Hi all. Long time lurker, first time poster.

I am currently AD USAF enlisted. My time in the Air Force is quickly coming to a close and the reality of my future is weighing heavy on my mind. I have been told from day 1 in contracting that the job prospects on the outside are plentiful for "people like us" but first hand examples tend to be harder to come by.

Do any of you have experience or know people that have succesfully made the transition to civil service or private sector contract admin?

From the eyes of a hiring authority is my experience enough to get into a GS-12 position?

Experience.

6 years experience operational contracting.

1 year as warranted CO with limit of 150k. No termination authority.

3 years as warranted CO with $2m limit. No termination authority. (current warrant and used regularly)

Experience in Commodities, Formal Services, and Construction.

APDP Level 1 (they restrict attendance to lvl 2 in residence courses to members who re-enlist)

CFCM

CPCM (will have done before I leave the service)

Thanks for your replies.

I think you'll be competitive for a GS-12. Just beware that USAJOBS is one of the most frustrating websites around and the hiring process, in my opinion, generally stinks.

I think you'll be competitive for a GS-12. Just beware that USAJOBS is one of the most frustrating websites around and the hiring process, in my opinion, generally stinks.

Thanks for the reply. I have heard that USAJOBS is indeed a rage inducing website. The only people I have known to use it succesfully have been "by name" hires.

Hi, Johnsoee.

I was in your position 5 years ago. I had 9 years of experience and the certifications that go with it. I made the transition to the private sector as a Senior Subcontract Administrator. I am now a Contract Manager.

I believe the AF has a program that will direct hire (no competition) contracting folks into a GS-11 position. Not sure if the program is still active. Send me a PM in WIFCON and we can chat more.

I have a couple friends that had less experience (former AD Enlisted) than you and they are both GS-13s now after 7ish years.

Josh

Johnsoee,

I believe that there is also still a direct hire authority for federal agencies for the 1102 series (someone can correct me if this is no longer the case). You can leverage this through your network (and I know that the USAF has a very good and robust network). Get on list serves like this, GovLoop, and NCMA. Further feel free to contact me offline. There remaind high turnover with 1102's and you shouldn't have a problem. That said...this perspective is based on the DC metro area. If you are in another region of the country (or world) then it may not apply.

*** Note - I just checked the OPM website and it appears that 1102's are no longer on the list. That is a pity if this is in fact the case. Some of the best CO's I know entered the agency workforce through this program. That being said...with your veteran preference and training you should not have much of a problem. Start applying now. If someone likes you then will keep the spot open and work with you. The offer to contact me offline still applies.

The issue of coming on board with the Government as a GS1102 is having a Bachelors degree with 24 hours of business credit. I have to assume you are DAWIA level II at least with your warrant. If you have these 3 things the Department of State in Washington needs you. I think we have a advertisement on USAJobs because of the Direct Hiring Authority. We have many ex-Air Force including me.

Department of the Interior has an Acquisition Development Management Program that posts vacancy announcements throughout the year. It's a 2 year term appointment under the Pathways program (where veterans' preference applies) and folks are brought in on a 9/11/12 PD. DOI (one of my coworkers) runs the program but the positions are funded by various agencies. DOI has an agreement with Office of Personnel Management that allows the individuals to be hired by the funding agency at the end of the program (usually a Pathways term appt can only be converted by the agency holding the position). Participants are DOI employees during the program, receive all needed training for FAC-C Level 1 or 2 depending on the funding agency requirement. Can find some info at https://doiu.doi.gov/programs/acquisitionInstitute.html. May be too junior for you. We currently have a cohort for DOD Washington Headquarters Service and are about to recruit for a cohort for Interior's Acquisition Group.

The issue of coming on board with the Government as a GS1102 is having a Bachelors degree with 24 hours of business credit. I have to assume you are DAWIA level II at least with your warrant. If you have these 3 things the Department of State in Washington needs you. I think we have a advertisement on USAJobs because of the Direct Hiring Authority. We have many ex-Air Force including me.

Folks with DoD experience too often assume the DAWIA applies to all federal agencies. It doesn't. Many (most?) federal agencies other than DoD can and do hire 1102s without degrees so long as they have the business classes. Non-degreed 1102s are limited to GS12 however, as GS13 requires the degree per OPM.

Boof - Thanks for point out that you folks are still using this authority. I don't know what I was looking at before but now see that GW-004 still covers agencies and the 1102 series (http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/direct-hire-authority/#url=Governmentwide-Authority).

