Acquisition experience
Experience gained in a coded acquisition billet will be credited at 100% in the career field associated with the billet assignment. The experience “clock” begins tracking when the billet assignment flows to the DON eDACM system and continues tracking during the current tour only.
Acquisition-related and non-coded experience
Acquisition-related experience may be credited if an assignment duties and responsibilities support cost, schedule and performance of defense acquisition programs, systems or sub-systems, but the billet duties did not meet the DoD “50% rule” for officially designating it as acquisition. Acquisition-related experience may be credited at 50%.
PERS-447 is no longer involved with experience assessments. Officers should coordinate experience assessments offline with their respective OCM. Refer to the Officer Quick Reference Guide at the right for details and instructions.
Substituting acquisition-related education for experience
When a DAWIA requirement states that four (4) or more years of acquisition experience is required, formal education credentials can help individuals earn experience credit. Terms:
1. Individual holds an acquisition-related graduate degree (also considered – graduation from USNTPS, Nuclear Power Training).
2. The experience standard to satisfy is 48 months or longer.
3. Once credited for one (1) career field certification, it may not be re-used to meet multiple certification requirements. However, the substitution may be used for one certification and then for Acquisition Professional Membership (APM).
Acquisition Career Field Certifications
Officers assigned to coded acquisition billets – Once all experience, training and formal education standards are satisfied, request certification via the appropriate module on the eDACM system. Use the applicant remarks boxes if eDACM lacks data on one of the standards, but you have supporting documentation to justify approval.
Officers not currently assigned to coded acquisition billets – Via the OCM, the Director, Acquisition Talent Management (DATM) office will consider acquisition certification requests from officers under the following conditions:
1. Officer recently departed an acquisition billet, meets the current standards, but did not have an opportunity to certify.
2. Officer meets the standards and is officially enroute (with orders) to an acquisition billet.
3. Officer previously assigned to an acquisition billet and is required to meet the AQD for a promotion board within the next four (4) months.
Note: The DATM office does not accept offline requests for certification from individual officers. If you do not occupy an acquisition-coded billet, coordinate your experience assessments and certification requests through your OCM.
Acquisition Professional Membership (APM)
The FY20 NDAA terminated the Defense Acquisition Corps. In February 2020, the DON renamed the program to Acquisition Professional Membership (APM). To continue to support national objectives by providing our forces with the best weapon systems in the world, officers must be ready to assume the leadership roles in critical acquisition billets.
APM is an important acquisition career milestone, and a factor in distinguishing between candidates for major acquisition commands. Officers are encouraged to meet the standards and apply for membership before you are officially detailed to Critical Acquisition and Key Leadership Positions.
Officers in acquisition-coded and non-coded billets who have chosen an acquisition career path, and who meet the eligibility standards, are encouraged to apply for membership through eDACM. See the Officer Quick Reference Guide at right for details and instructions.
FAQ
How do I know which certifications are in my service record?
Your level of certification for each career field is entered in your service record as an Additional Qualification Designator (AQD). AQDs appear on your OSR/PSR cover sheet and on your ODC.
How is Acquisition Professional Membership (APM) recorded in my service record?
Membership displayed on your OSR/PSR cover sheet and ODC as “APM”
If I hold membership in the Defense Acquisition Corps do I need to apply for APM?
No - Acquisition Corps membership is grandfathered to APM. The service record AQDs are the same.
I'm a Navy Selected Reserve officer. Can I apply for career field certification?
SELRES community managers must coordinate Reserve officer certification and waiver requests with PERS-9 and the Office of the Director, Acquisition Talent Management (DATM) for approval. SELRES AWF members may earn certification at the level required by the billet only. SELRES are not authorized for subsidiary career field certifications.