DAU TRAINING NEWS
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
The third and fourth quarter schedules for Defense Acquisition University (DAU) training will open for registration on Jan. 16. Students can register for DAU training via the Army Internet Training Application System (AITAS) or the DAU Virtual Campus, depending on the course. To know which system to use for registration, please visit the DAU iCatalog, navigate to the course you’re interested in and click on the “Apply for this Training” button near the top right of the course Concept Card.
AITAS BULLETIN BOARD
Students applying for training in AITAS should carefully read all announcements to ensure applications are valid and that they fully understand the policies and responsibilities outlined in both AITAS pop-ups and the Announcements section.
AITAS USER PROFILE
Before applying in AITAS, users must review their user profile data within AITAS. Users are expected to make any required updates to their user profile prior to submitting an application; failure to update your AITAS profile may result in your application being disapproved.
Most email addresses are now using @army.mil, so please ensure your email is current. Your AITAS email is used to notify you of actions taken on your application. Additionally, if you are in a pay band position, your pay plan and pay grade should reflect that; for example, your profile should show NH-04, not GS-15.
APPLY NOW TO THE DAU SENIOR SERVICE COLLEGE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
Now through Jan. 24, applications are being accepted for the Defense Acquisition University Senior Service College Fellowship (DAU-SSCF) program. DAU-SSCF is a 10-month educational senior leadership development opportunity for permanent GS-14/15 or broadband equivalent employees. DAU-SSCF is conducted under the auspices of the DAU through the Huntsville, Ala.; Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey; and virtual seminars. The virtual seminar is an excellent SSC/SSCF option for interested and eligible acquisition workforce members located outside of Huntsville and Picatinny. For details and how to apply, visit: https://asc.army.mil/web/career-development/programs/defense-acquisition-university-senior-service-college/
THIRD QUARTER FY 2025 ACQUISITION LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE PROGRAM (ALCP)
The third quarter FY 2025 ALCP application window is open now through Jan. 31. Offered in targeted iterations, ALCP is available to top-performing civilian and military AAW professionals at the GS-7 through GS-15 level, Functional Area 51 captains and majors, 51C staff sergeants and sergeants first class and term employees within the Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratories. The program ensures communication through common language and helps develop leaders who value individual styles and behaviors by creating a leadership corps more capable of critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork management, collaboration, and creative innovation.
ALCP uses self-awareness as the key to leadership and diversity development. Additionally, participants learn the role of self-awareness in creating an innovative culture by helping to understand each individual’s preferences and behaviors, how each interacts with their co-workers and how they are viewed by others. This approach includes addressing an individual’s unconscious biases and emphasizes the benefits of accepting individual differences to produce a stronger “whole.”
Nominations should be submitted through your lead Organizational Acquisition Point of Contact (OAP). All ALCP program details, including application and nomination processes and policies, can be found on the ALCP webpage at https://asc.army.mil/web/career-development/programs/acquisition-leadership-challenge-program.
OFFICERS – ADVANCED CIVIL SCHOOLING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY
The Army DACM Office is pleased to announce the Advanced Civil Schooling (ACS) Winter Moving Cycle “ACS 26-01” application window is currently open. The ACS program allows Army acquisition officers a chance to pursue advanced degrees in acquisition or business-related disciplines at civilian universities on a full-time, fully funded basis. ACS unlocks enhanced skills and acquisition experience through top-tier university programs. This opportunity is open now and the application window closes on March 1. The program runs from Oct. 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026. Go to the ACS webpage to learn more about the application process and eligibility: https://asc.army.mil/web/career-development/programs/advanced-civil-schooling/.
What’s New?
