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EXERCISE AND PROGRAM SPECIALIST

Department of the Air Force
Headquarters, Air Force Reserve Command

Summary

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.

The primary purpose of this position is: Serves as a senior level programming analyst to analyze, develop, and evaluate issues, and direct the preparation and presentation of NAF-wide inputs to the Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP). The incumbent will apply extensive readiness inspection team skills, readiness exercise insight, military planning, and deployment tools.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/02/2026 to 03/06/2026
Salary
$94,654 to - $123,052 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 12
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Dobbins AFB, GA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
6R-AFPC-12898813-162641-JEL
Control number
859332000

Duties

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  • Represents NAF Wings and DRUs as the primary Exercises Operational Planner, executes planning activities, provides strategic/operational guidance, and assists on all matters relating to NAF exercise activities. Coordinates with exercise branch of the AFRC Force Generation Center (FGX), HQ USAF, MAJCOMs and COCOMs.
  • Actively participates in strategic planning and budgeting to improve organizational direction and focus using strategic planning tools and techniques.
  • Represents NAF Wings/DRUs and coordinates with COCOM, MAJCOM, NAF/CNAF, and AFRC FGC in exercise planning meetings and conferences where NAF operational units and forces are projected to participate in future Air Force, joint, or interagency world-wide exercises or activities.
  • Conducts, leads, and/or participates in the activities in NAF A5X to ensure the Exercise Plans Branch/Readiness Branch complies with legal and regulatory requirements and meets customer needs.
  • Actively manages NAF planning and programming decisions to meet Air Force and MAJCOM requirements.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov
  • If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
  • This position is subject to provisions of the DoD Priority Placement Program
  • Disclosure of Political Appointments
  • Leave accrual may be authorized upon request
  • Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period.
  • Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
  • Rated flying experience is highly desirable but not required.
  • Knowledge, skill, ability, and experience as a rated instructor/evaluator aircrew member in one of the aircraft in AFRC associate or equipped inventory is highly desirable but not required. The duties do not require the incumbent to fly.
  • Must have in-depth knowledge of operational unit training, scheduling and deployment procedures.
  • Must be able to understand operational unit limiting factors associated with planning for various deployments in support of Building Partnership, Theater Security Cooperation Plans and Deployments for Training.
  • These include pre-deployment training requirements of aviators, specific theater reporting instructions and how those impact unit preparations, resource requirements and the details associated with a Unit Deployment Project Office
  • Plans experience is desirable.
  • Incumbent may be required to fly in military or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty (TDY) assignments. Duty assignments may include TDY to foreign countries.
  • Must obtain and maintain the Top Secret security clearance.
  • Must possess a high degree of tact and diplomacy and demonstrated leadership and managerial abilities.
  • Incumbent will be required to maintain effective relationships with members of COCOMs, MAJCOMs, NAF/CNAF, service headquarters, external agencies/organizations, and potentially with members of embassies or foreign/host nation delegations.
  • PCS paid by the Gaining Unit.

Qualifications

ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

  • This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Testing Program. Illegal drug use by employees in critical sensitive positions presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety. This position has access to classified information.
  • Overtime may be required as workload demands.
  • Limited area of consideration to Command-Wide (AFRC) AF Internal or AF DCIPS Candidates only. Applicants must be a current member of AFRC to be eligible.

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-11, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes (1) applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to issues or studies concerning the efficiency and effectiveness of program operations toward development and/or improvement of critical command plans and programs for conducting major operations; (2) working with military command structure, missions, programs, and organizational relationships and program goals and objectives, the sequence and timing of key operational events and milestones, and methods of evaluating the effectiveness of planning actions as related to actual events; (3) planning, organizing, and developing studies or projects, making recommendations on substantive operating programs, and negotiating effectively with others to accept and implement recommendations, where the proposals involve substantial resources.

FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-11 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-12 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas:
  1. Mastery level knowledge of COCOM, MAJCOM (including AFRC), NAF/CNAF, and AFRC Force Generation Center (FGC) exercise planning/readiness policies, including the deliberate and contingency planning and processes for the purpose of integrating AFRC operational units and forces into joint/interagency world-wide exercises.
  2. Mastery level knowledge of military operational principles, practices, and organization; ability to recognize the interrelationships of the various aspects of exercise planning, and skill in integrating and analyzing such information in order to evaluate and make appropriate recommendations as well as to report on the status of events.
  3. Mastery level knowledge of Air Force and AFRC operation concepts, logistics policies and procedures, and financial management methods and procedures applicable to the management of resources, including personnel management procedures and policies as they relate to NAF operational units and forces.
  4. Mastery level knowledge and ability to develop and advocate for programmatic and Congressional resources using the Department of Defense Planning, Programming and Budgeting System (PPBS) and National Guard and Reserve Equipment Appropriation (NGREA) to ensure appropriate resources are procured to support Wing and Direct Reporting Unit (DRU) readiness, modernization, and recapitalization.
  5. Mastery level knowledge of Program Objective Memorandum (POM) process to identify unit requirements to satisfy National Defense Strategy and to develop budget forecasts, cost projections, financial exhibits, unfunded requirements justifications, POM narratives, offsets and disconnects, reclamas, and issue papers submissions to meet those requirements. Knowledge of analytical and evaluative methods and procedures, and skill in evaluating plans and exercises to develop comprehensive reports.
  6. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; negotiates complex issues, and maintain good order, discipline and working relations.

PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Additional information

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well qualified or above for this position. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location.

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.

120-Day Register: This announcement may result in a 120-day register that may be used to fill like vacancies for 120 days after the closing date. Applicants may be referred for consideration as vacancies occur.

Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected and placed at the highest grade for which they applied. You must include a completed copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist.

Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicant Eligible: PPP Applicants, if determined well qualified and selected, will be placed at the at the full performance level. You must include the applicable completed copy of the PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility as a PPP Applicant. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 through DD3145-4, select the appropriate checklist for your claimed preference). To determine the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist required to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming, refer to the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide located in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement.

Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

BASIS OF RATING:
Your application will be rated under the Cut Point procedures based on the extent to which the quality, depth, and complexity of your experience and education relate to the qualification requirements. Additional points are not added for Veteran's Preference; however, Veteran's Preference is considered where applicable.

Best Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements
Fully Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements.
Basically Qualified Group: Candidates in this category meet the minimum education and/or experience requirements.

The resume/documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job.

For additional information on what to include in your resume, click here.

APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume.

Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

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