The APG Wide Developmental Assignment Program (ADAP) is a nine-month developmental opportunity for Government employees at the GS nine through 13 level or equivalent. It allows personnel to utilize other skills they may have in addition to their main core functions. My main core functions are as a Supply Systems Analyst for the Integrated Logistics Support Center (ILSC) as a Supply Systems Analyst in the Program, Analysis & Evaluation Division.
I applied for ADAP because I wanted to widen my professional experiences and develop my skillsets. I relocated to Program Executive Office, Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors HQ in the Strategic Communications Directorate as a Public Affairs Officer (PAO). In this role, I worked on strategic communications projects that were aligned to the PEO as well as assisted in the creation of visual and written products to assist the organization in sharing its message.
My time in the Strategic Communications Directorate was very valuable in guiding my career path. I was involved in different high-profile projects that took me out of my “comfort zone”. It helped to develop and expand on some underutilized skillsets that were already there, I just needed a little push to bring them out.
The first project required me to write an article about the Military Intelligence Branch’s Birthday. I interviewed a few of the PEO IEW&S staff I had just recently started working with. This article was published on Army.mil and in “The Proof” an APG wide magazine, that is distributed quarterly.
Other projects included working with the Creative Sciences team, to create Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) products that will be used during public demonstrations. It was a coloring book that targeted kindergarten through fourth grade. The coloring book introduced PEO IEW&S to kids by highlighting several programs in the portfolio that would appeal to young people’s curiosity. The second project also included a comic strip but focused on High School to College age students. For older kids the comic strip focused on various positions as they related to building systems that are in the portfolio.
My role in public affairs, allowed me to gain visibility with senior leadership, something I never really had the opportunity to do in my home organization. I also attended conferences with senior leaders, where I was responsible for drafting talking points for the briefs. This experience has given me invaluable confidence to take on more challenging roles in the future and make more of a contribution.
I like the fact that this program is APG wide and gives the applicant a chance to experience what is available through the APG campus.
Speaking to one of the other participants in the program, Justin Patel, General Engineer, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Analysis Center (DAC) who was assigned to DEVCOM HQ in the Science & Technology Integration (S&TI) Data Analytics (D&A) Division as an Operations Research Analyst. I learned his experience was similar to mine. “By participating in the program, I was able to both see and learn more about DEVCOM, and continue to gain skills, which benefit both myself and my home organization.” I also asked Patel, what advice would he give to anyone that is contemplating applying to the program? “Absolutely give it a shot, it’s a great way to learn new things and expand your contacts.”
I encourage all those that want to broaden their horizons, to apply for the APG Wide Developmental Assignment Program opportunity, you won’t regret it.
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