Defense Policy Bill Establishes a Defense Civilian Training Corps

Defense Policy Bill Establishes a Defense Civilian Training Corps

The newly released compromise version of the annual defense policy bill will establish a civilian training corps to address skills gaps at the Defense Department. 


One priority of the $738 billion fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act that House and Senate negotiators agreed to on Monday is making the Pentagon more efficient and accountable. The authorization act will establish the Defense Civilian Training Corps as one way to accomplish that, and outlines a plan to expand the corps from now until August 2023.


“Making the Pentagon more efficient, while helping our troops become more agile, is critical to maintaining America’s competitive edge,” said a summary from the House Armed Services Committee. “That’s why, since the [fiscal 2015 National Defense Authorization Act], Congress has instituted numerous reforms, including an updated military retirement system, an improved health care system, a sustainable commissary benefit, and a major reorganization of Pentagon bureaucracy and business systems and practices. Just like [Reserve Officers' Training Corps] trains individuals for the Armed Forces, for the first time, the Defense Civilian Training Corps will train civilians for public service.”


The Government Accountability Office reported in March that skills gaps “played a significant role” in many of the Defense Department’s programs at high risk of management problems. Specifically, the watchdog cited gaps related to business systems modernization, financial management and contract management. 


The corps program will train students in engineering, science, acquisition and other areas chosen by the Defense ..

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