Army redefines employee eligibility for civilian leader courses

WASHINGTON (June 1, 2012) -- The Army has redefined employee eligibility for its complement of Civilian Education System leader development courses, as well as the rules for receiving course equivalency credit based on previous military education and training.

"We wanted to eliminate any confusion and establish a clearly progressive leader development model for our civilian workforce," said Vicki Brown, chief of the Army's Civilian Training and Leader Development Division, Army G3/5/7 Training Directorate.

In addition, she said the changes were implemented to help all Army leaders, supervisors and managers better define command training requirements, more clearly understand their civilian employees' training and leader development requirements and make appropriate recommendations for their professional development.

Civilian Education System, or CES, courses are aligned with a civilian employee's grade level similar to the way the Army has identified grade requirements in the Noncommissioned Officer Education System, Warrant Officer Education System, and Officer Education System. The realignment will allow for greater consistency of requirements development across commands and organizations, provide deliberate progressive development for Army civilian employees and meet the Department of Defense Instruction 1430.16 to grow civilian leaders.

Eligibility is based on the following grade levels, with first priority given to supervisors, managers and team leaders, in accordance with Army Regulation 350-1, Army Training and Leader Development.

-- Basic Course: GS-01 to GS-09 or equivalent pay band

-- Intermediate Course: GS-10 to GS-12 or equivalent band

-- Advanced Course: GS-13 to GS-15 or equivalent band (no change)

-- Continuing Education for Senior Leaders: GS-14 to GS-15 or equivalent (no change)

In addition, the Foundation Course is required for all civilian employees (GS-01 to GS-15 or equivalent) hired after Sept. 30, 2006. If required, the Foundation Course must be completed before employees are eligible to apply for the resident phase of their target CES leader course.

The Civilian Education System, administered by the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command through the Army Management Staff College, provides centrally funded progressive leader development courses for the Army's civilian workforce commensurate with that of uniformed members.

"It's important for employees to learn about the system and the programs available to them so they can take ownership of their own development," Brown said. "A successful career always requires active management and the best person to manage your career is you. No one else has as much at stake in the outcome of your career decisions, and no one else will work as hard to ensure success."

When individuals create/update their profiles and register for CES courses within the Civilian Human Resource Training Application System, or CHRTAS, they will see the CES course for which they are eligible based on grade level and previous professional military education and civilian leader development course completions recorded in the Army Training Requirements and Resource System, known as ATRRS.

In addition, the "10-year rule" for receiving course equivalency credit has been eliminated. Individuals may now receive credit for legacy civilian or military leader development courses regardless of when they completed the courses. CHRTAS automatically determines equivalent course credit for PME and civilian leader development courses that have been approved for equivalent credit by TRADOC.

The list of courses is available in the 'Resources' section of the Army G-3/5/7 Civilian Training and Leader Development website at www.civiliantraining.army.mil, and in CHRTAS via the main menu under 'About CES Course Credit.'

Equivalent credit will only be granted for CES courses for which the individual is eligible by grade. For example, employees who are GS-11, GS-12 or equivalent may not receive credit for the Advanced Course because they are not yet grade-eligible to attend the Advanced Course. Once employees advance to the appropriate grade, equivalency will be automatically assigned in CHRTAS if they previously completed the higher level equivalent course.

Individuals with current course reservations will not be affected by the new eligibility rules that went into effect in May.

Reference Army ALARACT 121/2012 - Civilian Education System Policy Changes, dated April 27, 2012. ALARACTS can be found on Army Knowledge Online at https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/550282.

To learn more about and register for CES courses and other Army civilian professional training and leader development opportunities, visit www.civiliantraining.army.mil.

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ALARACT 121/2012 (AKO login required)