition University‐Senior Service College Fellowship (DAU-SSCF)
This 10-month training and educational program is designed to prepare senior-level civilians for key acquisition and leadership roles, including product and project manager and program executive officer. All graduates receive equivalency for the Program Managers Course (PMT 401) and have the option to obtain a master’s degree.
Eligibility:
GS-14/15 civilians
Announcement Dates:
January – March 2021
Defense Civilian Emerging Leader Program (DCELP)
This DOD program focuses on developing emerging leaders in the acquisition, financial management, and human resources communities. Open to permanent Army Acquisition civilians at GS-7 through GS-12, DCELP consists of residential courses on leadership assessment, team development, effective writing and conflict resolution as well as online courses on the mission and culture of DOD.
Eligibility:
GS-7 to 12 civilians
DOD Public Private Talent Exchange (PPTE)
This groundbreaking program will serve as a platform for DOD and private sector participants to a) gain a better understanding of, and perspective on, each other’s business operations and challenges and b) share innovative and cost-saving practices. This exciting professional development opportunity will be considered a detail for participants from the DOD.
Eligibility:
GS 13-15 or AcqDemo-equivalent payband
Announcement Dates:
July 8 – Sept. 14, 2021
Inspiring and Developing Excellence in Acquisition Leaders (IDEAL)
Leader development program for current and future Army Acquisition Workforce supervisors. Multiple one‐week sessions over a period of approximately six months. Applicants must be GS-12, -13, or broadband equivalent and DAWIA certified in current position. Completion of Acquisition Leadership Challenge Program – I (ALCP-I) strongly recommended.
Eligibility:
GS-12/13 or broadband equivalent Civilians
Announcement Dates:
May 4 – July 29, 2021
May 4 – July 29, 2021
Leadership Excellence and Acquisition Development (LEAD)
The premier 24-30 month leadership development program offering expanded training through a series of education, leader development and broadening assignments to build skills required for positions of greater responsibility. The program is designed to enhance the leadership acumen of the Army’s civilian acquisition workforce. Participants are provided centrally funded leadership training and developmental assignments within the acquisition community.
Eligibility:
GS-12/13 and/or pay band equivalent civilians
Announcement Dates:
Oct. 26 – Nov. 27, 2020
Senior Enterprise Talent Management/Enterprise Talent Management
The Senior Enterprise Talent Management (SETM) and Enterprise Talent Management (ETM) are Army talent management programs created to produce senior civilian leaders with an enterprise perspective who could serve in increasing levels of responsibility. SETM is just one of the many programs developed under the Civilian Workforce Transformation initiative and is administered by the Civilian Senior Leader Management Office (CSLMO), Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs).
Eligibility:
GS‐14, GS‐15, or broadband equivalent; Acquisition Corps member; bachelor’s degree; DAWIA Level III in current position; CES Advanced; Secret clearance.
Announcement Dates:
March 1 – May 15, 2021
Emerging Enterprise Leader (EEL) Program
The EEL initiative is an effort to expand the Army’s enterprise leadership development efforts to emerging leaders at the GS-11/12 levels. The USAASC EEL initiative is a one year developmental program which provides aspiring leaders in the grades GS-11 and GS-12 (or equivalent) within the Program Executive Offices (PEOs) and USAASC Headquarters with specialized junior leader development.
Eligibility:
GS-11/12 Civilians
DoD College Acquisition Internship Program (DCAIP)
The DoD College Acquisition Internship Program (DCAIP) is an opportunity for Army acquisition organizations to hire eligible college students for a 10-week paid summer internship. Upon a student’s successful completion of the internship, the organization may noncompetitively convert the individual to a permanent position in the acquisition workforce.
Eligibility:
Army acquisition organizations who seek to hire a college sophomore or junior for a term position, with the intent to convert the intern to a permanent AAW position upon program completion may participate in DCAIP.
Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA)
The Defense Acquisition University (DAU) provides mandatory, assignment-specific and continuing education courses for military and civilian acquisition personnel within DOD. Its mission is to provide a global learning environment to support a mission-ready Defense Acquisition Workforce that delivers and sustains effective and affordable warfighting capabilities.
Civilian Education System (CES)
The Civilian Education System (CES) is a progressive and sequential leader development program that provides enhanced educational opportunities for Army Civilians throughout their careers. CES provides multiple levels of Civilian development to include the Foundation Course, Basic Course, Intermediate Course, Advanced Course, Continuing Education for Senior Leaders, Supervisor Development Course, Organizational Leader Development Course, Manager Development Course, and Action Officer Development Course.
ETHICS
Army Acquisition Workforce (AAW) members are required to complete ethics training every calendar year. Options to meet the requirement include: Attend any installation or organizational judge advocate general-sponsored ethics training (ETH 007); Overview of Acquisition Ethics (CLM 003) – DAU Continuous Learning Module; Ethics at Work (HBS 415) – DAU Continuous Learning Module; or watch the 16-minute DAU online Ethics Video (ETH 007) or the Army OGC Annual Ethics Online Training.
Acquisition Tuition Assistance Program (ATAP)
The tuition assistance program primarily supports the educational requirements in the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) for permanent civilians and Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 51 Contracting (51C) Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs). ATAP also funds required courses towards Army Acquisition Corps (AAC) membership or acquisition/business related courses towards a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Eligibility:
Acquisition Workforce with exceptions (All civilian grades/military NCO’s)
Announcement Dates:
Jan. 4 – Mar. 5, 2021
Senior Enterprise Talent Management / Enterprise Talent Management
The Senior Enterprise Talent Management (SETM) and Enterprise Talent Management (ETM) are Army talent management programs created to produce senior civilian leaders with an enterprise perspective who could serve in increasing levels of responsibility. SETM is just one of the many programs developed under the Civilian Workforce Transformation initiative and is administered by the Civilian Senior Leader Management Office (CSLMO), Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs).
Eligibility:
GS‐14, GS‐15, or broadband equivalent; Acquisition Corps member; bachelor’s degree; DAWIA Level III in current position; CES Advanced; Secret clearance.
Announcement Dates: March 1 – May 15, 2021
Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP)
The annually funded program is designed to repay federally insured student loans as a retention incentive for civilian acquisition employees with critical acquisition skills.
The NPS-MSSPM gives participants the opportunity to obtain a Master’s of Science Degree in Systems and Program Management, a certificate in Systems Engineering and earn Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act training equivalencies in various acquisition career fields outlined in the current announcement within two years, on a part-time basis. Students take two distance learning courses per quarter for eight consecutive quarters. The Army DACM Office sponsors the program and will fund the cost of books and tuition.
Eligibility:
Civilian Acquisition Workforce GS‐11 – GS‐15 or equivalent
Announcement Dates:
April 1 – May 31, 2021
Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Systems Engineering Non-Resident Master’s Degree Program (MSSE) With a System of Systems Focus
The NPS-MSSE gives participants the opportunity to obtain an MS in systems engineering within two years, on a part-time basis. Students take two distance learning courses per quarter for eight consecutive quarters. The Army DACM Office sponsors the program, and will fund the cost of books and tuition.
Eligibility:
Civilian Acquisition Workforce GS‐11 – GS‐15 or equivalent
Announcement Dates:
April 1 – May 31, 2021