TWO ARMY ACQUISITION WORKFORCE MEMOS
Two Army Acquisition Workforce (AAW) memos were signed on Dec. 6:
- “Fiscal Year 2025 Army Acquisition Workforce Standards”
- “Mandatory Annual Ethics Training for the Army Acquisition Workforce”
The AAW workforce standards memorandum is published every fiscal year and outlines the standards that the Army Acquisition Executive has set for AAW professionals and their parent organizations. These standards comply with Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) statutory requirements and Army Director, Acquisition Career Management (DACM) policies. Topics covered in this memo include expectations regarding DAWIA certification grace periods, Individual Development Plans (IDP), Continuous Learning Points (CLP), Senior Rater Potential Evaluation (SRPE), Acquisition Ethics Training, and Fiscal Year 2024 compliance rates across the AAW in areas of certification, IDP, CLP, SRPE, and acquisition ethics training completion. Starting February 2025, some AAW professionals’ 3-year certification grace periods will expire. For more details on grace periods visit: https://asc.army.mil/web/document/mandatory-annual-ethics-training-for-the-army-acquisition-workforce/
The AAW ethics memo provides supplemental guidance to the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (USD(AT&L)) memorandum, dated Jan. 15, 2014, reinforcing the requirement that all AAW members must complete annual ethics training by Sept. 30 of each year. The memo provides details about courses that meet this requirement. For more details, visit: https://asc.army.mil/web/document/fy24-army-acquisition-workforce-standards/
CONTRACTING EXAM PREP WEBINAR – EVENT RECORDING IS NOW AVAILABLE
If you were unable to attend the DAU CON 3900V/3910 CON Exam Prep Course and CON 3990V Certification Exam Webinar, the recording is now available on the DAU event page. DAU led a webinar to discuss the latest news about the CON Certification Prep Course(s) (CON 3900V/CON 3910) and the CON Certification Exam (CON 3990V) highlighting relevant statistics and information, and lessons learned to date. Viewing is encouraged for all 1102s and their supervisors. Future students and their supervisors will come away with a better understanding of what the exam entails through the course. The slides and recording are available here: https://www.dau.edu/events/con-3900v/3910-con-exam-prep-courses-and-con-3990v-certification-exam.
STAY IN THE KNOW WITH YOUR ACQUISITION FUNCTIONAL AREA
Are you interested in reading about the latest career development guidance and news for your Acquisition Functional Area (AFA)? Do you need information about the current credentials, certification requirements, competencies, and career models? If so, we encourage you to visit the Army DACM Office’s Functional Area main webpage (https://asc.army.mil/web/dacm-office/functional-areas/), This site links to each of the seven AFA webpages for a one-stop shop for Army Acquisition Workforce (AAW) members to find important resources!
Additionally, FY25-26 Recommended Continuous Learning Point memorandums, signed by the Army Acquisition Functional Leader (AAFL) and OSD Functional Area Leader, can be found in the link above. Please let us know if you have any suggestions for improvement – we are always striving to make these AFA webpages a valuable and useful tool for our AAW members!
Reminders
NEW HIRES – AAW ONBOARDING COURSE IS AVAILABLE
If you were recently hired into the AAW, you’ll want to sign up for the “Welcome to the Army Acquisition Workforce” course. This course should be completed within the first few months of joining the acquisition workforce as it offers a dynamic overview of:
- The Army Acquisition Workforce.
- Training and certification standards.
- Tools and resources.
- Career models.
- Development and leadership opportunities.
- Staying connected.
To access and begin taking the course, navigate to the Army Training Information System (ATIS) Learning home page at https://learn.atis.army.mil/moodle. (Chrome or Edge browsers are recommended.)
- Login to EAMS-A-Single Sign-On (CAC login).
- Click the CATALOG tab.
- Locate the Welcome to the Army Acquisition Workforce course in the list of Published courses, or enter the course name in the Search field, and click the search icon.
- Select the Register & Launch button, which will take you directly where you can launch the Learning Assignment(s) required for the course.
There is a downloadable resources guide included with the course. You are highly encouraged to download and save a copy of this resources guide for your records. Once you have closed the course topic, your completion will show up on your ATIS LEARNING MY CERTIFICATES page. Click the certificate File icon to view and download the course certificate of completion.
