During this era of persistent conflict, the Army needs a strong civilian workforce prepared to lead into the next decade. Through the Civilian Talent Management Program, the Army continues to build a bench of interchangeable and agile civilian leaders.

Among the first the Army is inviting to register for the program are Aberdeen Proving Ground senior civilians. With one of the largest, senior-ranking civilian populations in the Army, APG has about 850 eligible senior civilians.

"Over time, Army leadership has learned that there needs to be somewhat of parity in development for Army civilians," said Linda Donaldson, executive director of Civilian Talent Management. "The program will offer civilian senior leaders opportunities to expand their knowledge and experience through reassignments and professional development."

While GS-15 equivalent employees are the target population for the talent pool, the program will benefit the entire Army. The new structure aligns the senior civilian management at the GS-15 level with that of colonels, generals and those in the Senior Executive Service - providing an enterprise view of leadership positions and the available pool of senior talent. Currently, the Army has only limited visibility of its senior civilian workforce and the positions that they occupy.

Designed to give senior civilians similar career growth opportunities as their uniformed counterparts, Civilian Talent Management fuses the Army's current and projected civilian leadership requirements with the individual employee's desires for reassignment and career growth.

Because the number of eligible members of the talent pool is large - more than 11,000 - registration is a phased process per geographic location.

Aberdeen Proving Ground is one of 25 venues career advisors will visit this summer.

An interim policy for the new program was signed in January and is posted on the CTM Web site, https://www.csldo.army.mil. The complete itinerary of the site visits is also posted at the site.

For more information, visit the Army News Service story on the program at www.army.mil/-news/2009/05/27/21682-army-launches-program-to-advance-senior-civilian-careers/. Questions may be directed to DUSA.CTMO@conus.army.mil.