ARMY AL&T

U.S. Soldiers discuss the contract of the Al Mayah Primary School in Basra, Iraq, with the construction company manager on June 18, 2009. (U.S. Army photo by Chrissy Best, Joint Combat Camera Center Iraq.)

Military Proponency Functional Area (FA) 51

LTC Kenneth Gambles, MAJ(P) Ellsworth K. Johnson III, and SGM Ethan A. Jones

he U.S. Army Acquisition Corps (AAC) consists of commissioned officers, noncommissioned officers (NCOs), and Department of the Army (DA) civilians. Commissioned officers in the AAC are designated as FA51 officers and can be assigned to 5 of the 13 acquisition career fields (ACFs), while NCOs are managed through a specific Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) 51C-Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology (AL&T) Contracting NCO. Unique functions performed by the Army acquisition workforce are based in statute and cannot be performed by non-acquisition personnel. The applicable statute is contained in the Defense Acquisition

Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA), consisting of Title 10 United States Code, Sections 1701-1764, and further referenced in the DoD Instruction 5000 series. FA51 officers effectively and efficiently develop, acquire, field, test and evaluate, and sustain materiel by leveraging domestic, organic, commercial and foreign technologies, and capabilities to meet the Armys current and future mission requirements. MOS 51C NCOs are in the contracting ACF and function as warranted contingency contracting officers responsible for acquiring critical supplies, services, and minor contractual operations in support of Army, joint, and coalition expeditionary forces.
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ARMY AL&T

The U.S. Army Acquisition Support Center (USAASC) serves as the Proponent of Military FA51-Acquisition. Our Military Proponency Ofcers and Chief NCO Proponent Sergeant Major are responsible for advising and assisting the Director, Acquisition Career Management (DACM)/Deputy DACM in establishing personnel management policies that attract, develop, educate, and retain acquisition ofcers and NCOs to support the total force using the eight life-cycle management functions per applicable legislation and DOD, joint, and Army regulations and policies. FA51 proponency ofcers provide force structure, acquisition, distribution, professional development, deployment, compensation, sustainment, and transition information. In addition, the proponency ofcers provide the following career development assistance: Advise Soldiers on career progression and promotion opportunities. Monitor accessions and approve reclassications, certications, and separations. Survey and communicate with Soldiers in the eld on proponent topics. Monitor Soldier strength within the AAC. Implement personnel management policies and procedures. Military ofcers interested in joining the AAC are encouraged to consider applying to the annual accession board. The accession board focuses on attracting ofcers at the senior captain or major level who are branch-qualied and have at least 24 undergraduate business hours. NCOs at the sergeant, sergeant promotable, staff sergeant, and sergeant rst class (SFC) level with less than 10 years of service who are interested in being reclassied into MOS 51C can apply under an open continuous process. The FA51 proponency will assess and submit reclassication actions through the U.S. Army Human
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MOS 51C NCOs are in the contracting ACF and function as warranted contingency contracting ofcers responsible for acquiring critical supplies, services, and minor contractual operations in support of Army, joint, and coalition expeditionary forces.

Resources Command Reclassication Branch using the Whole Soldier Concept. Leadership experience at the squad leader, drill sergeant, section sergeant, recruiter, inspector general, or as an NCO-in-Charge leading troops provides a signicant advantage for reclassication. Donor branches must be in balance or over strength. In addition, NCOs considering reclassication into MOS 51C who have not completed the Basic NCO Course will get credit after attending the Army Acquisition Basic Course (AABC) in Huntsville, AL, or the Mission Ready Airman Contracting Course at Lackland Air Force Base, TX. Details for both the ofcer accessions and the NCO reclassication process can be found on USAASCs Web site at http:// asc.army.mil/career/military.cfm. As the proponent for FA51 ofcers and MOS 51C NCOs, USAASC is able to provide state-of-the-art acquisition courses to the AL&T community. In addition to these courses providing pertinent information to Active Component ofcers and NCOs, many of these courses have limited quota slots that enable us to offer these educational and training opportunities to civilian and Reserve Component personnel as well. Changes occur that dictate adjustment of course curriculum, and as the 51 proponents, USAASC evolves these courses to meet critical needs. As the AACs military contracting force structure continues to change and grow in support of expeditionary forces, installations, and global DOD missions, it is necessary to continue building a viable and solid training institution that provides for the professional development

and certication needs of its acquisition professionals. Starting in FY10, the AAC will integrate the following acquisition courses for its AAC professionals.

