Civilian developmental education applications due beginning in March

  • Published
  • By Debbie Gildea
  • Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Air Force civilians interested in developmental education should work on their nomination packages now, Air Force Personnel Center officials advised.

The official call for nominations will be in March, but some people may need more time to gather information and coordinate their package, said Joan Gudinas, AFPC civilian developmental education program manager.

"Waiting until the last minute to prepare your package may result in preventable errors," said Gudinas. "Developmental teams and CDE board members noted last year that there were spelling, grammar and punctuation errors that could have been avoided. There are frequently other errors too - like using the wrong forms and format - that can be avoided if you start now and contact us when you have questions."

A variety of CDE programs are available for civilians at every level, including Civilian Acculturation and Leadership Training, Defense Civilian Emerging Leader Program, Squadron Officer School, Education with Industry, and intermediate and senior developmental education, Gudinas said.

Options vary by grade, she explained, so AFPC has scheduled several March webcasts that will focus on opportunities available to civilians in each grade. Webcasts will be held at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. central standard time March 1 for GS 14 and 15; March 8 for GS 12 and 13; and March 15, 21 and 29 for GS-7 through 11. Developmental education experts will provide a presentation during each webcast, followed by question and answer periods.

A big change this year, Gudinas said, is that applicants are no longer required to have 12 months in their current position to be able to apply.

"In the past some civilian employees who were ready for developmental opportunities were unable to pursue them because of the 12 month requirement," she said. "That not only affected their ability to pursue personal goals, but also delayed their ability to gain knowledge from CDE experiences to help improve the Air Force. That didn't make sense, so the requirement has been eliminated."

Another change benefits senior civilians. This year, GS-14 and GS-15 civilians will be able to apply for the Defense Senior Leader Development Program for academic years 2013 and 2014.

"This year, we are advertising both academic years to align the Air Force selection process with the tight DOD timeline," said Gudinas. "The nomination sheet from the DOD application is the only portion required initially when applying for DSLDP. Once employees have been vectored by their developmental teams, we will contact them to have them complete their DOD application."

The nomination process starts with the employee, Gudinas said. The first step is for an interested employee to complete the AF IMT (form) 4059, and submit it to their supervisor for coordination and approval through the chain of command.

"The coordination process could take time, so that's another reason to start preparing the package now," Gudinas said. "The first general officer, Senior Executive Service member or installation or wing commander in your chain of command must endorse the nomination. We recommend that you provide your leadership with ample time to review and sign off on your package."

In addition, Gudinas explained, the submission process this year will require that employees submit their own application packages to AFPC via the Air Force Personnel Services website after the packages have been coordinated through the chain of command. Instructions for submission will be included in the March call for applications, she said.

When completing the application form, Gudinas reminds applicants that they can identify up to three programs.

"Don't limit yourself to one program - take advantage of all the opportunities you can," she said.

Packages will be due May 1, with developmental team boards slated to meet during the summer to rank and vector the packages. The CDE board will convene in the early fall and final approval of primary and alternate candidates will be released around October.

"CDE is part of the civilian continuum of learning that ensures the right combination of education, training and experience is available to help all Airmen develop as Air Force leaders," said Gudinas. "Opportunities are out there, but Airmen must put the time and effort into the process and apply for the opportunity to compete."

For more information about civilian developmental education opportunities and other personnel issues, visit the Air Force Personnel Services website at https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil.