Civilian Developmental Education offers scores of opportunities

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  • By Daryl Mayer, AFLCMC Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio (AFLCMC) – The new season of Civilian Developmental Education nominations is fast approaching to offer civilian employees opportunities for professional development, academic fellowships and leadership seminars – all free of charge. 
 
A full list of the centrally-managed, centrally-funded courses is available on MyPers at https://mypers.af.mil/app/categories/c/549/p/2  
 
“The portfolio is very diverse.  It can be as long as up to three years to five years, in some of the experiential programs, and it can be as little as two days.  So it just depends on what it is that you're looking for in your career at this point in time,” said Linda Leichty, AFLCMC Chief of Workforce Development, in the current episode of Leadership Log podcast.  “I can guarantee you there's something within this portfolio.”
 
All appropriated fund civilians in a full-time permanent status with two years federal civil service by March 13, 2021 are eligible to apply for this year, she added. 
 
Some positions are selected through a boarded process while others are non-boarded.  In all instances, it is a very competitive process.   
 
“There are normally more applicants than quotas,” said Mike Mathes, CDE program manager.  “Some have a lot of quotas.  Some have very few.  So it can be very, very competitive.”
 
In some instances, applicants are competing against colleagues across the Department of Defense, Leichty said.
 
Reviewing the list of opportunities with your supervisor or mentor, understanding the prerequisites and updating your resume are some of the steps they recommend for interested employees.   
 
To hear the full conversation, you can watch Leadership Log on YouTube at https://youtu.be/6CAuMlH0j34.  You can also listen by searching “Leadership Log” on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Overcast, Radio Public or Breaker.