NCO Training
Acquisition Noncommissioned Ofcers Leadership Course (ANLC )This 1-week performance-oriented course prepares SFCs and master sergeants for positions of responsibility as a unit rst sergeant (1SG) and to perform both tactical and garrison-related 1SG duties. ANLC provides leadership training to senior acquisition MOS 51C NCOs. The maximum number of students per class is 20.

Officers, NCOs, and Civilian Training

FA51 Basic Qualication Course (BQC ) The FA51 BQC consists of the AABC, Acquisition Intermediate Program Management (AIPM) Course, Army Acquisition Intermediate Contracting Course (AAICC), and the Army Intermediate Contracting Laboratory (AICL). AABCThe AABC trains AL&T Workforce ofcers, NCOs, and civilians so they will be prepared for entry-level workforce positions by providing DAWIA Level I training in program management (PM) and contracting. This 5-week graduate-level course provides a broad spectrum of information pertaining to the materiel acquisition process. It covers the legal and regulatory policies and objectives that shape the acquisition process and the implementation of these policies and objectives by the U.S. Army. Areas of coverage include

ARMY AL&T

Figure 1. Professional Development Model (Ofcer)

RANK SKILL LEVEL

CPT
CONTRACTING OFFICER CCT CONTRACTING BN STAFF OFFICER CONTRACTING BDE STAFF OFFICER

MAJ
CONTRACTING OFFICER TEAM LDR CCT CONTRACTING BN STAFF OFFICER

LTC
CSL CONTRACTING COMMAND CONTRACTING OFFICER SCCT LDR CONTRACTING BRIGADE STF OFFICER

COL
CSL CONTRACTING CMD/PARC

OPERATING FORCE

GENERATING FORCE ASSIGNMENT (not all inclusive) PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION CAREER DEVELOPMENT FUNCTIONAL TRAINING SELF DEVELOPMENT (STRUCTURED) SELF DEVELOPMENT (GUIDED) CIVILIAN EDUCATION GOALS CERTIFICATIONS READING LIST

ASSISTANT PRODUCT MANAGER OPERATIONAL TEST OFFICER COMBAT DEVELOPER

ASA(ALT)/DA STAFF OFF/ASSIGN OFF CONTRACTING OFFICER (USACE/DOD) DEPUTY PROJECT MANAGER OPERATIONAL TEST OFFICER COMBAT DEVELOPER AABC/AAICC/LAB INTERMEDIATE LEVEL EDUCATION INTERMEDIATE QUALIFICATION COURSE

CSL PRODUCT MANAGER CONTRACTING TM LD (USACE/DOD) ASA(ALT)/DA STAFF OFFICER DIRECTOR OF CONTRACTING DEPUTY PROJECT OFFICER

CSL PROJECT MANAGER DEPUTY PEO ASA(ALT)/DA STAFF OFFICER ECC/ACC STAFF OFFICER

CPT CAREER COURSE AABC/AAICC/LAB

PRE-COMMAND COURSE

SENIOR SERVICE COLLEGE PRE-COMMAND COURSE

FUNCTIONAL EXPERIENCE

BROADENING EXPERIENCE

STRATEGIC EXPERIENCE

ASI: 5P (PARACHUTIST) ASI: 3B (AIR ASSAULT)

ASI: IX (GRN LEAN SIX SIGMA)

ASI: IY (BLK LEAN SIX SIGMA) ASI: A3 (FORCE DEVELOPMENT)