This is a powerful tool for managers and HR folks to fill their staffing needs with good people, if they know how to use it effectively.

The issue of coming on board with the Government as a GS1102 is having a Bachelors degree with 24 hours of business credit. I have to assume you are DAWIA level II at least with your warrant. If you have these 3 things the Department of State in Washington needs you. I think we have a advertisement on USAJobs because of the Direct Hiring Authority. We have many ex-Air Force including me.

I was planning on staying DOD because I currently don't have my Bachelors. I was told that staying DOD and applying before I exit the service allows me to take advantage of 10 U.S.C. § 1724 ©(3). I currently have my DAWIA lvl 1. The AF dangles the lvl 2 as a carrot to entice us (first term airmen) to re-enist.

Folks with DoD experience too often assume the DAWIA applies to all federal agencies. It doesn't. Many (most?) federal agencies other than DoD can and do hire 1102s without degrees so long as they have the business classes. Non-degreed 1102s are limited to GS12 however, as GS13 requires the degree per OPM.

I just read that on the OPM Site. I have seen the "AND" so much in DOD that I almost missed that the OPM requirements say "OR" for up to GS12. That is good information to know. Thank you for the clarification.

illzoni,

Correct. We can hire with either a BS/BA or 24 hours of business credit at or below GS12. But promotion opportunities tend to come fast and GS12s without a degree get frustrated at not being able to apply for them. All the better if you have both.

Hi all. Long time lurker, first time poster.

I am currently AD USAF enlisted. My time in the Air Force is quickly coming to a close and the reality of my future is weighing heavy on my mind. I have been told from day 1 in contracting that the job prospects on the outside are plentiful for "people like us" but first hand examples tend to be harder to come by.

Do any of you have experience or know people that have succesfully made the transition to civil service or private sector contract admin?

From the eyes of a hiring authority is my experience enough to get into a GS-12 position?

Experience.

6 years experience operational contracting.

1 year as warranted CO with limit of 150k. No termination authority.

3 years as warranted CO with $2m limit. No termination authority. (current warrant and used regularly)

Experience in Commodities, Formal Services, and Construction.

APDP Level 1 (they restrict attendance to lvl 2 in residence courses to members who re-enlist)

CFCM

CPCM (will have done before I leave the service)

Thanks for your replies.

That experience will not get you a GS-12 in current AF. I don't think if it will even get GS-11. SAT warrant, Level I. There is a reason they dangle that Level II at you to re-enlist. I think at best you would need to find someone willing to do a 7-9-11 Developmental.

That experience will not get you a GS-12 in current AF. I don't think if it will even get GS-11. SAT warrant, Level I. There is a reason they dangle that Level II at you to re-enlist. I think at best you would need to find someone willing to do a 7-9-11 Developmental.

My current warrant is $2m. I am working towards getting it raised with full support of my leadership. They just want me to sit in my current seat for a little longer. What do you think would make me more competitive for those grades? Or is it just a matter of years in the seat?

Hi all. Long time lurker, first time poster.

I am currently AD USAF enlisted. My time in the Air Force is quickly coming to a close and the reality of my future is weighing heavy on my mind. I have been told from day 1 in contracting that the job prospects on the outside are plentiful for "people like us" but first hand examples tend to be harder to come by.

Do any of you have experience or know people that have succesfully made the transition to civil service or private sector contract admin?

From the eyes of a hiring authority is my experience enough to get into a GS-12 position?

Experience.

6 years experience operational contracting.

1 year as warranted CO with limit of 150k. No termination authority.

3 years as warranted CO with $2m limit. No termination authority. (current warrant and used regularly)

Experience in Commodities, Formal Services, and Construction.

APDP Level 1 (they restrict attendance to lvl 2 in residence courses to members who re-enlist)

CFCM

CPCM (will have done before I leave the service)

Thanks for your replies.

It really depends.

It depends where you want to live. For example, a GS-12 in Seattle is really not that much different than a GS-11 in Spokane. In terms of quality of life / cost of living and in terms of the duties. It always helps if you are willing and able to relocate.

Whatever you do, when you go into federal service, negotiate a higher step than step 1 in whatever the grade based on superior qualifications. You only get one bite at that apple and you'll kick yourself later if you don't even try. Trust me.

[A] GS-12 in Seattle is really not that much different than a GS-11 in Spokane.

I don't think so.

A higher cost of living may offset any increase in salary for the period you're there. However, that higher grade may open other doors that wouldn't otherwise be available. In other words, think both near-term and long-term.