Training the workforce: Electronic Systems Center wraps up Acquisition Boot Camp Jan. 17

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. C. Michaela Walrond
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  The Electronic Systems Center wrapped up its four-day Acquisition Boot Camp program Jan. 17, having offered a wide array of introductory training for 16 individuals new to the acquisition workforce.

The program, which is designed to accelerate the acquisition learning process, provides a basic understanding of a broad spectrum of acquisition topics, said Amanda Currier, Acquisition Boot Camp facilitator and ESC University Consultant.

"The objective of this training is to provide students with the basic information needed to function in acquisition-related positions," she said. "This course uses the 'fire hose' method to get a lot of information out in a short period of time. It covers a wide spectrum of topics to allow students exposure to all facets of acquisition and see where their part fits in. It also enables them to have the support tools and POCs necessary to do their jobs."

The course was broken down into a variety of topic areas, and featured numerous speakers from Hanscom's workforce. One of the highlights of the course, Ms. Currier said, included the motivational speaker section. During this particular course, Col. Anita Latin, 653rd Electronic Systems Group commander, was the guest speaker.

"This portion of the course gives ESC leadership the opportunity to discuss their experiences, the overall mission, and to get individuals new to the career field excited about their new role," Ms. Currier said.

Students were also given the opportunity to interact with subject matter experts during the Program Manager Lessons Learned session. "This session was meant to bring it all together for the students. It consisted of three short videos of program managers discussing some lessons learned through the acquisition process. The three members of the panel were there to answer questions and offer their own experiences," she said.

The lessons, however, didn't just consist of in-class activities and briefings. During a portion of the course Jan. 17, students were taken on a tour of two of the major labs in the MITRE facility. "This tour allowed class members to see some technologies in development that may be brought forward and implemented in the future," Ms. Currier said.

Rich Stillman, senior acquisition process lead, who spoke during several portions of the course, reminded students that the acquisition career field is constantly changing. "You need to continually reeducate yourself and be ready for the change. Being both a leader and a communicator are key in this field."

Students were given the opportunity to put both leadership and communication abilities to the test Jan. 16 during a Project Management and Team Building Exercise. The exercise, Ms. Currier said, was facilitated by a Defense Acquisition University instructor. During the exercise, the class was broken into smaller four- to five-person groups for a three-hour activity that forced members of the class to act as program managers.

"The students had to make decisions as a team in order to obtain a goal. The team that accomplished the goal first, won," Ms. Currier said.

At the conclusion of the course, Ms. Currier said she hoped that the students took away a basic understanding of the major acquisition principles. "They were given the tools and points of contact necessary to get the guidance they need as they do their jobs," she said.

Some of these tools were mentioned during the Acquisition Basics and Policy briefing led by Mr. Stillman, and included resources such as the Acquisition Center of Excellence, the ESC Program Managers' Toolbox located on CenterNet, and the Defense Acquisition University Web site, www.dau.mil.

These tools, Mr. Stillman said, provide personnel access to processes, functional area contacts, helpful external Web sites and communities of practice, and numerous online trainings.

The next Acquisition Boot Camp will be held April 14 to 17. The deadline to register is April 4; class is limited to 35 students. To register or for more information, contact Ms. Currier at (781) 377-3249.