MISSION SUPPORT TRAINING CONTINUOUS LEARNING POINTS

MISSION SUPPORT TRAINING CONTINUOUS LEARNING POINTS

CONTINUOUS LEARNING POINTS

CONTINUOUS LEARNING POINTS

ADVANCED CIVIL SCHOOLING TRAINING WITH INDUSTRY

BA/BS 24 HOURS (BUSINESS) DAWIA LEVEL I/II

MA/MS (BUSINESS DISCIPLINE)

MA/MS

MA/MS

DAWIA LEVEL II/III REIMER LIBRARY/ACCP/SMARTBOOK

DAWIA LEVEL III REIMER LIBRARY/ACCP/SMARTBOOK

DAWIA LEVEL III REIMER LIBRARY/ACCP

fundamentals of system acquisition management and contracting. Ofcers, NCOs with the rank of E-5 or E-6, and civilians GS-7 through GS-13 or broad/pay band equivalent are encouraged to apply. The maximum number of students per class is 48. AIPM CourseThis 3-week graduatelevel course provides a broad spectrum of knowledge pertaining to the materiel acquisition process. The AIPM Course trains ofcers and civilians in the AL&T Workforce so that they will be prepared for entryand mid-level acquisition positions by providing DAWIA Level II training in PM and systems planning, research, development, and engineering management. Areas of coverage include PM, science and technology management, information technology, and systems engineering. Ofcers must be captains or majors and civilians must be GS-7 through GS-13 or broad/pay band equivalent

to apply. The maximum number of students per class is 42. AAICCThe AAICC trains AL&T Workforce military and civilian personnel. Ofcers, NCOs, and civilians who successfully complete this course will be prepared for mid-level positions in contracting organizations and regionalized rotational assignments by receiving DAWIA Level II training in contracting. This 4-week course provides the AL&T Workforce with Defense Acquisition Universityequivalent training in intermediate contracting and emphasizes Army doctrine and Army-unique system acquisition procedures and organizations throughout its curriculum. AAICC addresses Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR ) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFAR ) principles as well as managing, performing, and administering contracting functions for commodities, services, and construction using acquisition procedures, negotiation, and other

approved methods. Ofcers, NCOs with the rank of E-7, and civilians GS-7 through GS-13 or broad/pay band equivalent are encouraged to apply. The maximum number of students per class is 42. AICLThe AICL trains ofcers, NCOs, and civilians on contingency contracting and on how to use Procurement Desktop-Defense (PD2) software. AICL is applicable for Contingency Contracting Teams; Directorates of Contracting at posts, camps, and stations; Contracting Ofces within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and other organizations using PD2 software. This 2-week course develops skills needed for contracting support provided to joint forces across the full spectrum of military and disaster relief operations. PD2 is a software tool that supports all phases of the procurement cycle, from entering the customers requirements to closing out or terminating the contract. PD2 divides the major
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ARMY AL&T

As the proponent for FA51 ofcers and MOS 51C NCOs, USAASC is able to provide state-of-the-art acquisition courses to the AL&T community.
procurement functions into requirements, pre-award/award, and post award. Ofcers, NCOs with the rank of E-7, and civilians GS-7 through GS-13 or broad/pay band equivalent are encouraged to apply. The maximum number of students per class is 36. Contracting Ofcers Representative (COR ) CourseThis 5-day course provides students with an overview of the contracting process, with the major emphasis on contract administration. Discussions focus on services, supplies, medical, and construction contracts. The course helps students become familiar with statutory laws and regulations that govern the contracting process with emphasis on the FAR and DFAR. The COR Course prepares ofcers, NCOs, and civilians for contract surveillance positions in government agencies. It trains individuals so they can be certied as a COR by their organizations contracting ofcer. This course is open to anyone who works with defense contractors and serves as refresher training for those who have served as CORs for 25 years. The maximum number of students per class is 36.

