Civilian Training Opportunities

AFPC - Civilian Career Model

Are you doing exceptional work and aspire to be the best functional expert/leader you can be? If your answer is "yes," then check out the new framework for developing civilians, referred to as the "Civilians We Need" Career Model created by AFPC.

The video is a 13-minute presentation produced by AFPC/PA in October 2022, which highlights the DAF-level roadmaps representing desired attributes developed for the Enterprise Leader and Functional Expert/Leader tracks. Use these roadmaps as guides to career decision making, today!

Civilian Career Roadmap: Functional Experts/Leaders

This roadmap is designed for civilians who aspire to be functional experts with deep technical knowledge in their field and/or aspire into functional-specific leadership roles up to and possibly including Senior-Leader, Scientific or Professional leader positions.

Civilian Career Roadmap: Enterprise Leaders

This roadmap is designed for civilians who aspire to enterprise leader positions with the DAF up to and possibly including Senior Executive Service positions.

AFDW Civilian Professional Development Resources

Civilian Functional Training (CATNIP)

Program Element (PE) 88751 Training

Who: The Air Force Education Management System (AFAEMS) SF 182 is used by the Career Field Team (CFT), CONUS Employee Development Specialists (EDS) and Department of the Air Force (DAF) civilian employees requesting funding for government and non-government vendor training approved in the Civilian Automated Training Input Program (CATNIP) during the annual data call process.

What: The SF 182 is used to collect information documenting the approval and completion of employee training under the authority of 5 USC § 4115, a provision of the Government Employees Training Act (GETA).

Why: The training information provided on the completed SF 182 becomes part of the permanent employee record and is subject to all published routine uses of the system of records.

When: When a training need is identified and approved in CATNIP, the employee or group training POC contacts the vendor to gather information for the course dates, location, and cost.

Where: The DAF civilian employee reviews the Civilian Employee Process Guide and logs in to the Air Force Virtual Education Center (AFVEC) to complete the automated SF 182 process.

How: Create the applicable training Goal in AFVEC and after supervisor approval, apply for training under the goal to begin the automated SF182 application and apply for funding. The CFT or EDS completes the group training request under the AFAEMS Students menu and adds attendees after the request is approved. Attendees must log in to AFVEC and select the Funding Request link, then click the Group Training Request tab to sign the group training agreement.

Create the request for funding at least 30 days before the class start date, but no later than fourteen (14) calendar days before the course start date (CSD) to ensure funding is committed by the payment due date in the event there are questions or necessary corrections.

If the vendor’s advertised payment due date is more than 30 days prior to the CSD, submit the funding request at least ten (10) calendar days before the pay-by date. Exceptions are be reviewed by AFPC/DPCZLF on a case-by-case basis.

The application is routed to the employee’s first and second level supervisor for digital signature. Once the AFVEC Funding Request is approved, the employee or group training POC contacts the vendor and registers for training.

NOTE: Civilian Functional Training needs assessments are conducted on an annual basis. Reach out to your Functional Managers if you are not familiar with your career field training requirements by grade. Also, contact your servicing Employee Development Specialist (EDS) or Unit POC for PE 88751 submissions and important reminders.

Civilian Tuition Assistance (Civ TA)

Civilian Tuition Assistance is an Air Force program that is handled by AFPC/DPCZLF, the Civilian Functional Training and Education Section. Civ TA goal is to assist civilians in their continued self-development. It can be used toward coursework at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s (including Juris Doctorate), and doctorate levels at accredited institutions listed in the DoD Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding directory of Participating Institutions. CIV TA is to be used for courses that contribute to occupational and institutional competencies, special interest needs and readiness by supporting the current and future DAF needs. Note, Installation Education Centers Do Not accomplish these duties!

Civilians' Supervisor and Employee Resources

Explore the civilians’ Supervisor and Employee Resources!

Points of contact