Intermediate Level Education to obtain Military Education Level 4. In addition to AAC majors (YG 94), DA civilians enrolled in the Competitive Development Group/ Army Acquisition Fellowship Program (GS-13 or broad/pay band equivalents) and senior AL&T contracting NCOs attend the 4-week course (20 training days) at the University of Texas-Austins Institute for Advanced Technology and collocated with the Senior Service College Fellows Program. Beginning in FY10, we will offer 5 classes per year with 35 seats in each. The proposed dates for 2010 are: Class 1 Jan. 25Feb. 19; Class 2 April 26May 21; Class 3 July 12Aug. 6; Class 4 Sept. 6Oct. 1; and Class 5 Oct. 25Nov. 19. The Career Developmental Model (see Page 6) provides details for AAC success. AAC key goals include accessing qualied personnel, meeting DAWIA/regulatory and statutory

NCO and Officer Training

FA51 Intermediate Qualication Course (IQC )The IQC is designed for AAC ofcers, Year Group (YG) 94 and subsequent, to attend in conjunction with the Armys Core

Figure 2. Professional Development Model (51C NCO)

RANK SKILL LEVEL OPERATING FORCE ASSIGNMENT

SL3-SSG
CONTRACTING CONTRACTING CONTRACTING CONTRACTING NCO NCO NCO NCO CCT SCCT BN STAFF BDE STAFF

SL4-SFC
CONTRACTING NCO TEAM LDR CCT CONTRACTING NCO BN OPS & REQ CONTRACTING NCO BDE OPS & REQ CONTRACTING NCO BDE PLANS & POLICY CONTRACTING NCO BN PLANS & POLICY INSTRUCTOR CAREER MANAGEMENT NCO CONTRACTING NCO TEAM LDR

SL5-MSG
CONTRACTING NCO PLANS & OPS SCCT CONTRACTING NCO PLANS & OPS BDE

SL5-SGM/CSM
CSM ACC CSM ECC CSM MICC CSM CSB SGM CCBN AAC REGIMENTAL SGM CHIEF NCO PROPONENT

GENERATING FORCE ASSIGNMENT

DRILL SGT

CONTRACTING CBT DEV NCO CONTRACTING POLICY AND COMPLIANCE NCO CONTRACTING NCO PLANS & OPS FIRST SERGEANT INTERMEDIATE QUALIFICATION CRS

PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION ARMY WAR TRAINING FUNCTIONAL TRAINING

BNCOC MISSION READY AIRMAN COURSE (OR) ARMY ACQ. BASIC COURSE SL3 ARMY WARRIOR STP 51C SMCT 2-4 ASI: 8P (PARACHUTIST) ASI: 2B (AIR ASSAULT) SQI: X (DRILL) ASI: 2S (BATTLE STAFF) MISSION SUPPORT TRAINING CONTINUOUS LEARNING POINTS CLEP DANTE

ANCOC ARMY INTER CONTRACTING CRS CONTRACTING LAB SL4 ARMY WARRIOR STP 51C SMCT 2-4 ASI: ASI: ASI: ASI: 8P (PARACHUTIST) 8 (INSTRUCTOR) 2B (AIR ASSUALT) 2S (BATTLE STAFF)

SMC

SL5 ARMY WARRIOR STP 51C SQI: M (FIRST SERGEANT) ASI: IX (GRN LEAN SIX SIGMA) ASI: 2S (BATTLE STAFF) ASI: IX (GRN LEAN SIX SIGMA) ASI: IY (BLK LEAN SIX SIGMA) ASI: A3 (FORCE DEVELOPMENT)

SELF DEVELOPMENT (STRUCTURED) SELF DEVELOPMENT (GUIDED) DEGREE COMPLETION GOALS CREDENTIALING/CERTIFICATIONS READING LIST

MISSION SUPPORT TRAINING CONTINUOUS LEARNING POINTS SOCAD AARTS

CONTINUOUS LEARNING POINTS (DL) ACQUISITION TRAINING ACES 1SG CRS

CONTINUOUS LEARNING POINTS (DL) ACQUISITION TRAINING ARMY E-LEARNING

DEGREE COMPLETION PROGRAMS AA/BA/BS DAWIA LEVEL I/II ACCREDITION LEVEL I/II REIMER LIBRARY/ACCP/SMARTBOOK AA/BS/BA DAWIA LEVEL I/II ACCREDITION LEVEL I/II

LEADER DEVELOPMENT PROFILE BA/MS DAWIA LEVEL III

DEVELOPMENTAL COUNSELING BA/MS DAWIA LEVEL III

REIMER LIBRARY/ACCP/SMARTBOOK

REIMER LIBRARY/ACCP/SMARTBOOK

REIMER LIBRARY/ACCP

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ARMY AL&T

developmental guidance, placing them on a path to greater responsibility and opportunity in the AL&T Workforce. The acquisition leadership remains watchful to address the major challenges within the workforce and to ensure that acquisition personnel are appropriately developed per DOD and Army requirements.

An acquisition ofcer gives a presentation to visitors attending a public display of equipment prototypes and models the Army wants to design and eld to Soldiers in the future. (U.S. Army photo.)

requirements, developing trained and ready leaders, and providing quality education, training, and experiential opportunities. The quality military proponency ofcers at USAASC ensure that we meet these goals. The Army deliberately develops acquisition professionals according to well-dened career path models. Figures 1 and 2 on Pages 27 and 28 represent the career path models for military acquisition professionals and serve as a guide for developing military professionals within the acquisition workforce through experience, education, and training. These career models provide ample opportunity and experience for acquisition professionals at all ranks and provide a path for promotion and greater responsibility within the acquisition workforce. As dened by DA Pamphlet 600-3, Commissioned Ofcer Development and Career Management, the AAC is executing the FA51 Leader Development Plan. It is an end-to-end plan designed to prepare newly accessed AAC ofcers

for assignment to any acquisition organization and to develop them at the ranks of captain and major for positions of higher responsibility. The FA51 Leader Development Plan consists of the courses discussed earlier in this article. Additionally, the development of military acquisition workforce members is enhanced by the use of Senior Regional Acquisition Ofcers (SRAOs). Appointed by the DACM, SRAOs coordinate with other senior acquisition leaders to ensure that all ofcers assigned to their regions have a professional development plan that includes rotation through several ACFs and developmental opportunities to support acquisition excellence and agile, adaptive acquisition leaders. The AAC continues to implement initiatives to attract, train, and retain the highest quality enlisted personnel. Detailed information regarding MOS 51C is available at http://asc.army. mil/career/programs/nco/default.cfm. Using the published acquisition career path as a guide, leadership may provide each ofcer or NCO individual

LTC KENNETH GAMBLES is the 51A Proponency Ofcer for USAASC. He holds a B.A. in criminal justice from Saint Edwards University and an M.S. in management/acquisition and contract management from the Florida Institute of Technology. Gambles is an Infantry Advanced Course and Ofcers Candidate School graduate. MAJ(P) ELLSWORTH K. JOHNSON III is the 51C Proponent Ofcer for USAASC. He holds a B.A. in psychology from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. in systems acquisition management from the Naval Postgraduate School. Johnson is a U.S. Army Command and General Staff College graduate, is certied Level III in program management and Level II in contracting and information technology, and is an AAC member. SGM ETHAN A. JONES is the Senior Enlisted Advisor, Ofce of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for AL&T (ASAALT) and to the ASAALT Principal Military Deputy/ DACM. He also serves as the Chief NCO Proponent, Career Management Field 51-Acquisition, and MOS 51C-Contracting NCO. He holds a B.A. in public relations and mass communication from Paine University and is pursuing a masters degree in acquisition management from the University of Management and Technology. Jones is Level III certied in contracting and is an AAC member.

AAC key goals include accessing qualied personnel, meeting DAWIA/regulatory and statutory requirements, developing trained and ready leaders, and providing quality education, training, and experiential opportunities.

OCTOBERDECEMBER 2009

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